Cagewriter - UFC

Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:20 pm EST

Chicago welcomes and mocks Fedor

Part of Fedor Emelianenko's charm is that he doesn't look like a killer. Because of his stoic demeanor, he's often compared to the Dolph Lundgren character "Drago" from Rocky IV. True, Fedor does appear to come from the same Russian sports machine but he's not a ripped 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds. At 6-foot, 230, he looks like your chubby next door neighbor. But result are results. He's 30-1 with the only loss coming because of a cut. His fight against Brett Rogers at the Sears Centre in the northwest suburbs of Chicago is getting coverage in the local newspapers, but is it doing more harm than good? In a Wednesday story, the Chicago Sun-Times did a nice job of explaining why Fedor is so awesome but how many people will get by this photo and blurb on the back cover to give MMA a chance?

"... but with a body like that, how can Russian Fedor Emelianenko be the best mixed martial artist in the world."

CBS will be presenting the same image on tomorrow night nationwide at 9 p.m. What will a nation of casual fight fans think when they see the Russian? The only thing that will solve negative thoughts about the physique of MMA's best fight will be a dominant performance. A slow-paced fight like the one UFC featured during the "The Ultimate Fighter" with Roy Nelson and Kimbo Slice could hurt MMA a bit in front of an audience of 2-3 million. It was disappointing to hear the UFC's Chael Sonnen say he didn't want to see the fight because it's, "two fatties swinging like bums."

He can disrespect the one-dimensional Rogers if he'd like, but it's ridiculous for a guy inside the sport to take that sort of swipe at Fedor.

Photo via Twitter.com/allelbows

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32 Comments

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  1. Rob R
    1. Posted by Rob R Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:32 pm EST

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    Wow. Disappointing from Sun-Times. More disappointing from Sonnen.
    Sonnen really chose some nice (though honest) words to describe his Okami fight at the pre-fight conference too. This guy should never have a mic put in front of him if the idea is to garner interest for an event.
  2. benjiw4
    2. Posted by benjiw4 Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:37 pm EST

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    It's not like "The Grim" has a dynamic physique either. Fedor might appear a bit soft on the outside but his fists are hammers and if you have ever seen tape of his training you know he is in phenomenal shape. It gets pretty cold in Russia, you need a small fat layer to stay warm.
  3. Rob R
    3. Posted by Rob R Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:37 pm EST

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    ...and is Sonnen really railing on other fighters' striking? I'm sorry...I'll get back to you guys when I find an impressive KO win on his resume. I mean...I see Jeremy Horn (a BJJ player) and Terry Martin (Belfort's punching bag) knocked him out...but I don't see any really good KO WINS from Sonnen, unless you like Suloev.
  4. David B
    4. Posted by David B Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:42 pm EST

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    Both guys are a bit sloppy looking , but don't let the looks fool you. Even tho they did a good job explaining why Fedor is such a beast - The casual sports fan will just look and laugh . The writer must like boxing ;)
  5. Rob R
    5. Posted by Rob R Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:45 pm EST

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    By the way...Is anyone on here from San Jose?
    If you're from San Jose...and you've been supporting Strikeforce and attending their MMA events, etc. for the past 3 years and their kickboxing events before that...are you a little miffed that they've taken what could be the best card they'll have this year (and maybe ever) and held it in Chicago?
    I would be.
  6. Robert C
    6. Posted by Robert C Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:46 pm EST

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    Sonnen is quite full of himself. Acts like he should headline every event....Dude, look at your record!! Fedor or Brett would kick your asss.
    We will all know tomorrow night what that body of Fedor's can do. or not do..
  7. Patrón
    7. Posted by Patrón Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:59 pm EST

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    Chael Sonnen is an idiot, he's always saying stupid shyt. I hope to some day see him KTFO
  8. dante040
    8. Posted by dante040 Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:02 pm EST

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    a fighters physic has little to do with there ability. Kimbo Slice looks very menacing with his bulging musles and ripped physic, but he got his ass handed to him but the guy who looks like the guy who orders two whoppers at BK for a snack
  9. Steven W
    9. Posted by Steven W Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:03 pm EST

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    god i hate sonnen, he always says some ignorant sh!t and he's not anywhere near talented enough to back it up. he had a good night against a fighter who hadn't fought in a long time....but he's no champ, he's not half a champ. gatekeeper for the gatekeeper at best.
    "Demian Maia's run through Team Quest ends tonight!" -Chael Sonnen
    then at the end of the night his tone turned to "how was I supposed to train for that? I never had anybody just pull guard on me like that!"
    Idiot.
  10. jayyolf1
    10. Posted by jayyolf1 Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:05 pm EST

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    I think its awesome that Fedor has the physique of a regular guy; it lets you know he probably isn't on any PEDs and he still kicks ass. As far as the comment from the paper - ""... but with a body like that, how can Russian Fedor Emelianenko be the best mixed martial artist in the world."" - That's superg@y; And my response to that is to say it just like J. Fox said in "Miami Vice" - "do you wanna fkkkk him, or work with him"
  11. steve
    11. Posted by steve Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:11 pm EST

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    Would it be to much to ask to get a little coverage of the strikeforce challengers event that's happening tonight?
  12. vagabond_gr
    12. Posted by vagabond_gr Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:28 pm EST

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    Have you seen the physique of most heavyweight olympic wrestlers and weight lifters? Would you say they're weak? This is ridiculus, fighting is not body building, you have to *be* tough, not look tough.
  13. AdamG
    13. Posted by AdamG Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:28 pm EST

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    CC Sabathia just killed it in the World Series! Physique does not an athlete make.
  14. li z
    14. Posted by li z Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:29 pm EST

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    you have no room to talk if terry martin knocked you out...(whom is also a fattie)
  15. John A
    15. Posted by John A Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:32 pm EST

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    MMA is becoming a joke. The desperate attempt to overhype the sport with average Athletes is becoming very comical. Fedor will never be a Mike Tyson or Ali. C'mon man! The person who compared this fool to Mike Tyson or Ali should be punched in the face immediately.
  16. dudedude
    16. Posted by dudedude Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:44 pm EST

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    @ John A
    An abortion would have been a better choice for your mom and dad.
    Fedor would demolish Ali and Tyson and it would be under 2 minutes.
    Let me make it easy for you to understand you dirty d i c k cheese eater.
    "Fedor is my favorite fighter" - Mike Tyson.
  17. austizz1e
    17. Posted by austizz1e Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:54 pm EST

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    chael sonnen shouldnt disrespect any fighter, including fedor AND rogers. sonnen would get destroyed by silva, and isnt high on the rankings cause he be submitted by maia, who got ktfo by marquadt. rogers and fedor are both good fighters worthy of the main event staus and respect from all fans
  18. Matt M
    18. Posted by Matt M Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:59 pm EST

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    joe - Fedor is not really technical with his punching, but his punching is also not windmill swinging. His striking is unorthodox, but its highly effective for grappling. And Fedor has also shown on a number of occasions he can throw really good straight right hands.
    Jonh A - Let me guess, you digest of combat sports is purely boxing. Fedor is not tyson or ali in boxing, but when it comes to sambo and mma, yes, he is the tyson and ali.
  19. Matt M
    19. Posted by Matt M Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:05 pm EST

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    Oh, and no need to fret about Sonnen's comment. It comes from the mouth of a bitter a**hole who knows he'll never be champ at middleweight.
  20. Benjamin
    20. Posted by Benjamin Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:09 pm EST

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    hey sonnen, you beat a half-retarded paulo filho on a bad night...your good.
    besides that...how can any mma fighter think fedor is a "fatty?" -is filho's gummy bear juice getting in your head?
  21. Matt M
    21. Posted by Matt M Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:12 pm EST

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    joe/nut - By the way, who are you picking in the pacquiao-cotto fight?
  22. Théodore
    22. Posted by Théodore Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:45 pm EST

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    Chubby is not fat.
    But consider the source: dana white is a pot belly roid head.
    kill zuffa, that's all. Just kill them. I don't care who paid you off codfield, when it's time to pull the plug it's time.
    Kill zuffa, that's all.
  23. Rob R
    23. Posted by Rob R Fri Nov 06, 2009 5:13 pm EST

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    Joe: Fedor and Rogers don't punch like Chad Dawson, but that's not the point. The point is that Chael Sonnen (a wrestler by trade who got KOd by Terry Martin) should not be one to criticize anyone's striking.
    And Fedor is far from "swinging like a bum."
    If Sonnen doesn't care about a Fedor fight because he thinks Fedor "swings like a bum," then what does he think of his own fights?
  24. sylee61801
    24. Posted by sylee61801 Fri Nov 06, 2009 5:59 pm EST

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    Fedor is awesome but I'm upset that he won't be fighting Couture, Brock, Carwin, Velasquez, Dos Santos, Mir, etc. while he's still in his prime. If he's not fighting any quality fighters, how can anyone say he's the best MMA fighter in the world? Beating Arvloski, Sylvia, and Hong Man Choi don't count considering the first two guys were nowhere near their prime at the time and Choi is not an MMA fighter. I loved watching Fedor's fights during the Pride days, but who is he going to fight now? I'll watch this fight since it's free, but I'll stick with the UFC.
  25. Matt M
    25. Posted by Matt M Fri Nov 06, 2009 6:24 pm EST

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    sylee61801 - Sylvia was not in his prime, but AA was. Just because AA got ko'd by Rogers doesn't mean hes past his prime. It just shows he has a glaring weakness in not covering his poor chin well. Hes a great fighter, and Fedor beat him.
    Rogers isn't great, but that doesn't mean hes not a quality opponent. And Antonio Silva, Werdum, and Overeem are just as good as the ufc's top heavyweights.
    Also, a Couture-Fedor fight is pointless. Randy, though still good, isn't in his prime anymore. The fight wouldn't be competitive at all. And Mir is one of the ufc's heavyweights that Fedor would beat 10 times out of 10. That fight would be pointless as well.

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