To Be Dethroned, One Must Be King First: Fedor Emelianenko's Loss Cements Legacy

"Sorry, but this article is complete trash".

"Musings of an ignoramus". 

"Wow you know nothing of MMA. Who paid you to write this slandering s**t? Delete this article."

These are just a few examples of the subsequent backlash created when Fedor Emelianenko's legacy is not only called into question, but harshly criticized. 

Once upon a time, Fedor Emelianenko was all but the consensus choice for not only the best heavyweight in the world, but the pound for pound greatest fighter on the planet. 

His heartstopping dominance in the now defunct PRIDE FC promotion helped forge what was a brilliant career, and Fedor's outstanding PRIDE accomplishments continue to carry his luster and legacy to this day. 

Once upon a time, there seemed to be very little hesitation in answering the question of who the best fighter in the world was.

Once upon a time.

However in recent years, Fedor's lack of hallmark fights and his contentment with fighting bronze medal fighters in a silver medal promotion should have served as a warning sign to MMA pundits as to whether or not Fedor Emelianenko was truly the greatest fighter in the world.  

Notice the use of the word "pundits" as opposed to fans.  Fans will be fans. 

Emotionally attached and undying in their loyalty, fans will convince themselves of their hero's greatness through even the most obvious signs that point to the contrary. 

So when Fedor Emelianenko lost his latest glorified feeder fight, his first loss since 2000, perhaps this finally opened the floodgates for the conversation we all (yes, even his fans) should have been having about Fedor for quite some time. 

A conversation that threatened to incite a riot when I more than touched upon it  back on June 3. 

Is Fedor Emelianenko's legacy tainted?

The writing was on the wall well before his shocking upset loss to the talented, but non-elite, Fabricio Werdum.  Now it's been permanently spraypainted on the building. 

For those who will continue to act as Fedor apologists or insist that Fedor's legacy of greatness is still in tact in spite of the beginning of the end coming to fruition, look no further than ESPN's (the mainstream sports network whose coverage of MMA has grown as the sport does), coverage of what many call the most shocking loss in MMA history.  

Fedor lost.  Now back to what you actually care about.

ESPN's lead stories were devoid of Fedor being submitted by Werdum, and  Fedor's infamous loss was absent in ESPN's famed top 10 list (a list that routinely features MMA bouts the night they occur).  Fedor was as close to MMA's version of Muhammad Ali as there has ever been, and he's even been compared to the greatest on numerous occasions.

Do you think Muhammad Ali's first title loss was back page news on any major network?

The lack of mainstream coverage of Fedor's otherwise groundbreaking loss proves something that anybody not emotionally invested in the former phenom should have known long ago.

Fedor's star only shined to the most hardcore of fans, and stepping outside of the Church of Fedor Emelianenko revealed a completely different story than what was printed in his bibles (many variations of which can be found on this very site).

This is the part where MMA purist/ Internet fan (who accounts for less than 10 percent of the MMA audience) insists that the big evil corporate conglomerates of ESPN and Dana White (UFC) are in cahoots, and ESPN really doesn't know what they're doing when it comes to MMA. 

Ugh.

Even if ESPN didn't know what they were doing, their coverage of MMA and, in turn, the more lucrative viewership of the casual fan is monumental in deciding the direction of any MMA promotion.

Fair or not, if you're an Internet MMA purist, the Strikeforce's and UFC's of the world already have your money and attention and they are not as interested in catering to you as you'd like to believe.  

The fallout from Fedor's most recent loss has sparked many different conversations and debates.  One of which involves not only the future of "The Last Emperor", but the future of Strikeforce as well. 

This brings me to my next point. 

In my infamous anti-Fedor rant back on June 3rd, I compared Fedor Emelianenko to Kimbo Slice from the standpoint that both seemed to be taking 'safe' fights given where each were in their careers. 

As absurd as such a comparison sounds, the possible downfall of Srikeforce would inevitably bring such comparisons to light.

Just remember where you heard it first.

EliteXC put all their eggs into the Kimbo Slice basket.  He was their biggest star.  he was their cash cow. 

When Kimbo lost in the first round to the nameless Seth Petruzelli in a fight he was supposed to win, many called Kimbo's MMA acumen into question.  The cash cow had been tipped.  The legend of Kimbo Slice had been brought to its knees, and EliteXC would soon follow.

Fast-forwarding to present day, Strikeforce put most, if not all, of their eggs into the Fedor Emelianenko basket.  He is their biggest star.  He is their cash cow. 

Since Fedor lost in the first round to the floundering underdog Fabricio Wedum in a fight he was supposed to win, many have called Fedor's MMA legacy into question.  The cash cow has been tipped.  The legend of Fedor Emelianenko has been brought to its knees, and Strikeforce may soon follow.

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