Fedor vs. Rogers: Putting Ascendancy To The Test

Fedor. 

That one word holds a lot of meaning for a lot of different people.  Some see him as the second coming of Superman, an unstoppable force in a sport that is full of uncertainty.  Other see him as the embodiment of hype because he doesn't fight the tough competition in the UFC.

Regardless of which side of the fence you stand on, you probably won't be missing his fight against Brett "The Grim" rogers this Saturday on CBS.

Many believe that Rogers hard hitting knockout power and straight down the pipe style are the perfect kryptonite for this Russian superhero.  Pundits and critics alike point to Fujita and Arlovski as the blueprint for Fedor's downfall. 

He can be hurt.  He can be pushed back.

And many believe Rogers is the perfect fighter to implement this blueprint Saturday night. "The Grim" is motivated, has the tools in the shape of his giant fists, and brings real skills to bear in the cage.  A place where Rogers feels right at home.

Beyond Rogers abilities, many people believe that this match will be a perfect storm of factors that will lead the the "Last Emperors" downfall.

The points that seem to come up again and again are Fedors marriage, his 3rd place ranking in the World Sambo Championship, and comments from his own trainers that Emelianenko did not train hard enough for Arlovski. A fight that most feel he wasn't winning until the flying knockout that ended the match.

On repeat viewings of the Arlovski fight one can see that Arlovski's strikes aren't as devastating as they appear, being deflected or absorbed.  The point being, if Fedor is able to demolish Arlovski in the first round without even trying, than that's hardly a point against the Russian maintaining his skills.

As far as the Russian national sport of sambo, Fedor did win a 2009 Russian Sambo Competition.  The rules of sambo and MMA are very different and it's hard to say that a 3rd place showing in a world competition heralds the end of Fedors supremacy.

When asked about his marriage to his high school sweetheart Marina, Fedor told CBS, "I don't think my marriage will affect anything in any way".  For a man who sees fighting as "100% mental", it's hard to believe he has let his focus slip that much. The couple has been dating for three years, and Fedor has been married before.

The only factor that truly presents itself as being a game changer will be the Cage itself. 

The ring is Emelianenko's natural fighting environment, and many other great PRIDE fighters have shown "ring rust" when adapting to the challenges of a chain-linked enclosed mat.  Looking back to Fedor's fights in PRIDE, no single moment stands out where the cage could have hurt his performances.

The cage could actually present a true boon to the Russian experiment by making his already formidable ground game even more vicious.  In a cage there would be no restarts to slow the action, and nowhere to hide when the sambo casting starts flying.

This will be a great bout to watch regardless of how your perceptions of the fighters color the match.  An undefeated knockout artist taking on a skillful master, Its a common storyline in the history of great MMA fights.  

Thinking back to your favorite fights there is always a sense of tension present.  The anticipation that the fight could end at any moment from a wild swing, or a quick submission.  It is one of the reasons MMA is so entertaining and engaging.

A Fedor fight multiplies this tension tenfold due to all of the expectations, hype, and armchair opinions.  Will your eyeballs be on the spot when Fedor is downed for the first time?  Will you see his hand raised in victory and cheer for your champion yet again?

Only Saturday night on CBS will bring the answer.  Even Fedor does not think that his winning streak will last forever.

Of course, This unassuming nature is at the heart of why so many people admire him.  A physically impressive human force with a gentle disposition, matched to sharp mind. A heavyweight who does not pound his chest in dominance over his defeated foes, but extends a gloved hand to pick them up.

Not even his most ardent detractor can say that Fedor is not a great ambassador for the sport. Even if he loses to Brett "The Grim" Rogers I will still be a huge fan of Fedor Emelianenko.