Fedor Who?

By Patrick Keane
In a cold mining town in Russia lies a mythic enigma, his personality is humble and simple, his surroundings are freezing and harsh.
Fedor Emelianenko is one of the greatest Mixed Martial Artists ever. His expressionless face adds to the mystery of his character. No panic or nerves seem to enter the subconscious interior of the Russian machine.
His secluded training regime is rigorous and prolific; the camp has the air of simplicity, with no plush gym installed around him. Core training seems to be the key, what you can do with your body is the weapon. Nutritious stews and hot natural saunas keep the champion in check. The natural aura of things seems to match his natural ability to fight.
Decimating and defeating names like Cro Cop, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Tim Sylvia and Mark Coleman, Fedor has accumulated an impressive record of 31 wins and 1 questionable defeat. His status in his own country is that of an icon, that pedestal is slowly being shared and reflected in the western world, with many fans paying to watch his fights in the Strike Force corporation.
How do you deal with a fighter whose hands contain dynamite power and whose submission mastery eclipses most Jui Jitsu specialists?
Many people will remember the brute force of Kevin Randleman as he dropped Fedor onto his head, only to find seconds later he was tapping from a kimura implemented by the Russian powerhouse. Some remember Fujita rocking the pound for pound king with a right hand, again only to be knocked out in the same round. Fedor is a man who finds a way to win; he systematically finds his opponents weaknesses and exploits it with devastating effect.
This week he goes up against Fabricio Werdum, a fighter with a wealth of experience and one who has ventured into the UFC ranks. With wins over Gonzaga, Vera and Alistair Overeem, Werdum is not a man to be underestimated, as he could be the banana skin in Fedor’s late defining career.

Big Two Weeks For The MMA Heavyweight World

By Patrick Keane
With both the UFC and Strike Force showcasing their high brand heavyweight names, I want to highlight how important these next two weeks will be in the shifting and shaping of the MMA heavyweight division.
Bring on the heavyweights.
Firstly I must discuss the most eagerly anticipated UFC bout in the history of the company. Brock Lesnar versus Shane Carwin is a heavyweight bout to end all heavyweight bouts. Both men tip the scales at the 260 weight, and both defy logic on the subject of huge athletes in sport.
Where Brock is a monster of a man who can physically handle anyone in the UFC, Carwin has managed to stop all his opponents in the first round of every one of his bouts. Both are top class wrestlers, both have crushed top heavyweight contender Frank Mir, and both are eager to square off in this real life clash of the titans.
On the opposite side we have the smaller company Strike Force, with arguably the most influential and greatest fighter in MMA on their roster. The name Fedor rings alarm bells for every fighter who puts on the gloves. Who else has earned nicknames like ‘The Last Emperor’ and the ‘devourer of worlds’? He dominated pride for years and recently defeated Strike Force’s Brett ‘The Grim’ Rogers, with a ruthless TKO in the second round. In his way however is the vastly experienced former UFC fighter Fabricio Werdum, who himself is coming off a great victory over heavyweight contender Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva, who you probably saw recently outclass former UFC champ Andrei Arlovski.
The ongoing debate will always ask about Fedor and his connection or lack there of connection with the UFC. Some will question his legacy; others will stand by the ‘Russian Experiment’ and his refusal to join the undoubtedly dominant company fronted by the ever outspoken Dana White.
That debate is for another day. I want to end this blog by mentioning two other fighters who have a say in the heavyweight mix. Most people will brandish the names of Fedor and Lesnar, but have people forgotten about two heavyweights waiting in the background. Undefeated Cain Velasquez may not be the size of Brock or have the brand name of Fedor, but he is young, Hungary and is coming off the back of a knockout victory over MMA legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. The other fighter is the once lanky Alistar Overeem, who is now and has been of late a legitimate bulky heavyweight who made easier work of Brett Rogers than Fedor did. He will certainly offer the biggest threat to Fedor Emelianenko’s crown and lasting legacy.

The Return of The Iceman Liddell

Patrick Keane

A man lies dazed and unconscious on the canvas; a referee and medical team are standing over him. Another man charges backwards, his arms out to his side, an angry expression on his face, a sense of intensity and relief fills his pacey surge across the cage. It is an iconic picture, one that MMA viewers have seen many times over the reign of the once dominant Chuck ‘The Iceman’ Liddell.

Whether it is the kick to Renato Sobral, the combination on Tito or the good night Vernon White fight, Liddell will go down in MMA history as one of the most devastating strikers in the Business. After becoming the UFC champion after Knocking out MMA legend Randy ‘The Natural’ Couture, the Mohawk KO artist defended and dispatched opponents from the caliber of Jeremy Horn and pride veteran ‘The Axe Murderer’ Wanderlei Silva.

Liddell will return to the ring at UFC 115 against former middleweight champion Rich Franklin, whose coming off the back of a brutal KO loss to one of Liddell’s former victims Vitor Belfort.

With both fighters being big draws in their respected divisions, the fight will naturally make big money on Pay Per View sales. But is the UFC overlooking the health of an aging fighter for the value of financial gain? Is this Liddell’s final pride before the disastrous fall?

Recent pictures leaked from the Iceman’s training camp are hinting that I will eat my words. Images of a toned and much leaner Liddell show that he is taking this comeback very seriously, but at 40, is Liddell’s promise of a last title run an unrealistic dream by a fighter not ready to let go?

Loosing 4 of his last 5 fights, the last being to the current Light Heavy Weight Champion Shogun Rua, many believe Liddell’s latest comeback to be ill advised for a fighter who has looked half the athlete he was. His reactions and reflexes aren’t what they were, and his once reliable granite chin has worn out its resistance.

Others will point to Randy Couture for inspiration. Being written off for being to old has been a current theme through his late career, but just ask Tim Sylvia and Gabriel Gonzaga how tough the old man really is, after he regained the Heavy Weight Title at the ripe old age of 43.

Liddell is already considered a legend, who holds the longest consecutive knock out streak in the UFC (7 fights), but for Franklin, this is a chance for a big scalp of a big name, and will well and truly get his career back on track with a victory over ‘The Iceman’.

It’s a big fight for both men.