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[Gr8_White_Rabbit]

By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports

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One of the most hotly debated topics in mixed martial arts these days is the identity of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter.

UFC president Dana White insists it’s middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Others consider either UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn or UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre to be No. 1.

There’s even a small, but growing, faction that favors WEC bantamweight kingpin Miguel Torres.

Then there are the thousands of posters to forums across the Internet, who worship heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko and consider it blasphemy to suggest another fighter is remotely approaching him.

Emelianenko, who won the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts heavyweight title after choking out ex-UFC champion Tim Sylvia in just 36 seconds last month on an Affliction card at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., isn’t sure of the answer.

He’s only certain of one thing: It’s not him.

“I don’t consider myself on top of the pedestal,” said Emelianenko (28-1, 1 no contest), who has largely been unchallenged since his only loss, which came because of a cut caused by an illegal elbow in a 2000 fight with Tsuyoshi Kohsaka.

“I have certain weaknesses and I make certain mistakes. Of course, that is frustrating, because like any athlete, I strive to get better each day. I know a lot of the media and the fans want to say I’m the best. I appreciate that, but that’s not how I consider myself.”

Emelianenko declined to make a selection of the pound-for-pound king. He said he hasn’t seen much of Silva, St. Pierre or Penn. He’s picked out holes in their games, but he concedes he’s impressed by their technical proficiency.

Since 2000, his job has essentially been that of a one-man gang, destroying a roster of the world’s great heavyweights. He’s come under fire, principally from White, for a lackluster list of opponents after beating Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic in 2005 until he fought Sylvia.

White said last week he gained new respect for Emelianenko after his win over Sylvia.

“He’s not the best pound-for-pound fighter, not even close, but he’s one of the four or five best heavyweights,” said White, who undoubtedly would be singing Emelianenko’s praises to the heavens the moment he got the stoic Russian’s name on a UFC contract.

“But we all have to thank him for getting rid of Tim Sylvia. He’d been stinking out the joint the last couple of years and Fedor did everyone a favor by beating him so easily and getting rid of him.”

Emelianenko is going to spend more time in the U.S. in the coming months in an attempt to build familiarity with the fans. He was scheduled met Andrei Arlovski on Oct. 11 in Las Vegas, but a chipped bone at the base of his right thumb he got by clubbing Sylvia on the side of the head forced him to pull out of that fight.

Arlovski will fight Josh Barnett instead, with Emelianenko expected to fight the winner in early 2009.

Emelianenko will be ringside at the Thomas & Mack Center to observe, but conceded he’s hardly a rabid fan of the sport. It’s a job, albeit a lucrative one, and he treats it as such. There isn’t a fight that gets his blood pumping enough to make him want to buy a ticket to see it. He’s interested in Arlovski-Barnett simply because it impacts his future.

“This is my job, and to be honest with you, if I didn’t have to work this job, I probably wouldn’t,” he said, chuckling. “It’s how I make my living. It’s even tough to accept this is what I do for the living.”

Emelianenko, though, was stumped when asked what he’d do if he weren’t a fighter. After a lengthy pause, he suggested he’d have become a fight instructor.

It’s good for the world, though, that he has opted to hold off on teaching and still is fighting for a living. He continues to hold hope a bout with Randy Couture, the erstwhile UFC heavyweight champion, can be arranged.

That bout has the potential to be the richest MMA fight ever staged, though Couture’s legal situation with the UFC has it on hold.

Emelianenko said he had both breakfast and dinner with Couture on Monday and is open to a fight whenever and wherever it can be made.

“Randy is a living legend in this sport and it’s an honor that people say they want to see me fight him,” Emelianenko said. “It’s our desire to fight as soon as possible. I don’t like the politics and I hope politics don’t prevent this fight.

“I’m not out to prove anything. I just want to challenge myself against the men people believe is the best in the world. This bout with Randy is one step on that road. It would be my honor and my dream to fight him and we both will do what we can to get into the ring to fight.”

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At least Fedor is a little humble. I guess he agrees with Frank Mir.

[Dimson]

If he really wants the fight to happen just sign on the dotted line with the UFC already. It isn't that hard. If he really wants it to happen just call Dana up and say lets do it. It really isn't that hard at all. It only requires a call, then a signature and a hand shake. If Fedor really wants this fight to happen he will make it happen. He needs to just take his career in his own hands instead of letting his managers run everything.

[dan the man 67]

Fedor has been nothing but a gentleman, and I like to see humbleness in a fighter.

Boy, Dana sure has some harsh words for Timmy..................geez.

[Ubermensch]

Dana's comments are a little uncalled for.

[CaptainAmerica#1]

yea, Dana totally turned his back on Tim, perfect example of Dana using someone up until he has no use for them, and then bashing the hell out of him, anyways how about the love for Randy from fedor, maybe all the haters should listen to the man who has the ultimate opinion

[valheruking]

Fedor has been saying he doesn't consider himself the best for years now, even back when he was blatant number 1 p4p fighter around, I don't think his humbleness should now be turned around on him by writers just because theres a p4p debate with some actual competition in the mix. I get the sense some people will hold this up and point to it like "look, even Fedor doesn't think he's the best, war Anderson Silva". Nah it's just how he is, he doesn't like to be tagged as the best cause he's humble, but if you notice when he's asked who exactly it is thats better than him he never manages to come up with any names.

[Ramma]

Fedor is humble as always.


It seems like Dana has to say a whole bunch of dumb shit in a small amount of time. The last stint was during the Fedor isn't even top ten comment.


This time it started with him saying He got Cro Cop to kill PRIDE, followed by saying they have been dying to get rid of Tim.. and yet... and yet.. he fought Nogueira for the belt. After the fight, Dana says Sylvia has looked the best in years. Could have just released him after his loss to Couture if he was "stinking up the place".

I expect a few more golden comments in the next few weeks.

[JackSilver]

Thats just one more thing that makes Fedor the best in the world...If he thought he was the best he wouldnt have anything else to strive for..HEs humble enough to know he needs to keep working... he rules.

I think Whites words about Timmah are because Fedor beat him. I bet white was mad to see one of his champs fall so hard so fast.

*PROUD FEDOR NUTHUGGER!*

[jokerthief]

This is exactly why Fedor IS the best. His head doesn't get in the way of his talent.

[Punk Ass]

Originally Posted by Dimson

If he really wants the fight to happen just sign on the dotted line with the UFC already. It isn't that hard. If he really wants it to happen just call Dana up and say lets do it. It really isn't that hard at all. It only requires a call, then a signature and a hand shake. If Fedor really wants this fight to happen he will make it happen. He needs to just take his career in his own hands instead of letting his managers run everything.

Even Randy said he wouldn't fight for the UFC anymore and why would he? Who really asks to be signed to a multi fight slavery contract especially in their 40s.

BTW, the best HWs are in Affliction.