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Dkore-DeX said:
Despite retirement talk, Strikeforce's Fedor Emelianenko could be top grand-prix alternate
by Dann Stupp on Feb 13, 2011 at 5:00 am ET
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Although the MMA legend hinted at retirement following a second-round TKO loss to Antonio Silva, Fedor Emelianenko's fighting career may not be over.

Both Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker and Emelianenko's agent, M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelchtein, want the 34-year-old to continue.

And Coker could dangle an intriguing opportunity should Emelianenko wish to continue fighting: first dibs on any alternate spots that open in the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix.

Emelianenko (31-3 MMA, 1-2 SF) and Silva (16-2 MMA, 3-1 SF) headlined Saturday's Showtime-televised "Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva" event at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. After a close first round, Silva unloaded a brutal ground-and-pound assault in the second. With the Russian's right eye swollen shut, the cageside physician halted the bout after before the start of the third round, which resulted in Emelianenko's second consecutive defeat since a legendary decade-long win streak.

The bout was part of the opening round of Strikeforce's eight-man, season-long heavyweight tournament. And though three tourney-reserve bouts populated Saturday's main card, any available alternate spots instead could go to Emelianenko.

"There's absolutely a possibility he could be a replacement," Coker told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) after the show. "That's the beauty of the tournament. You don't know what could happen in the next leg of the tournament. As this tournament unwinds over the year, there could be an injury, and you could see Fedor back in the tournament."

Decisions about injury replacements ultimately will be made by a Strikeforce committee, as Coker previously announced. And though Shane Del Rosario, Chad Griggs and Valentijn Overeem all won reserve bouts at Saturday's show, Emelianenko could cut to the front of the line.

Emelianenko undoubtedly would be the biggest draw of the four. But Coker said there would be other reasons for the selection. Namely, that Silva vs. Emelianenko was cut short by an injury.

"It was a tough fight out there," Coker said. "Like Alistair (Overeem) said, Fedor always comes back in the third round. But he didn't get a chance today. (With) the stoppage today, I don't think Fedor could see. He may have even had an orbital fracture, but safety comes first. He'll have another day."

Regardless, Coker said he and Emelianenko, who recently signed a new multi-fight deal with Strikeforce, have plenty of bouts ahead. Neither he nor Finkelchtein appeared to take Emelianenko's retirement talk seriously.

"You know how that goes," Coker said. "Guys get very emotional after fights. We'll see."

Finkelchtein, who said the doctor's stoppage was "the right decision," thinks Emelianenko may have just been emotional when he mentioned the possibility of retiring.

"I think Fedor was just upset," he said. "That decision, of course, belongs to Fedor. But I think I know him well, and I think he's full so full of strength. I think he will continue."

Emelianenko, arguably the greatest heavyweight in MMA history and one of the sport's most accomplished fighters, suffered a June loss to Fabricio Werdum, which snapped a staggering 27-fight win streak. The former PRIDE champion now has suffered consecutive defeats.
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Weird to see him topple but fedor as he said god willing maybe its time to give up...

Am surprised big foot who appears sluggish and slow can some how move fairly fast, I think in the 2nd round fedor tried to throw a power bomb and he just dived and took him to the floor and it was all over from there.

The Strike force tourneys good but yeah any fighter could be injured or be forced to pull out giving a 2nd chance.

I think for Fedor and Arlovski are done regardless.... will be interesting too see and hear his thoughts over the next few days.
 
Real shame that Fedor lost, but with his age and the weight that he gives away, I think he should drop down to LHW, he could still be very very good.
Arlovski needs to look at getting a steel plate under his beard, his chin is so weak!
 
true the guy just looked like an ox took some flakey shots from Arlovski nothing clean landing from what I could see and he just went for it....

3 losses really does is a big deal in the mma world....

I think Fedor did look too big/heavy.... will be interesting too see what he decides in the next few days/weeks time...

I heard Dana white going nutz on twitter....

Would be awesome if ufc hosted a heavy weight grand prix:)
 
Despite Dana White talking loads of crap in the past, he has always been spot on about Fedor. Sure, Fedor was good in PRIDE in his heyday, but since his fight with Matt Lindland (who went completely downhill from there!) in 2007, he really hasn't fought anyone of any real interest. He turned down $30m (plus bonuses!) from the UFC for an instant title shot against Lesnar citing that M-1 wanted to do a co-PPV (Which Dana will never agree too!). He may have been good in the past, but it's unlikely he'll ever get an offer like that again.

I doubt he'll retire and for sentimental value, he will still pull in huge crowds, but he needs to fight some bigger names and win if he wants to get in the mix again. Starting with Overeem who at the moment just looks like too much for Fedor.

It is a shame though, I really wanted to see Fedor vs Randy Couture, but it's unlikely that will ever happen. Who knows, maybe now that his rep has taken a hit, he may go back to the UFC negotiating table with a little less demands. Depends if Dana really wants him and even then he'll feed him to the best the UFC's HW division has to offer, who at the moment along with Overeem are looking too strong for the current Fedor.
 
He got bossed by Silva in that second round but against Werdum didn't he rock him and drop him to the floor only to leave an arm in and get subbed?
If I remember correctly that fight was actually Fedor's to lose!

As others have said he is to small to fight HW he is 5ft11 and 230lbs but its not lean mass so he should easily be able to drop to LHW.

You look at the other guys in that tournie they are all over 6ft arent they and all look physically bigger imo

*edit*

I see Paul Kelly has also been dropped tbh that sucker punch he threw really annoyed me at the time its unsporting and uncalled for so good bye
 
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I doubt dana will ever bother with fedor, I think bigfoot silva was just that... just way too big for him he just had the weight, size and reach and was too much for fedor.

Would have been awesome if fedor went to ufc and went against randy courture, thats a good appropriate matchup.

Fedors last two losses he did certainly look like he was throwing some brutal haymakers but was coming up obviously short cos bigfoot is too big...against werdum was perfect due to weight and size so that match was better.

Its definatly true Fedor would look a lot better/faster at light weight, perhaps all this talk of strike forces heavy weight tourney he had no choice but to plump up and it showed.

Either way hes 34, he doesnt need to quit just yet but it is also a good age also hes certainly not gonna move and fight like a 21 year old kid, heck I watched vitor belfors 2nd or 3rd ufc fight where he was like 19 and the guy was throwing the fastest most accurate fist ever against wandy axe murderer silva, he was floored within seconds but seeing him now at my age... 33 years old u can see hes not the same fighter against spider silva....

Anyhow roll on April/May I wanna see bones dominate and clean out the division... and I wanna see Rashid evans go heavy weight class :)
 
Fedor always was overhyped, lucky striker. Sure hes a legend, but I just cant help but treat him in the same way i treat David Haye. Someone who in his own mind is a legend, without having the nuts to step up to the UFC and take on the fighters who are actually at the top. He got banged against Silva, and for a Sambo master he looked very average on the ground.

Ubereem will destroy anyone in his way anyway IMHO in the Strikeforce tourney.

And also, what has happened with Arlovski? Since the Sylvia fights he looks like he swapped his chin for Cinderellas glass slipper.
 
I disagree he is probably one of the most humble fighters there is, never blows his own horn and never said he was the best.

It's M1 that blew everything out of proportion and made him out to be unstoppable, and to be fair in his prime in pride he was. He beat a prime crocop at striking yeah it was a decision but he bossed the feet pretty much the whole fight.

I'm not saying he is the best in the world, but he is one of the greats to have fought. I still think if he dropped to 205 he would be a true force.
 
Not arguing with his record; Cro Cop, Minotauro x 3, Arona, Babalu, etc but he just cant be classed as "best ever" like is being made out (not by you, i agree with your point RE: M1 Global).

I think his days are done to be honest, he should do what Mirko should have done 2-3 years ago and retire.
 
If he had crossed over to the UFC in his prime and got that title too, he would have solidified himself and I think he could have won it back then.

M1 global wrapped him in cotton wool he was always going to be a cash cow when he was unbeaten, they were scared of losing their only decent playing card.
 
Yep. Fortunately, A UFC cast-off did the job on him. Making it even more poignant :)

Whether we like or not, UFC will always be the premiere proving ground for fighters.
 
SMN said:
Fedor always was overhyped, lucky striker.
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Lucky striker? Define what you mean by lucky, as there is no way in this world you can say all of his fights he has been "lucky" in the standup department.

Someone who in his own mind is a legend
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He has said numerous times he doesnt even understand why the fans adore him that much let alone being one of the best in the world.

for a Sambo master he looked very average on the ground.
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Indeed he did look average on the floor, he had roughly a 60lb disadvantage whilst grappling a prolific black belt. Not really a chance to shine is it :D

MMA fans are just so fickle, a loss here and a loss there and they are overhyped, ive seen people say this in numerous places. How did these losses ever take away from what he accomplished beforehand? Im usually the first to tell Fedor nuthuggers to be quiet, but this time i feel myself defending the guy as hes getting a retarded amount of unwarranted flack.
 
SMN said:
His KO over Arlovski was the definition of luck. Did you even watch it?
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Of course he's had some luck, name a fighter who hasn't? Silva vs Sonnen and Lesnar vs Carwin to name a couple. That's part of the game.
As for being average on the ground, in some of Fedor's early fights his ground and pound is just awesome, and the speed of some of his submissions is fantastic.
 
I didnt say he *IS* average on the ground. I said he looked average on the ground; he didnt do anything off his back at all - even try an escape, etc bar a few wear ankle locks. He looked really gassed to me.
 
apparantly news is being spread that fedor was not happy and lost the fight since he was very upset going into the fight since his priest that always blesses him before a fight was late and couldnt make it.....

I think it was just unlucky but as anyone knows anything happens in a fight its not like fedors lost due to doctors stoppages before... werdum will always be his main fight loss.

I expect overeem to punch wedums gut from one side of the cage to another, shame we have to wait another 2+ months too see that!
 
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