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.