Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brock Lesnar Dream Match-Up
By: Sensei Phillip Palmejar
In a recent Underground forum chat, UFC President Dana White alluded to a potential super match-up between former Pride FC Heavyweight Champion Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar. As soon as the media and arm chair fight jockeys heard the news, the internet was ablaze with speculation of whether or not anyone believed that Dana White could get Fedor out of retirement. All hopes and dreams were soon dashed as White later concluded that he was simply fielding a question of which has no likelihood of ever coming to fruition. That being said, I am here to break down this dream world confrontation to see which of the big-money, super-star heavyweights would actually come out on top.
When conducting a hypothetical fight such as this, one needs to take into account a certain number of specific items that will likely influence the outcome to a great degree. Those items are technical skill, experience, size and strength and previous opponents. With these items all taken into account, a more legitimate victor can be crowned based on the conglomerated results of the previously mentioned aspects of data.
Let us begin by breaking down the physique and talents of one of the largest over all men to compete in the UFC to date, Brock Lesnar. Cutting down from upwards of 280 pounds, Brock was not only one of the heaviest fighters to ever step into the octagon in a post weight class era, but also one of the very strongest. At 6’3” and wide as a truck, Brock was a fearsome and intimidating opponent for any man on the planet who dared to stand across from the explosive wrestler. Fighting out of Team Death Clutch in Minnesota, Brock had a collegiate and professional wrestling back ground that allowed him to utilize his size with stellar takedowns, top control and the speed of a lightweight.
When it comes to wrestling, one needs to understand the extent to which Lesnar has excelled. In college, Brock competed all four years starting at Bismarck State College and moving over to a larger division I program at the University of Minnesota. There, he was able to become a two-time All-American, two-time Big Ten Conference Champion as well as the 2000 NCAA heavyweight champion finishing with a record of 106-5 in his four years of collegiate level wrestling.
With this level of competition under his belt, Brock was ready to embark on a career of professional athletics ranging from Pro-football (cut from the Vikings in pre-season) to Pro-wrestling, both in and out of the United States. It was not until 2007 that Brock made his professional MMA debut with K-1’s Hero’s organization at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum in California. He ran through his opponent, Min Soo Kim, who was actually a late replacement for Korean giant Hong-man Choi, in barely over a minute, taking him down instantly and finishing with punches from the top position.
His pre-destined drubbing of Min Soo Kim (currently retired at 3-7 with all losses by stoppage) sky rocketed Brock’s stock straight into a marquee match-up against former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir (16-6). Mir openly invited the challenge wanting to prove that cross over pro-wrestlers were not of the caliber of true hardened MMA combatants. He did just that, handing the behemoth the first loss of his career and derailing the Lesnar hype train than ran on tracks of undulating teenagers and mid-western wrestling fans.
In his next four outings, spanning from August 2008 to July 2010, Brock Lesnar went undefeated, capturing the UFC heavyweight strap from legendary fighting figure Randy Couture (19-11). He was able to retain the title for two defenses, re-matching Frank Mir into a half guard TKO and submitting fellow power-house Shane Carwin (12-2) by Arm-Triangle Choke. No other heavyweight champion in the history of the UFC has had more than two title defenses in a row.
In a little over a year’s time from his second title defense and being on top of the fighting world, Brock Lesnar would retire from professional MMA and the UFC to head back to the squared circle of the WWE. He suffered two devastating TKO losses at the hands of Cain Velasquez (10-1) and Alistair Overeem (36-11), subsequently diminishing his desire to fight inside the cage. He retired with a record of 5-3 with 7 of his 8 bouts creating record breaking pay per view draws for the UFC.
Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko is widely regarded as one of the greatest MMA fighters to ever step into a cage or ring. Touted and argued by many as the best and most talented fighter ever, Fedor had an aura around him during his career that up to that point in time was completely unrivaled. Not a single personality in the history of Mixed Martial Arts held the kind of prestige and persona that Fedor did during the height of his career. Standing at a generous 6 foot tall and weighing in at a poultry 223, Fedor held a record in the heavyweight division that will most likely never be beaten, 27 wins without defeat. If you take out the controversial doctor stoppage loss to Tsuyoshi Kosaka (26-18) that occurred as a result of an illegal elbow, then Fedor’s record extends to an unprecedented 31 victories without defeat.
Fedor fights out of Russia, representing the Red Devil Sport Club in St. Petersburg. He is also a four time World Combat Sambo Champion and has trained with the likes of Ernesto Hoost and Tyrone Sponge, two of the world’s most renowned kick boxing competitors, amongst others. Throughout his career, Emelianenko made a regular habit of finishing larger and physically superior athletic opponents despite his size discrepancy for the heavyweight division. He choked out Kazayuki Fujita (15-9) who is also 6’0” but 240 pounds of Japanese wrestling fury, knocked out 6’3”, 240lb Gary Goodridge (23-22), submitted physical specimen Kevin “The Monster” Randleman (17-16), submitted 260+ pound kick-boxer Mark Hunt (8-7), finished the 7’2” Korean Hong Man Choi (2-3) at 352 pounds, knocked out 6’8” former UFC Champion Tim Sylvia (31-7), who tips the scales at the heavyweight limit and finally he defeated K-1 World Grand Prix 3 time winner Semmy Schilt (26-14) who stands a towering 6’11” and possesses some of the most potent stand up on the planet.
Stepping into the cage, one would have to visually assume that Emelianenko was about to get train wrecked by the larger, more intimidating Lesnar. Giving up over 50 pounds of pure muscle and 3 inches of height, Fedor would look like a challenger far out of his league and weight division. Those experienced MMA aficionados would know other-wise, understanding that the stoic, devout Orthodox Christian Russian has a wealth of martial knowledge and cage stewardship far beyond his physique. No words would be exchanged during the stare down as Emelianenko does not speak great English and has never been known for disrespect or pre-fight hype talk.
The bell rings and Lesnar bolts across the ring toward the upright Russian. Fedor would angle out to his right, avoiding the dangerous straight right hand of Lesnar that put Randy Couture out of commission and won him the UFC title. Despite his advanced knowledge and ring prowess, Lesnar would get the better of Fedor in the opening round and would bully the 2004 Pride Heavyweight Grand Prix winner to the mat via an exchange with the cage wall and a double leg takedown that would stop a semi-truck.
On his back, Fedor would show some strong defense and great hip movement but with the power, balance and explosiveness of Lesnar, he would be unable to unlodge the behemoth from the superior position. With less than a minute remaining in the first round, Lesnar would find himself searching for the stoppage as he pummeled the Russian from the top of half guard. The bell would sound, saving the emotionless Emelianenko and sending both men back to their corners for rest and direction.
While in the corner, Brock would be instructed to follow the same methodology of the first round, utilizing his size and wrestling to defeat his opponent by will of body alone. His trainer, Erik Paulson, would find nothing in the Russian’s game from the first round that would seem to be threatening the legitimate destruction of the legend at the hands of the WWE superstar.
Fedor’s corner on the other hand would be adamant about Fedor keeping the fight standing, knowing that another round under the 280 pound monster across the cage could spell disaster. They would implore the poker faced Emelianenko to utilize his great foot work and hand speed to counter the wrestling shots and level changes from the hulking NCAA Champion.
At the start of the second round, Lesnar steps out of his corner cautious and comfortable, visibly pleased with his first round performance. Fedor walks out as always, in the heat of battle with the expressions of a sleeping baby. His left eye swollen and bleeding, he leans his weight back, puts his hands up and moves in toward his larger foe. A slip and a weave and Fedor is clinched with the powerful Lesnar looking to create enough space to avoid the takedown. He is unsuccessful. Brock plants Fedor on his back again within the first minute off the second round. He is firing on all cylinders, reigning down the largest glove size in UFC history on the most storied heavyweight of our time. Fedor is frantically shifting and swaying his shoulders and hips underneath the swinging goliath, utilizing his arms and gloves to minimize the blows swarming his upper body. Then with split second precision, Fedor swings his left leg around the head of Brock, utilizing his complex guard and securing Lesnar’s right arm against his chest. Within the lapse of a second, Lesnar is screaming in pain and tapping the thigh of Fedor Emelianenko. He has lost the greatest heavyweight match up in history to the greatest heavyweight fighter in MMA history.
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