Fedor Emelianenko

Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko went the best part of a decade without a real loss and never once fought in the UFC. A combat sambo world champion turned Pride heavyweight king, he took the belt from Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira in 2003, won the 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix and beat Mirko Cro Cop, Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman while staring at the ceiling between rounds.

After Pride folded he fought for Affliction and Strikeforce, where Fabrício Werdum’s triangle in 2010 finally ended the aura, then spent his last years in Rizin and Bellator before retiring in 2023. He is the most-tagged fighter in the CagePotato archive: the Dana White negotiations that went nowhere, the M-1 Global contract demands, the Affliction shows and the endless “greatest heavyweight ever” arguments.

Fedor Emelianenko fact file
Full nameFedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko
NicknameThe Last Emperor
Date of birth
Place of birthRubizhne, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Organisations fought in
  • Pride FC
  • Fighting Network Rings
  • Strikeforce
  • Affliction
  • M-1 Global
  • Rizin
  • Bellator
Accolades
  • Pride Heavyweight Champion (2003–2007, three title defences)
  • Pride 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix winner
  • Rings Heavyweight and Openweight Champion (2001)
  • Four-time combat sambo world champion

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