Fedor Emelianenko in the Strikeforce Tournament: Why It Doesn't Matter

On December 31^st, 2004 Fedor Emelianenko beat and battered an over matched Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira en route to a unanimous decision victory and, more importantly, the Pride FC Heavyweight Championship.

Fedor was the best in the world.

Fast forward to January 2009, Fedor fought the then fearsome Andrei Arlovski. For many, watching Fedor Emelianenko being picked apart by the hands (and feet) of “The Pit-bull” was a surreal experience—until the Belorussian was knocked unconscious after attempting an ill-fated flying knee.

Fedor was still the best in the world.

Later in the same year, Fedor fought a real life “Cinderella Man” in Brett Rogers. After suffering a broken nose and a vicious beating in the opening frame, Fedor came back and sent his opponent crashing to the canvas in one devastating punch.

Fedor was still the best in the world?

There would be no uncertainty after Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum. Fabricio Werdum needed only one minute and nine seconds to submit the man once thought to be invincible. The “Last Emperor” had been dethroned with a single tap heard round the world.

Was Fedor ever the best in the world?

Does it matter?

Many Fedor supporters claim that the upcoming Strikeforce tournament will be where Fedor reasserts his dominance as the number one heavyweight in the world.

This claim is highly suspect.

Before Fedor can do anything, he needs to defeat the mammoth Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva. This will be no easy task since, according to a recent interview done by MMAjunkie.com, Silva is “not even trying to look beyond this fight.” He is going to be focused, ready and a dangerous opponent for Emelianenko.

Keep in mind that Fedor was getting peppered by Hong Man Choi, an uncharacteristically tall Korean, before exploiting the former kick boxer’s lack of a ground game. While Silva is not as big as Choi, his hands are equally as heavy—if not more so—and he sports a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to boot.

Fighting “Bigfoot” is hazardous for a Fedor who, since the Arlovski fight, has been more vulnerable to strikes. Antonio Silva stands a high chance of proving Fedor’s “mystique” to be little more than a farce, the early trouble against Mike Kyle back in December notwithstanding.

Even if Fedor manages to make it to the semifinals, he will very likely face the resurgent Alistair Overeem. Needless to say, Overeem’s raw strength, elite K-1 level striking and grappling savvy will present problems that Fedor will have serious difficulty solving. He is called “Ubereem” for a reason.

IF Fedor manages to win the tournament—and that “if” is about the size of James Thompson’s ear during the Kimbo fight—it simply won’t matter.

He’ll still have to fight Overeem again for the Strikeforce heavyweight title since the tournament is not for the championship but rather an arbitrary “Grand Prix” title and a shot at the champ, Overeem. If Fedor beats the Dutchman, there will be a rematch. If Overeem loses in the quarterfinals and Fedor wins the tournament without having to fight him, then Fedor will still have to fight him for the belt.

All roads lead to Overeem’s knee through Fedor’s face.

In addition, a triumphant return of “The Last Emperor” is meaningless because Fedor is lacking mainstream recognition. While the “casual fan” is often lambasted throughout MMA forums, his influence cannot be understated.

For example, the recent sales figures for EA Sports MMA and UFC Undisputed 2010 show the true power of the UFC brand, with the UFC game selling more games in its opening week than EA Sports MMA did in its lifetime.

As the UFC continues to establish their brand, Fedor’s accomplishments will eventually fade in importance—if they have not done so already! The ultimate fate of Fedor Emelianenko, regardless of whether or not he wins the tournament, is to fade into obscurity and to be remembered only by the likes of MMA historians and discontented fans.

The only difference victory in the upcoming tournament makes is the tone in which the footnote Fedor makes in MMA history is written.

The full text of the MMAjunkie.com interview with Antonio Silva can be read here or in the link provided in the text. The sales figures for EA Sports MMA and UFC Undisputed 2010 are here and here respectively as well as linked in the text. 

Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva Results, News And More