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Joe Rogan Snubs UFC Champs, Crowns Fedor Emelianenko the Heavyweight GOAT – Explained

Joe Rogan Snubs UFC Champs, Crowns Fedor Emelianenko the Heavyweight GOAT - Explained Joe Rogan recently shared his thoughts on the greatest heavyweight MMA athlete of all time, naming Fedor Emelianenko as…

Joe Rogan recently shared his thoughts on the greatest heavyweight MMA athlete of all time, naming Fedor Emelianenko as the top candidate. Emelianenko’s career is widely regarded as one of the most dominant and influential in MMA history. Below, we explore why Rogan and many others consider him the heavyweight GOAT.

Fedor Emelianenko is the Greatest Heavyweight MMA in History

Fedor Emelianenko’s career peaked during his time in PRIDE Fighting Championships, where he remained undefeated across 15 fights. From 2000 to 2010, he went on an astonishing 33-fight unbeaten streak, solidifying his reputation as an unstoppable force in the heavyweight division. His victories spanned multiple organizations, including PRIDE, Affliction, Strikeforce, and Bellator.

Despite never competing in the UFC, Emelianenko defeated several former UFC champions during his career. His list of conquests includes Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Tim Sylvia, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Frank Mir, and Andrei Arlovski. Additionally, he bested Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, a former PRIDE and interim UFC champion, K-1 Champions Semmy Schilt and Mark Hunt, plus Mirko Cro Cop a PRIDE Grand Prix champion. During Fedor’s reign, the best heavyweights were not competing in the UFC the vast majority were in PRIDE FC during the early 2000s.

Fedor’s fighting style was a blend of aggression and precision. On his feet, he employed powerful flurries combined with speed. His striking often overwhelmed opponents early in fights. On the ground, Fedor showcased exceptional skills derived from his background as a Russian Sambo national champion. He utilized explosive hip throws to take opponents down and relied on a devastating ground-and-pound strategy to finish fights.

Joe Rogan explained:

“I don’t know if anybody beats Fedor in his prime. He was so good. Fedor walked down Cro Cop when he was in his prime. You’ve got to remember most of that fight was standing up and Fedor was going blow to blow with Cro Cop and walking him down. That Randelman armbar, he suplexes him on his head, and five seconds later he’s got him in a kimura, it’s crazy. He was different, he was a monster.”

Fedor Emelianenko’s accolades go beyond MMA. He was a four-time combat sambo world champion and a seven-time national champion in Russia. His dominance helped popularize MMA globally, particularly in Russia and Japan. Joe Rogan’s endorsement only adds to the widespread recognition of ‘The Last Emperor’ as the greatest MMA heavyweight to ever live.

“They Really F Me Over” – ‘Rampage’ Jackson Opens Up About PRIDE Pay Issues

Octagon icon Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson recently opened up about the paltry pay he received while competing in the defunct…

Octagon icon Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson recently opened up about the paltry pay he received while competing in the defunct Japanese promotion PRIDE FC.

Before capturing the UFC light heavyweight championship, ‘Rampage’ made a name for himself in PRIDE, competing against a slew of fellow MMA legends like Kevin Randleman, Chuck ‘The Iceman’ Liddell, Wanderlei Silva, and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua.

However, it wasn’t all sunshine and roses while working for the Tokyo-based promotion. During a recent episode of his JAXXON podcast with guest Jake Shields, ‘Rampage’ told the former Strikeforce titleholder that he only walked away with $10,000 for his scrap with UFC Hall of Famer Kazushi Sakuraba at PRIDE 15 in July 2021.

“That’s an easy answer for me. I like PRIDE better, but I like the pay in the UFC better,” Jackson said. “Yeah, because I guess the pay already—and you’re kind of at the edge when it’s starting to get paid pretty good. PRIDE’s financial issues? PRIDE f*cked me over, bro. PRIDE f*cked me over. They—man—they really, really f*cked me over.

“No, bro. They got me. They got me. Remember I [said] earlier, when I got the Sakuraba call, it was double what I was going to make for Ken [Shamrock]? So PRIDE paid me $10,000. I was going to fight Ken for $5,000, but $10,000 was a lot of money for me back then.”

After an impressive run with pRIDE, ‘Rampage’ took his talents to the UFC and Bellator

After six years in PRIDE, ‘Rampage’ made the move to the UFC in 2007 and added to his legacy with big wins over Dan Henderson, and Lyoto Machida. Along the way, he defeated Liddell via a first-round KO to claim the 205-pound title. He defended it against Henderson at UFC 75 before surrendering it 10 months later against Forrest Griffin.

Rampage’ spent the last six years of his MMA career in Bellator, going 6-3 in the process. Overall, he went 38-14 with 20 of his wins coming by way of KO/TKO.

PRIDE’s Wildest Fight: Minowaman vs. Giant Silva, A Clash with Nearly 200 lbs Difference

Few fights encapsulate the spirit of PRIDE FC like the David vs. Goliath showdown between Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa taking…

Few fights encapsulate the spirit of PRIDE FC like the David vs. Goliath showdown between Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa taking on Giant Silva. Held on April 2, 2006, at PRIDE Bushido 10, this bizarre and captivating bout remains one of the most iconic moments in MMA seeing an absolutely insane size difference go down.

Giant Silva

Giant Silva
Height: 7’2” (218 cm)
Weight: 385 lbs (175 kg)

A former professional wrestler and towering figure, Giant Silva entered the fight with an aura of sheer physical superiority. At over seven feet tall and weighing nearly 400 pounds, Silva’s size was his most intimidating weapon.

Minowaman

Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa
Height: 5’9” (175 cm)
Weight: Approximately 200 lbs (91 kg)

Minowa had a catch-wrestling background and unyielding spirit. He was already carving out a reputation as a “giant killer.” Despite often being the smaller fighter in his matchups, his creativity and technical ability made him a dangerous opponent, regardless of the size disparity.

Minowaman found a niche in combat sports. He was an average-sized person but picked fights against the largest humans he could find. Towering fighters or sumo wrestlers, all were fair game. In 2010, DREAM hosted a Superhulk Grand Prix featuring giants of the super heavyweight division. Minowaman was by far the smallest in the tournament and still won in the end.

giant silva minowaman freakshow pride fc

Minowaman vs. Giant Silva

The size difference between the two combatants simply staggering, it was downright cartoonish. Picture a real-life boss battle straight out of a video game: Giant Silva, a towering 7-foot-2 colossus who looked like he’d wandered in from a monster movie, versus Minowaman, a scrappy underdog standing at just 5-foot-9. Silva outweighed Minowa by almost 200 pounds, making their face-off in the ring look more like a publicity stunt than a sanctioned MMA fight. But this was PRIDE.

From the opening bell, Minowaman wasted no time implementing his game plan. Using a forward roll to evade Silva’s massive reach, he swiftly closed the distance and executed a single-leg takedown, bringing the giant to the canvas. Once on the ground, Minowa showcased his catch-wrestling expertise. When going for a roll, it’s not about the size but it’s about how you use it.

Minowa unleashed a series of devastating knees to Silva’s head, leaving the referee with no choice but to stop the fight. The TKO victory came at just 2:23 of the first round.

For Minowaman, the victory was another feather in the cap of his storied career. The win further solidified his reputation as a giant slayer, a fighter unafraid to take on opponents who dwarfed him in size and weight.

PRIDEs Wildest Fight Minowaman vs. Giant Silva A Clash of Extremes

Minowaman vs. Butterbean: 200 lb difference in This MMA Freakshow (and We Loved It)

The year was 2006. The event? PRIDE FC: Bushido 12. The matchup? Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa versus Eric “Butterbean” Esch….

The year was 2006. The event? PRIDE FC: Bushido 12. The matchup? Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa versus Eric “Butterbean” Esch. It was the kind of glorious, absurd spectacle that could only happen in the anything-goes world of mid-2000s Japanese MMA.

Minowaman vs. Butterbean

On one side stood Minowa, the fearless “Giant Killer,” weighing in at 198 pounds of scrappy brilliance. On the other side loomed Butterbean, the bowling ball-shaped boxing legend who tipped the scales at over 400 pounds. That’s right, this fight featured a jaw-dropping 200-pound weight difference. Think David vs. Goliath, but with more spandex and way more chaos.

When the bell rang, Minowa wasted no time in showing why he’s an MMA cult hero. He sprinted across the ring and dropkicked Butterbean square in the face like it was a WWE Royal Rumble. The crowd erupted. For good measure, he tried it again moments later, only to find himself pancaked on the mat under Butterbean’s sheer gravitational pull.
Butterbean, despite his mobility challenges, managed to use his bulk to gain top position. Things looked dicey for Minowa, as Butterbean’s mass seemed more like a geological event than a fighting style. But this wasn’t Minowa’s first time grappling with giants.

Using his superior grappling skills, Minowa deftly swept Butterbean, turning the tide in his favor. From there, it was classic Minowa: ground strikes, slick transitions, and an armbar that looked impossible but somehow worked. Butterbean tried to resist, but after 4 minutes and 25 seconds of the first round, he had no choice but to tap out.

The fight was everything fans loved about PRIDE. This was a fight, theater, comedy, and display of skill all rolled into one. Minowaman with his fearless approach and pro-wrestling-inspired flair, cemented his status as a true fan favorite. Butterbean, for his part, dusted himself off and went on to win his next two PRIDE bouts, finishing his MMA career with a respectable 17-10-1 record.

Minowaman vs. Butterbean may not go down in history as the most competitive fight, but it was pure entertainment. A freakshow match in the best possible way. PRIDE gave us fights no one else would, and for that, we’re forever grateful.

800 Pounds of Fury – The Seismic Battle of a Giants that Shook 2007 – Butterbean vs. Zuluzinho

In the annals of combat sports history, few bouts stand out like the super heavyweight spectacle that was Eric…

In the annals of combat sports history, few bouts stand out like the super heavyweight spectacle that was Eric “Butterbean” Esch versus Zuluzinho at PRIDE 34. Dubbed “The 750-Pound Fight” (though, in reality, it was closer to 800 pounds), this clash of titans in April 2007 was it was a seismic event that physicists would study for generations.

Butterbean vs. Zuluzinho

On one side, you had Butterbean, the 5’11”, 350-pound striker, known for his no-nonsense knockouts and unique appearance. His signature bald head and immense round frame made him impossible to miss. He looked like an American Doctor Eggman. With 77 wins in professional boxing, 58 of those by knockout, Butterbean was a walking wrecking ball.

On the other side loomed Zuluzinho, a colossus at 6’7″ and tipping the scales at a jaw-dropping 407 pounds. With his massive size, he was an intimidating figure who, at least on paper, seemed like an immovable object. For Japanese audiences of the Kakutogi-boom era, giants such as Bob Sapp and Hongman Choi were simply too small. They only whet the appetite. These audiences begged for something bigger. And Zuluzinho was the answer to their giant fight cravings.

PRIDE 34

Fans tuned in for one simple reason: they wanted to see what would happen when 800 pounds of human flesh collided. Would the ring survive? Would gravity give up? Would Butterbean, for the first time in his career, look small?

The answers came quickly, which was a surprise given the size. Despite their reputations for flattening opponents with fists the size of dinner plates, the fight took an unexpected turn. Butterbean, the man once described as “a bowling ball with arms,” decided to skip his knockout power and go for a takedown. Yes, you read that right. Butterbean—known for sending people to dreamland with haymakers—took the fight to the ground like a seasoned grappler. A Ryan Hall with some muscle, if you could imagine.

If that wasn’t shocking enough, the real surprise came moments later when Butterbean locked in an Americana submission on Zuluzinho, forcing the Brazilian giant to tap out. The crowd, and probably the planet itself, shook with disbelief. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Butterbean? Grappling? Is there even a black belt long enough for his frame?

Physicists may still be scratching their heads over the Butterbean-Zuluzinho fight, a bout that seemed to defy the laws of nature. When two objects of this magnitude collide the formation of a black hole should occur. Instead, what we got was Butterbean, the human wrecking ball, channeling his inner astrophysicist and Gracie by using leverage and torque to topple a man who could easily double as a celestial object.

For Zuluzinho, it was a rough night. Losing to a man half a foot shorter and best known for punching Johnny Knoxville wasn’t exactly the highlight of his career. But for us normal-sized mortals, it was pretty fun.

Watch: When Fedor Emelianenko Overpowered a 400-Pound Giant in just 26 Seconds

The bout between Fedor Emelianenko, widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time and the towering,…

The bout between Fedor Emelianenko, widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time and the towering, 400-pound Zuluzinho became one of the most memorable and bizarre encounters in the history of MMA. One of the best freakshow matches we’ve seen in MMA.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Zuluzinho

Russian powerhouse Fedor Emelianenko had already established himself as a dominant force in MMA by the time he faced Zuluzinho. A four-time Combat Sambo World Champion and seven-time Russian National Sambo Champion. Fedor’s reputation skyrocketed during his reign in PRIDE Fighting Championships, where he was undefeated from 2002 to 2007 and held the PRIDE Heavyweight Championship.

On the other side of the PRIDE FC ring stood Zuluzinho, a fighter whose massive 6’7″, 400-pound frame was as imposing. Zuluzinho struggled against top-tier competition, suffering losses to notable figures such as Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and Eric Esch. However, his sheer size and unique presence in the sport made him a cult figure, a giant among men.

Zuluzinho size was further emphasized when standing against the notably small heavyweight of Emelianenko, who was merely 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) and 237 lb (108 kg), roughly half the size of his opponent.

When the two fighters met in the PRIDE FC ring, the result was swift and decisive. Zuluzinho, with his size advantage, entered the fight as a clear physical threat. But it was Fedor’s exceptional skill that would quickly put an end to any threat. Just 26 seconds into the first round, Fedor knocked out Zuluzinho in a display of brilliance putting down the giant.

Despite this, Zuluzinho remains a memorable figure in the sport’s history, known for his immense size and colorful career. He still remained active up until 2022.