Fedor Emelianenko vs. Cain Velasquez: Head-to-Toe Breakdown

Fedor Emelianenko's management wants to put their man against former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in Moscow, Russia.

The UFC has declined (maybe it was too Rocky III for them).

However, it's a fun fight to speculate about. How would Fedor fair against Cain? Would Emelinanenko's submissions prevail or would Velasquez's blend of high-level wrestling and kickboxing prove too much for him?

Striking: Slight Edge to Velasquez

Emelianenko might have more power in his hands than Velasquez, but Velasquez's striking is far more technical.

The edge goes to Velasquez, but only slightly. Emelianenko could still catch him with one of his trademark casting punches.

Wrestling: Even

Cain Velasquez is a two-time NCAA Division-I All-American wrestler and Fedor Emelianenko is not.

This wide difference in wrestling accolades would make many think that Velasquez has a vast advantage in wrestling, but Emelianenko has done very well against more credentialed wrestlers such as Mark Coleman.

Even though Velasquez has a wrestling advantage on paper, he wouldn't be able to toss Fedor around so easily in the fight.

Submissions: Fedor Emelianenko

Fedor Emelianenko's submission abilities have gotten him out of trouble plenty of times (most notably when he was suplexed on his head by Kevin Randleman).

Of his 32 victories, 16 have been by submission.

Velasquez, on the other hand, has yet to win by submission and when we've seen him off his back, he's opted to get back to his feet rather than try to submit his opponent.

Conditioning: Cain Velasquez

Cain Velasquez has a reputation as a heavyweight with the cardiovascular conditioning of a lightweight. That is to say, the man is tireless.

While Fedor Emelianenko doesn't have poor conditioning, he hasn't looked in the best of shape lately and likely wouldn't be able to keep up with Velasquez if he turned up the pace.

Training Camp: Cain Velasquez

Velasquez trains at the American Kickboxing Academy with the likes of Daniel Cormier, Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck.

Fedor Emelianenko's training camp is apparently so bad that his own brother, Aleksander Emelianenko, went on a scathing tirade against Fedor's trainers, blaming them for Fedor's misfortunes in the cage.

This one is a no-brainer, Cain Velasquez and AKA all day.

Experience: Even

Fedor is the veteran of 37 fights, but if he fights in the UFC it'll be in a cage.

The cage has been the kryptonite of many Pride fighters and Fedor himself is only 1-3 in the cage.

Velasquez may have far less fights, but all of them have been in a cage.

It's a toss-up because of the cage issue. The experience factor could be given to either man.

Winner: Cain Velasquez by Unanimaous Decision

Cain Velasquez can out-hustle Fedor Emelianenko and make him work.

While Fedor can try to land bombs against Velasquez's suspect chin, Velasquez might have an easier time of just pressing Fedor up against the cage—a place where the Russian will be uncomfortable and inexperienced.

However, it's likely that Fedor could pull out a quick throw and a submission to follow like the Fedor of old, so you can never really count him out.

If nothing else, the fight would be fun to watch.