Can Anyone Beat Fedor?

Fedor Emelianenko 28-1. That’s a ridiculous won-loss record in today’s world of mixed martial arts big name fights for big dollars. Compare it to any other top contender, be it Couture (16-8), Arlovski (13-5) or Barnett (23-5), and it helps to put it in perspective.

Add to his impressive resume that his ONLY loss is at best controversial and was avenged in a punishing rematch. Tsuyoshi Kohsaka has the distinction of notching that lone victory over Fedor on December 22, 2000 at the King of Kings. Seventeen seconds into the fight doctors stopped the fight due to a cut from a punch that was so off the mark it was Kohsaka’s elbow that cut Fedor. Under RINGS rules elbow strikes are illegal unless you are wearing elbow pads which Kohsaka was not in this fight. Kohsaka was declared the winner and to prove it was a fluke Fedor decided to go out and win his next twenty-six fights including the rematch with Kohsaka.

So can anyone beat him? The easy answer is no so I have tried here to come up with the list of candidates that could take out Fedor on a good night.

1. Andre Arlovski – he was exceptional at Affliction: Banned, as though he was out to prove he was far from being labeled a fringe player in the heavyweight division. It would be a great fight for the fans as Arlovski is technically sound enough to stay in there with Fedor and his strength is impressive. Odds makers have it 3:1 in favor of Fedor.

2. Brock Lesnar – nobody is favored against Fedor but you have to give someone with the strength, speed and size of Lesnar at least a chance to pull off the upset. If he beats Fedor, he can ride around the ring on a fake horse because at that point he would have earned the right to do whatever he feels is natural. Odds makers peg this one at 6:1 in favor of Fedor.

3. Randy Couture – it’s impossible to count Randy out of any fight. Couture puts together the most strategically sound fight plans of anyone out there today and he would need it for Emelianenko. We may actually see this fight one day – either in the UFC or unfortunately when age starts to play a factor in Randy’s competitiveness against the world’s best. Fedor a 4:1 favorite.

He’s the world’s best heavyweight and will fight anyone, anywhere.

In his words after his Sylvia victory, he isn’t concerned about where he ranks against the other heavyweights.

I think if his statement was properly translated it would have been “where do I rank? Are you kidding? Number one baby!”