Does Fedor Emelianenko need to finish his career in the UFC?

[DMan37]

Clearly we disagree. I agree that the UFC needs Fedor. But I believe Fedor needs the UFC also for his legacy.

To make a football analogy: A CFL great cannot go down in the NFL HOF without ever playing a down in the league. UFC is the premiere MMA dance. He needs to dominate there before he retires.

If he doesn't, sure their will be those that still rank him #1. But the doubts will linger....

[VictorCharlie]

Ok lets just that tomorrow Fedor was in the UFC. You've got the Couture fight which isn't that meaningful after Lesnar destroyed him. 2-3 years ago this is a huge fight. You 've got Lesanar which to me is a joke. The guy has what 4 fights and he is going to go against the most dominant HW ever? Fedor fighting Mir to me just isn't that exciting. You've got Carwin/Cain/DeSantos and maybe Gonzaga. If one of these guys were to emerge as the top then you have a legit title fight. Honestly the best fights out there for Fedor in the UFC would be some dream fights with top LHWs or Anderson Silva.

[DMan37]

Rarely do "on paper" predictions jive with "reality" outcomes of matches in both boxing and MMA.

Fedor most likely would just walk through the UFC competition. But we won't know unless he actually steps in a UFC cage.

[zhubin]

I would argue the UFC needs Fedor more than Fedor needs the UFC. Fans, UFC fighters, and even Dana White know Fedor is the best fighter in the world. It has always been a thorn in White's ego to know that the best fighter in the world isn't working for his company. White is a shady business man and an egomaniac...and i have tremendous respect for Fedor (as do other fans and even fighters) for not selling himself short by signing for White. Now, things can certainly change in the future...but Fedor's resume as it stands now is by far the best of any heavyweight or for that matter any weight...in or out of the UFC. Some people will argue that UFC is the gold standard in mma because of it's popularity...but again, it about quality of opposition. And Fedor has fought and beat the best competition...regardless of affiliation. But we are supposed to be fooled to believe that someone like Brock Lesnar is the ultimate test because he beat a past prime Couture? So as far as i'm concerned...the UFC needs Fedor if it wants to have legitimacy for having the best fighter in the world.

[SalTheButcher]

there are only 5 fights left that make any sense whatsoever for fedor


1 - barnett, its the one fight leftover from PRIDE that everyone has been waiting for for years, and its his next match


2 - overeem, overeem roided the fuck up or something and has been taking over in japan lately


3 - lesnar, most high profile fight out there


4 - couture, not really important but it would be funny to see couture get dominated after all the drama he caused over this


5 - ishii, more of a less competitive NYE kind of fight that would be a huge draw in japan, it would be a good last fight for fedor to retire after, like a ceremonial final win




mir is a jabrone and king mo is far too new at this point

[Nameless]

there are only 5 fights left that make any sense whatsoever for fedor


1 - barnett, its the one fight leftover from PRIDE that everyone has been waiting for for years, and its his next match


2 - overeem, overeem roided the fuck up or something and has been taking over in japan lately


3 - lesnar, most high profile fight out there


4 - couture, not really important but it would be funny to see couture get dominated after all the drama he caused over this


5 - ishii, more of a less competitive NYE kind of fight that would be a huge draw in japan, it would be a good last fight for fedor to retire after, like a ceremonial final win




mir is a jabrone and king mo is far too new at this point

These fights are effectively interesting. Nevertheless, I don't think they are necessary to cement Fedor's legacy. I don't think of any other heavyweights that have a resume as complete as Fedor, against the bests of his era and still be undefeated after so many fights (ok one defeat but it was a freak accident and not a lost in itself). His legacy will be in jeopardy the day other heavyweights will have beaten as many "great ones" as him without having any defeats for at least, let's say... around 18 fights. Till then, he has very little remaining to prove.