Fedor Emelianenko is the most exciting HW since Mike Tyson

[SHOGUN]

Before the Gonzaga fight, I'd say Cro Cop.

Fedor is something special but not being able to fight the UFC crew will hurt some of the excitement factor. Outside of the UFC, what big fights are left for him that are appealing? Fedor/Barnett is one (ugh), Fedor/Overeem may be one and that's it.

He's the best heavyweight but what's left to see?

The same argument can be made for if he comes to the UFC. Do you really want to see him beat the piss out of Nog again? Fedor should really face Pillowhands (Velasquez), Brett Rogers 2.0 (Carwin), Mr. Zero Takedown Defense (Kongo) or Frank 'If-I-didn't-beat-a-novice-Lesnar-I'd-be-cut' Mir? None of those guys bring anything worthwhile to the table outside of Mir and his douchebaggery.

The ONLY big fight for Fedor in the UFC is Lesnar. Let's not act like not being the UFC is going to blackmark him. Only those to take Dana's word as gospel will think so. Fedor has cleaned out PRIDE and everyone who got in his path afterwards. Two of his last opponents were ranked Top 3 (rated higher than those you mentioned) and Rogers was ranked 5-8 depending on who you were talking to, so it's not as if he's been fighting cans since PRIDE folded.

But yes, for pure excitement I'd put CroCop above Fedor. But since it's a combo thing, then yeah it's Fedor.

 

[EmpireWF]

Brett Rogers = Carwin?

Since when does Rogers have great wrestling skills?

Hold on, Sylvia was not a top 3 heavyweight when Fedor fought him. Arlovski, maybe top 5.

Fedor/Lesnar obviously, Velasquez/Fedor or let's do Big Nog/Fedor again. These are interesting fights compared to what's available outside the company.

But I'll stop writing about it since Fedor will never fight in the UFC. Sucks, but it's the case. Hopefully Overeem does come to the US (Coker said he is and will headline a Showtime card early in 2010) and they can bring in a clean piss test version of Barnett over to finally fight his good buddy.

 

[SHOGUN]

Brett Rogers = Carwin?

Since when does Rogers have great wrestling skills?

Since when has Carwin beat a legit heavyweight? JDS, Brown Pride, and even Brett Rogers have proven they are more legit and more worthy of a title shot than Carwin at this point. Dude has fought nothing but cans prior to Gonzaga and was close to losing that one had GG not decided to go for the takedown like an idiot. Carwin is a fine prospect, but he's still raw and at this point overhyped.

Hold on, Sylvia was not a top 3 heavyweight when Fedor fought him. Arlovski, maybe top 5.

Sylvia ranked #4 on Sherdog prior to Fedor fight (an inactive Couture listed at #3)

Andre Arlovski ranked #2 on Sherdog prior to the Fedor fight.

I'm not just blowing smoke here.

Fedor/Lesnar obviously, Velasquez/Fedor or let's do Big Nog/Fedor again. These are interesting fights compared to what's available outside the company.

I'd rather see Fedor/Rogers II than Big Nog/Fedor III (as much as it hurts me to say that) and please explain how the Cain/Fedor fight is interesting? Dude has sloppy hands, lacks power, has OK submission defense and doesn't have any high level wrestling that Fedor hasn't seen before. Yes, having Greg Jackson formulate a strategy for Fedor would be very interesting, but still I don't think Cain has the skillset to beat Fedor. It's not like he could use a hefty size/strength advantage like the other HWs.

 

[EmpireWF]

To me, Rogers is just as much a prospect as Carwin is without a solid wrestling base. He's a brawler. A rematch with Fedor is not going to be much different than the first.

I'll agree Carwin doesn't deserve a title shot with his biggest win coming against Gonzaga, but I'm not sure he's being overhyped all that more than your average main eventer. He's basically Brock Lesnar without the pro wrestling background.

I would love to see on of the elite Zuffa wrestler heavyweights (Brock/Cain) fight Fedor, just to see 2010 Fedor fight the power monsters. Coleman was 40 when he first fought Fedor.

Cain/Fedor is sweet because Velasquez has the reputation of being the best fighter in the gym and is as powerful a wrestler as Brock. The big knock on him is not having legit KO power. Thus, like I mentioned before, I want to see if Fedor can handle with the younger, stronger wrestlers of today.

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Tim Sylvia is more exciting.

On the real tho.. shame on you Rob for not even throwing Igor out there in the most exciting discussion.

 

[Liquidrob]

Tim Sylvia is more exciting.

On the real tho.. shame on you Rob for not even throwing Igor out there in the most exciting discussion.

you're right, besides mentioning him a couple times I never mentioned him once, lol

 

[Rush]

Lesnar and Fedor NEED TO FIGHT.

 

[Liquidrob]

 

[CrimsonGhost56]

fedor is exciting inside the cage. outside... not so much. their was always a spectacle surrounding tyson everywhere. fedor just chills in his little village in russia, never hear a peep from him.

 

[Liquidrob]

let me ask you guys a question, what does 'since' mean to you?

 

[EmpireWF]

GOOGLE

From a specified time in the past; from the time that; because; from (time)

I pass

 

[Steel Mamba]

Since when has Carwin beat a legit heavyweight? JDS, Brown Pride, and even Brett Rogers have proven they are more legit and more worthy of a title shot than Carwin at this point. Dude has fought nothing but cans prior to Gonzaga and was close to losing that one had GG not decided to go for the takedown like an idiot. Carwin is a fine prospect, but he's still raw and at this point overhyped.
Sylvia ranked #4 on Sherdog prior to Fedor fight (an inactive Couture listed at #3)

Andre Arlovski ranked #2 on Sherdog prior to the Fedor fight.

I'm not just blowing smoke here.
I'd rather see Fedor/Rogers II than Big Nog/Fedor III (as much as it hurts me to say that) and please explain how the Cain/Fedor fight is interesting? Dude has sloppy hands, lacks power, has OK submission defense and doesn't have any high level wrestling that Fedor hasn't seen before. Yes, having Greg Jackson formulate a strategy for Fedor would be very interesting, but still I don't think Cain has the skillset to beat Fedor. It's not like he could use a hefty size/strength advantage like the other HWs.

I think it's safe to say that Sylvia is not who we thought he was. It doesn't matter that Fedor would be a favorite over guys like Carwin and Brock, again dominance is cleaning out your division and those are the guys he has to beat to clean it out.

let me ask you guys a question, what does 'since' mean to you?

lol, well you guys included Tyson in the debate so I just jumped in as well. Since Tyson, yeah no one touches Fedor I guess.

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

you're right, besides mentioning him a couple times I never mentioned him once, lol

Haha, my bad only read the first few posts. Glad you didnt overlook the most exciting HW in MMA history.

 

[CrimsonGhost56]

fedor's personality is about as exciting as watching paint dry. just saying

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

This is a pretty easy and resounding Yes.

I still think its too late for Fedor to reach that Tyson level. I dont see him going on a number of years remaining this dominant and undefeated. Speed is his greatest asset and its usually the first thing to go.

Had Fedor been in the UFC say 3-4 years ago and maintained the dominance both MMA and Fedor would be held in MUCH higher regard and the entire sport would be different.

I mean when everyone knows your name , knows your image in a pre-internet , pre ESPN hype machine world you've been doing something special. Tyson was all over the place. He had youth , he had fear , he had that street cred , he had that odd charisma ,he had everything ON TOP of what he did in the ring.

Fedor is easily the the more exciting and dominant..simply because Mikes reign of terror ended short. Fedors has been going on for almost a decade. HUGE difference.
Ive been saying for years now in order for MMA to go to the next level it will have nothing to do with orgs or mgmnt or exclusive deals...it will have to be someone who either oozes charisma or has massive curiosity appeal on top of in ring dominance.

Its much easier for people to jump on a Kimbo or Lesnar bandwagon than it is a Fedor bandwagon.(sadly)

 

[SHOGUN]

I think it's safe to say that Sylvia is not who we thought he was. It doesn't matter that Fedor would be a favorite over guys like Carwin and Brock, again dominance is cleaning out your division and those are the guys he has to beat to clean it out.

First of all, Fedor doesn't 'need' to clean out anything. He's been doing it already his entire career. If that can't convince you, nothing will. Anderson Silva and GSP, while dominant, have not had such dominance over a lengthy period yet you're giving them credit for doing less work because as you put it:

Really for as dominant as Fedor has been guys like GSP and Silva have still done a better job of cleaning out their division than Fedor has.

Anderson Silva has not beaten Okami, Sexyama, Maia, Belfort, and going by your standards, nor has he fought Santiago, Misaki, Manhoef and Lawler. By your logic, Silva still has a ways to go cleaning out the 185'ers. GSP is the only one you can argue who has been as dominant in their class as Fedor, but he has not fought Shields or Diaz.

Secondly, this 'cleaning' out your division is air because it has damn near everything to do with organizations and obviously those in the UFC or other organizations can't truly 'clean out their respective divisions, only those they have in their organization. GSP most likely will never face Shields or Diaz. Anderson Silva will be too busy jumping from weight class to weight class and contemplating retirement to ever clean out the top 185 guys in the UFC, let alone the world. So why are you willing to give these two a pass, but discrediting Fedor for the exact same thing?

If your going to have standards for greatness, at least be consistent about it.

 

[Steel Mamba]

First of all, Fedor doesn't 'need' to clean out anything. He's been doing it already his entire career. If that can't convince you, nothing will. Anderson Silva and GSP, while dominant, have not had such dominance over a lengthy period yet you're giving them credit for doing less work because as you put it:Anderson Silva has not beaten Okami, Sexyama, Maia, Belfort, and going by your standards, nor has he fought Santiago, Misaki, Manhoef and Lawler. By your logic, Silva still has a ways to go cleaning out the 185'ers. GSP is the only one you can argue who has been as dominant in their class as Fedor, but he has not fought Shields or Diaz.

Secondly, this 'cleaning' out your division is air because it has damn near everything to do with organizations and obviously those in the UFC or other organizations can't truly 'clean out their respective divisions, only those they have in their organization. GSP most likely will never face Shields or Diaz. Anderson Silva will be too busy jumping from weight class to weight class and contemplating retirement to ever clean out the top 185 guys in the UFC, let alone the world. So why are you willing to give these two a pass, but discrediting Fedor for the exact same thing?

If your going to have standards for greatness, at least be consistent about it.

Nah man you're missing the point. I wasn't trying to compare GSP/Silva to Fedor so I'm not going to bring what they have or haven't done into the debate. I was comparing Tyson to Fedor, saying Tyson has done a better job at cleaning out his division than Fedor has. Wouldn't you agree with that?

 

[Liquidrob]

I would say Mike 'cleared out' a very weak HW division where as Fedor beat the number 2 rated HW of all time twice, a prime Cro Cop and others during the best HW division in MMA's shorter history, only person he didnt get to was Josh Barnett and that was because of Josh, not Fedor

Not saying Barnett was ducking Fedor, but he didnt want to fight him until way later and tried to make a bunch of money and I dont blame him, thats all on Josh, not Fedor

The best person Mike ever beat is no where near the top HW ranks, the best guys he fought (Lewis and Holyfield) spanked him

MMA is a flavor of the month sport because guys dont get brought a long slowly, Brock has like 5 fights and everyone is going crazy to see him fight Fedor, Cain has a couple fights and Dana is already telling the world Fedor needs to beat Cain, Mir was almost out the door and he beat a 1-0 Brock and staph infected Nog and we are supposed to believe Mir is a big test for Fedor? or even better a 16-10 fighter who has been KO'd out of the HW division twice and LHW division once

Meanwhile, Fedor just keeps beating some of the all time greats, former champs in under a round and Zulu'ing fools from here to Japan for the last 8 years, but I am told to believe he doesnt fight anybody because there isnt a UFC logo on the mat

 

[Liquidrob]

CBS is showing the event online at CBS.com

http://www.cbs.com/sports/video/?pi...Mmkp__ZJ3Q1bU&vs=Mixed Martial Arts&play=true

The videos are at the bottom, here is 'the Punch', I didnt realize when it heppened, but the sound the punch made was awesome

 

[SHOGUN]

MMA is a flavor of the month sport because guys dont get brought a long slowly, Brock has like 5 fights and everyone is going crazy to see him fight Fedor, Cain has a couple fights and Dana is already telling the world Fedor needs to beat Cain, Mir was almost out the door and he beat a 1-0 Brock and staph infected Nog and we are supposed to believe Mir is a big test for Fedor? or even better a 16-10 fighter who has been KO'd out of the HW division twice and LHW division once

Meanwhile, Fedor just keeps beating some of the all time greats, former champs in under a round and Zulu'ing fools from here to Japan for the last 8 years, but I am told to believe he doesnt fight anybody because there isnt a UFC logo on the mat