Fedor Emelianenko: How He Matches Up With the UFC Heavyweight Elite
Before Fedor Emelianenko lost to Fabricio Werdum, fans were demanding Dana White to get "The Last Emperor" to fight in the UFC Octagon. Contracts were negotiated before breaking down. The offer was still on the table till Emelianenko got caught in a first round armbar in his last fight, giving him his first official loss in MMA and the fans a bigger loss in not seeing him in the UFC.
Since that significant night last June, there hasn't been much pressure from the fans to see him in the UFC, but there are those still interested in debating how he matches up with the heavyweight elite in the biggest organization in the world.
It's something worth taking a look at because of the state of the heavyweight division in general, and the fascinating career Emelianenko has formed over the last 10 years.
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Frank Mir
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Mir’s strengths in this matchup include being aggressive with submissions off his back. It’s a position where Emelianenko’s power is usually evident, but if Mir ends up in guard, he may be able to replicate what Fabricio Werdum did in defeating him via armbar. If Emelianenko drops Mir and becomes reckless, he could find himself getting caught in a submission soon after.
On the feet, Mir has a technical advantage in his boxing and kicks, but he does not possess the power that Emelianenko has. If Emelianenko throws a right hand and becomes off balance, which he usually does because of the massive force he puts behind it, Mir could capitalize with a counter or by pulling guard.
What ends up being the “if factor” in this fight is whether or not Emelianenko keeps it on his feet or chooses to go to the ground. His fight with Werdum taught him a valuable lesson in not being reckless on the ground, and he probably takes the fight there eventually but is a lot more cautious. He avoids the submission this time and uses his ground and pound to stop Mir, as many of his opponents have done before.
Emelianenko wins by T(KO) or Mir wins by submission.
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Roy Nelson
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This is a tough style match-up for the Russian star. He is going to have to deal with a fighter in Nelson who possesses punching power, a great chin and excellent top control. If Nelson gets Emelianenko on his back, his chances of grinding out a decision win are very good. Game plans and a little bit of luck are keys to being victorious for both fighters in this bout.
This is a fight that has a good chance of going the distance. Nelson will have a tremendous size advantage, as most of Emelianenko's opponents do but in a unique way. When Nelson gets his opponent on the ground, his stomach alone is enough to wear them down. Before they know it, the fight could be over, or they are down a round or two.
The result of this fight depends on whether or not it takes place on the ground or standing. Emelianenko may rely on his right hand more in this fight than any other. If it puts Nelson down, it could force the referee to stop the bout. It wouldn't knock him out cold, but it would resemble the knockout Brett Rogers suffered versus Emelianenko, or more comparatively, Nelson's loss to Andrei Arlovski.
Emelianenko wins by T(KO) or Nelson wins by decision.
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Shane Carwin
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Emelianenko's advantages in this fight include having good submissions off his back and better cardio. Like the other fights, this one also ends up on the ground at some point during the first round and the battle of strength vs. technique will come into question, as it usually does in heavyweight bouts and is probably answered fairly quick.
Brett Rogers showed that if a bigger man can get Emelianenko down, they can be very effective with ground and pound. Carwin is capable of doing this, but Emelianenko should be strong enough to weather the storm and catch a submission early on or late in the fight and most likely by armbar. It comes that fast, his opponents are tapping before they know what hit them.
Carwin can always land that one big punch, but Emelianenko should be crafty enough to avoid it. If he does gets caught, he should be able to survive long enough to get Carwin to follow him to the ground. This would be a battle that ends quick. The pick is about even.
Emelianenko wins by submission or Carwin wins by T(KO).
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Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brock Lesnar
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Lesnar and Carwin are even when it comes to having a size advantage on Emelianenko. Both are massive heavyweights at more than 265 pounds. This fight probably follows a similar pattern to Emelianenko vs. Carwin, but to make things interesting, Emelianenko has a great chance of knocking Lesnar out while standing and trading punches.
It's not really a questions of how well Lesnar takes a punch. He takes a good one for sure. He just doesn't know how to react to it. Falling over and rolling into a ball isn't going to be enough to stop the assault that Emelianenko rains down on him if he decides to protect himself that way.
Lesnar probably gives Emelianenko problems early, and is fully capable of out-wrestling him for three rounds. If it goes past two, Lesnar probably has the advantage. It's one of the harder picks to make, but it would probably be the most exciting fight out of all of the possible matchups. Emelianenko would also have to be careful about how he punches Lesnar's massive head. He is prone to breaking his hand.
Emelianenko wins by T(KO) or Lesnar wins by decision.
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Junior Dos Santos
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As of right now, this is a tough fight to break down because of the unanswered questions. Dos Santos hasn't been tested on the ground, and nobody knows for sure how well he does when his opponent takes him there. For this fight, that questions probably still remains unanswered even after it's over.
Dos Santos has a win over Fabricio Werdum; something Emelianenko doesn't have. They were two very different scenarios so the results can't really be taken into account in determining who has the advantage in this fight. Both fights ended in the first round. Dos Santos knocked Werdum out with a vicious uppercut while Emelianenko suffered his first loss in 10 years via armbar.
In this fight, both fighters probably stand and strike for the majority of the bout. The only way it hits the ground is if someone gets dropped. It probably plays out like Emelianenko vs. Cro Cop, on a much lesser scale of significance but still remains an intriguing and fan friendly fight.
Emelianenko wins by decision or Dos Santos wins by T(KO).
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Cain Velasquez
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If UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez remains undefeated and meets up with Emelianenko, a fighter who stayed in the number one spot in the division for years, it would garner all types of attention from mainstream media and fans alike. It would be regarded as the biggest heavyweight fight of all time.
Velasquez has the best chance of beating Emelianenko in the UFC. He demeanor is similar, although not an exact copy, of the way Emelianenko carries himself inside and outside the cage.
Velasquez' combination of striking and wrestling supported by his endless cardio and durable chin would be something Emelianenko would have to work fighting against. He would not be able to rely on one big punch for this fight, and his best chance of winning would be on the ground; a place where Velasquez is no stranger.
If this fight goes five rounds, it's because Velasquez has controlled the majority of the bout and has not gotten caught with anything. He uses his excellent leg kicks and movement to keep Emelianenko on the outside. When it goes to the ground, his control and cardio keep him from slowing down and giving Emelianenko a chance to throw his legs over his head and catch an armbar.
Cain Velasquez wins by decision or Emelianenko wins via T(KO).
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