Under the Microscope: Analyzing Heavyweight Greats

Eric StintonFeb 15, 2016

Fedor Emelianenko

* Heavyweight Record: 21-3-1
* Opponent Winning Percentage: .687
* Longest Winning Streak: 16
* Record in Major Heavyweight Title Fights: 7-0
* Finish Percentage: 81
* Finished Percentage: 100
* Notable Victories: Heath Herring, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (twice), Kazuyuki Fujita, Mark Coleman (twice), Kevin Randleman, Mirko Filipovic, Mark Hunt, Tim Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski, Jeff Monson, Pedro Rizzo
* Career Accomplishments: Pride heavyweight champion, with two defenses; 2004 Pride heavyweight grand prix winner; World Association of Mixed Martial Arts heavyweight champion, with two defenses

CASE FOR: Emelianenko is a special fighter. From 2000 to 2009, “The Last Emperor” was unbeatable, the only hiccups on his record being a bogus loss that should have been ruled a no-contest and a no-contest against an opponent he would go on to crush in his next outing. Nine years of dominance is unfathomable this day and age, and it will likely stand for a very long time as the gold standard of greatness in any division. During the Russian’s reign, he racked up a perfect record in title fights, beating almost every top ranked fighter outside the UFC along the way. It bears mentioning that this was at a time when the UFC heavyweight lineup paled in comparison to Pride. Emelianenko not only totes the best overall record against a murderer’s row of opponents, but he finished all but four of them. His blending of skills into a cascade of violence was truly innovative for the heavyweights, and though he has never stepped foot inside the hallowed Octagon, he never really had to; he has a combined record of 10-2 against UFC champions and championship contenders, proof of how his skills would have transferred over. Face it: Most divisions have the odds-on favorite to be considered the Greatest of All-Time, the name that immediately jumps off the tongue when the conversation sparks. Emelianenko is clearly and unequivocally this name in the heavyweight division.

CASE AGAINST: There is no fun in dismissing a chance to deconstruct a legend, so let us have at it. The fact that Emelianenko has never fought in the UFC is enough to disqualify him from the jump; if a football player dominates the Canadian Football League, no one in their right mind would put him ahead of the players who dominated in the NFL. The competition is just on a whole different level. The proof is in the pudding, and the aggregate record of Emelianenko’s opponents paints a vignette of a talented fighter who did a fair bit of can smashing. Then there is the argument of getting demolished in all of his losses. A submission loss to Fabricio Werdum? Hey, everyone gets caught, but getting your block knocked off by Antonio Silva and inflated middleweight Dan Henderson does not constitute G.O.A.T.-hood. Emelianenko may require a fine comb to unearth his faults, but they are there, often enough to cast doubt in any kneejerk instinct to consider him the greatest without further inspection.

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