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Fedor Emelianenko (shirtless) after a win – by – Press service of the government of Russia –

Top 10 Facts about Fedor Emelianenko

Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko is a Russian heavyweight mixed martial artist (MMA), judoka, and Sambist. Fedor Emelianenko was born on September 28th, 1976 in the city of Rubizhne in the Soviet Union.

Throughout his career, Emelianenko has won very many accolades. This includes the FIAT World Combat Sambo Championship, the MMA Pride Fighting Championships, and the Russian Judo Federation National Championship. He is regarded as the greatest MMA fighter ever by both fans and opponents alike.

Emelianenko鈥檚 career began with an emphatic win on May 21st, 2000. It can be argued he has been at the top of his game ever since.

Below is a list of interesting facts about Fedor Emelianenko.

1. He Was Not Impressive at a Young Age

By watching any of Emelianenko鈥檚 fights, you can鈥檛 be quilted for thinking he is the scariest man to be stuck in a ring with. However intimidating and dominant Emelianenko is in a cage, he had very humble beginnings.

Fedor鈥檚 father was a welder and his mother was a teacher. He started practicing and learning Judo and Sambo at 11 years of age. This was under the tutorship of Vinovich Gavrilova. Later, his parents enrolled him in a sports class taught by Vladimir Voronov who would become his professional coach.

Voronov would later remark that Fedor Emelianenko was no more impressive than his fellow trainees. He became successful as a result of dedication, persistence, and hard work.

2. Fedor Became an MMA Fighter Due to Financial Problems

Emelianenko got his 鈥淢aster of Sports鈥� certification in Sambo and Judo in 1997. Later he became part of the Russian national judo team for the 1997 Olympics.

However, Emelianenko had to leave the National team as a result of financial issues. He, therefore, decided to focus on MMA which he deemed more lucrative (Oh how right he was). His other option at the time was to become a hired muscle for the Russian mafia.

3. He Is a Close Friend to Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin and Fyodor Yemelyanenko – by premier.gov.ru –

It’s unclear what sparked Fedor’s friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but it’s likely their common passion for judo. Putin has been a lifelong martial artist, beginning with Sambo and progressing to a 5th-degree black belt in Judo.

Putin has attended numerous of Fedor’s fights, including the M-1 Global card in Russia in 2001, where he congratulated Fedor ringside after his victory.

Fedor was appointed to Russia’s Presidential Council on Physical Culture and Sports by Putin in 2012, replacing Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. During Putin’s presidential reelection campaign the same year, he also campaigned for him.

4. Despite Constant Interest from the UFC, Fedor Never Played in the Competition

 Fedor Emelianenko is arguably the greatest fighter who has never competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Fedor’s relationship with the UFC dates back more than a decade, and it’s disputed if UFC parent company Zuffa bought PRIDE only to entice Fedor to the American promotion.

When Affliction Entertainment went bankrupt in 2009, UFC President Dana White attempted to sign Fedor. Fedor was offered $2 million per bout and a title chance against then-champion Brock Lesner.

However, contract negotiations fell through because the UFC refused to cross-promote with M-1 Global. During Fedor’s retirement in 2012, White attempted to persuade “The Last Emperor” to fight Lesnar, but it never happened.

5. His First Loss Was Controversial and Brought an Uproar

In 2000, Fedor lost in 17 seconds after a technical knockout, the first loss of his career. This loss, however, stemmed from an illegal blow (an elbow) which reopened a wound. According to many, this should have disqualified his opponent, Tsuyoshi Kohsaka.

The circumstances brought an uproar from fans and Fedor鈥檚 camp alike due to the nature and technicality. However, the loss stood and put a dent in Fedor鈥檚 record.

This loss also marked the start of the longest winning run in the sport to this date. A fete that will be hard to replicate let alone surpass.

6. He Won Consecutively for a Decade

Fedor Emelianenko after a sambo win – by Thaifighter911 –

Fedor鈥檚 first loss came in 2000 to Tsuyoshi Kohsaka. After this loss, he went on a 28-fight unbeaten streak. This streak includes a doctor’s stoppage victory over Kohsaka in a rematch and championship wins in three separate promotions. The unbeaten streak lasted for a decade (2000 鈥� 2010).

Fedor’s 10-year winning streak came to an end on June 26, 2010. Fabricio Werdum defeated him in a deep armbar for the tap at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum. Before his four-year retirement, he lost two more times in a row against Ant么nio “Bigfoot” Silva and Dan Henderson.

7. Considered the Greatest Fighter of All Time by Many

Fedor Emelianenko – by Bruno Massami –

So far, no other fighter has amassed as many MMA awards as Fedor has during his career. Fedor’s skill level makes it unsurprising that he’s been praised by some of the best fighters in the world, although he’s seen better days.

Emelianenko is praised by people from all professions, fans, and even fellow celebrities. Examples include UFC Legend Georges St-Pierre and other celebrities such as Chuck Norris and Mike Tyson.

He is regarded as the greatest MMA heavyweight fighter of all time by ESPN, MMAFighting.com, and Sherdog, among others. Labelling Emelianenko the greatest of all time is a sound estimation of his status in competitive martial arts.

8. He Has Many Professions

Despite being a professional MMA, Sambo, and Judo fighter, Fedor is educated and qualified in other professions. He is a certified electrician and a firefighter.

Emelianenko graduated with honors from a professional trade school as an electrician in 1994 after finishing high school in 1991. He served in the Russian Army from 1995 to 1997, first as a Military Firefighter, then as a member of the Tank Division near Nizhny Novgorod.

9. Has Been Married Three Times

Fedor has been married three times to two women, twice to his first wife Oksana. He married Oksana in 1999, two years after completing his military service. Oksana was someone he had known since high school.

In the same year that they married, they received their first child, a daughter named Masha. In the year 2006, Oksana and Fedor divorced. After his divorce, he was in a relationship with his long-time girlfriend Marina, and the couple welcomed a daughter named Vasilia in December 2007.

The pair married in October of 2009, while they were both in their early twenties. Elizaveta, their second daughter, was born in 2011. In the year 2013, they divorced. Later in 2014, Emelianenko remarried his first wife, Oksana.

10. A Highly Decorated Fighter with Many Accolades Under His Belt

Fedor Emelianenko in a match – by Marty Rockatansky –

Throughout his career, Fedor has participated in 47 professional matches. He has won 40 of them, lost 6, and one was not contested. He recorded 16 wins by knockout, 15 by submission, and 9 by decision. He has lost five by knockout, one by submission, and none by decision.

Fedor Emelianenko has won numerous titles and championships, as well as awards, in a variety of sports, most notably in the MMA Pride Fighting Championships, where he was the heavyweight champion from 2003 until 2007.

He also won bronze medals in the Russian Judo Federation National Championships in 1998 and 1999.

Aside from that, he has won heavyweight titles in the FIAS World Combat Sambo Championship in the years 2002, 2005, and 2007.