Fedor Emelianenko Still a God: How the UFC is Trying to Screw MMA's #1 Heavyweight.

It seems every article writer and blogger enjoys beating on Fedor Emelianenko’s rank of numero uno.

There seems nothing but questions and negative press over whether he currently belongs at the top. So I’m going to add my two cents (more like 75 cents) on why I just don’t buy it.
 
Few would argue that Fedor used to be the top heavyweight, and anyone that knows anything about the sport believes he is the greatest heavyweight of all time.

But these days, almost everyone weighing in with an opinion says he is not deserving of his current title as God of the Heavyweights. Some say he’s over the hill, and hasn’t faced any top-ranking heavyweights in the last four years. Others claim he’s dodging talent, and refused the UFC’s offer in order to protect his legacy and virtually unblemished record—in seven years, no one has stopped Fedor, except a doctor.
 
So let’s examine some of the arguments that Fedor doesn’t deserve his position at the top.

Dana White weighed in, saying Fedor was not even among the top five heavyweights. But as Randy Couture pointed out, Dana would be singing a different tune if Fedor had signed with the UFC. Dana White’s big mouth often gets more press than it deserves, but what does Fedor say?

“Dana talks a lot and uses words lightly. Let Randy Couture fight me. Allow this fight that everyone wants to take place. Me, Randy, and MMA fans all over the world want it. The only obstacle is Dana. People want to see this fight and I want to meet him in the ring. I have the greatest respect for Randy and have always admired him. I am also thankful that he has such a high opinion of me.”

Randy also seems anxious to fight, just not under the UFC banner. So both fighters want to meet in the ring, but only Dana stands in the way. If he thinks Fedor is overrated, and wants to shoot his mouth off, then do what it takes to back your opinion up. Let it happen with a cross-promotion fight, and let the chips fall where they may.
 
Dana basically called Fedor and his lawyers a bunch of unreasonable crazies. Fedor’s comments barely see the light of day, but what he has to say seems closer to the truth, given the UFC's reputation in dealing with its talent.

According to Fedor, the UFC contract states that:

"I can't leave undefeated. I can't give interviews, appear in films or advertising. I don't have the right to do anything without the UFC's agreement. I could do nothing without the OK from the UFC.

I didn't have the right to compete in combat sambo competition. It's my national sport. It's the Russian sport, which in his time our president competed in, and I no longer have the right to do so.

There were many such clauses. The contract was 18 pages in length. It was written in such a way that I had absolutely no rights while the UFC could at any moment, if something didn't suit them, tear up the agreement. We worked with lawyers who told us that it was patently impossible to sign such a document."

Call me crazy, but I wouldn’t sign that either if I were Fedor. This also shows this was less Fedor running from real competition, and more the UFC—especially Emperor Dana—using Gestapo-type tactics on the world’s greatest fighter.

It also makes me respect Couture’s position a little more. And lastly, it makes me—a guy formerly convinced the UFC’s acquisition of Pride was great for the sport—pray another Pride rises from the ashes and humbles the UFC.

Dana is also the first to point out this is a business. Yet how can he argue a cross-promotion fight is bad business? Is it that it really is bad business—or maybe is it because the UFC monopoly would be undermined?

Make the fight happen Dana—then, if Couture doesn’t honor his contract, it’ll be on his conscience, not yours—if you have one. It’s good for business, and it’s good for the sport. Period.
 
So enough talk of Dana White, as now I'm feeling slimy and dirty.
 

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