Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
3. Faceplanting Andrei Arlovski at Affliction 2
After defeating Sylvia, Fedor was slated to face another recent UFC heavyweight champion in Arlovski. While Sylvia was 2-1 against Arlovski, that was due to Arlovski's chin failing him at key moments. Arlovski was the far faster, more skilled striker of the two, and he was highly motivated to prove himself against Emelianenko. In fact, this might have been Arlovski at his very best. Since those two losses for the UFC heavyweight championship against Sylvia, he had gone 5-0, with a dominant decision over future champion Fabricio Werdum and knockouts of Jake O'Brien and top contenders Ben Rothwell and Roy Nelson, with the iron-chinned Nelson being knocked out for the first time in his career. Arlovski trained for the fight like a man possessed, rightly viewing it as the opportunity of his life.
And for the first three minutes, Arlovski looked superb. He was beating Fedor to the punch, throwing fast and accurate combinations that had the Russian legend flummoxed. It was unclear how Emelianenko was going to win, as Arlovski showed a great sense of distance and didn't let the shorter man get too close, pelting him when he attempted to do so. But this is where true greatness distinguishes itself. Fedor never panicked or doubted he would win. When Arlovski went for an ill-advised jumping knee, feeling himself too much, Fedor slammed him with the perfect counter. Arlovski returned to the canvas out cold and Fedor walked off triumphantly, making for one of the greatest pictures in the sport's history.
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