Proof
Tim Sylvia was ranked No. 4 in the world at the time of his fight with Fedor. Hunt was ranked No. 7, or No. 9 in the world, (depending on what rankings you look at). Coleman was in the top-three for their first fight (having only lost to Nog and nobody else) Fedor finished all three men in the first round.
Myth No. 9
Fedor has sloppy striking.
Fact
Fedor has the best striking in MMA.
Proof
How many fighters can you name (aside from Fedor) that have never been dropped, even to one knee, by any strike?
(Don't worry, I'll wait)
His defense in striking is astounding, as the above example shows. (Two other great strikers, B.J. Penn and Anderson Silva, may make a similar claim. Props to them.)
The "loopy" "sloppy" boxing you see from Fedor is the product of different technique used in MMA due to smaller gloves, wider stance, and different weight distribution (in order to defend or prepare/set-up takedowns). Fedor's "loopy" punches curve AROUND the small blocking MMA gloves, and hit their target anyways.
Example:
See fight with Goodridge: Gary puts up a standard boxing block with both hands, but unfortunately for him the gloves are not big enough to cover an area big enough, and Fedor's "loopy" shots hit Gary on the ear, temple and neck.
Another example:
See Tim Sylvia fight. Tim is prepared for Fedor's lightning-fast left hook. Tim is keeping his right hand as high as you'll ever see anyone do it. Fedor leaps in with that left hook again and... horror or horrors!!! The hook lands DESPITE Tim's hand being in the way. Fedor's small glove sneaks thru right next to Tim's small glove and Tim gets hurt. (The above explanations are from Fedor himself, who has elaborated on this topic during a recent master class which you can also see on youtube, but in Russian of course)
Boxing Champion Zab Judah was in attendance at Fedor's latest fight. He looked at Fedor's stand-up with awe and respect. Take Judah's word for it guys, he knows this stuff better than you and I.
Myth No. 10
Fedor is overrated.
Fact
Fedor is UNDERrated.
Proof
Don't take MY word for it guys! Here is what some top fighters and other people in the business have to say about him:
Quotes from people currently working for UFC (to eliminate bias and pro-Fedor hype)
"Fedor is the baddest mother-f_cker walking the planet."
-Joe Rogan, UFC commentator. (radio interview)
"Fedor is my favorite."
-BJ Penn, two-time UFC Champion. (NWFS 7/9/06)
"Fedor is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world aside from B.J. Penn, those two are the best fighters in the world."
-Rampage Jackson, former UFC title-holder (video Sherdog interview, while preparing for rematch with Chuck Liddell)
"The best fighter in the world right now in heavyweight division is probably Fedor"













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