Best of the Best
Posted by Jonathan Snowden on July 20th, 2008
Fedor Emelianenko and Anderson Silva reminded fight fans why they are widely regarded as the two best pound for pound fighters in the world as each scored impressive (and lightning quick) wins.
Before his fight with former UFC champion Tim Sylvia, many questioned Fedor’s ability to come back strong after a long layoff. He had been fighting creampuffs and inexperienced fighters in Japan and middleweights in BoDog Fight. Would he be able to overcome Sylvia’s size and reach advantage? The answer was a definitive yes.
Sylvia’s vaunted jab was never an issue. Fedor closed the distance so quickly that Sylvia never had a chance to throw it and his punching power dropped the big man to his knees.
“He got off first and then I had so much going through my mind,” Sylvia said. “He got off first, landed the big punch, jumped on me, and got the submission.”
Clearly well established once again as the best heavyweight in the world, and the new WAMMA Heavyweight Champion, Fedor now has several options for his first defense. The obvious fight that they’ve been building to since he resigned from the UFC is with the sport’s living legend Randy Couture. “I would be very honored to fight Randy Couture,” Fedor said through a translator after the fight. In the ring, Couture indicated a willingness to rumble with the Russian, but ongoing legal issues make that fight an impossibility. Affliction did very well to set up two viable contenders on this single show.
Andrei Arlovski reestablished himself as a top contender by destroying former IFL standout Ben Rothwell with precision striking. “I think boxing is what won the fight,” Arlovski’s boxing trainer Freddie Roach said. “The other guy was good on the ground and controlled it a little bit. Andrei’s boxing helped. His hands are really good and we’ve been talking about being a professional boxer.” Roach may be talking about boxing, but after the dramatic win, Arlovski is talking about his next MMA fight. “I want to fight Fedor, Josh or anybody Affliction chooses.”
Another possible opponent is Josh Barnett. Barnett avenged his first career loss by knocking out Pedro Rizzo with a left hook right on the button. “My footwork wasn’t what I wanted,” Barnett said. “I clipped him at the top of the head and when he put his foot back, he wobbled. When I saw he was unstable, I came forward. I knew he wouldn’t be able to get out of the way.” Barnett has a well rounded game and possesses the kind of size that could give Fedor trouble if he gets on top.
Whoever Fedor fights next, they will be a decided underdog. Fans in the United States finally got to see what all the fuss is about. With uncanny speed and strength, Fedor seems likely to reign atop the heavyweight division for some time.
“I was amazed at how good he is,” Sylvia said. “The guy’s a stud. I don’t think he’s human. He’s incredible. I don’t think anybody’s going to beat him for a while.”
Meanwhile, Anderson Silva continued his winning ways on the UFC’s Ultimate Fight Night. Moving up to 205 pounds to face James Irvin, Silva looked fit and comfortable with the extra weight. After a brief feeling out process, Silva caught an Irvin kick in his left hand while landing a right hand right on the button. It was an amazing display of athleticism, snatching Irvin’s foot out of midair after a full force, blazing fast kick. But that kind of exceptional display has become common place for the striker from Curitiba, Brazil, just par for the course for the Middleweight Champion.
“This was my first time coming up here and it was a good experience,” Silva said. “But my responsibility is to defend the 185-pound title.”
The problem for the UFC is a lack of promising contenders in his weight class. Patrick Cote seems overmatched and Yushin Okami is one-dimensional. British superstar Michael Bisping is the best matchup for business, but he has to get past the tough Ultimate Fighter veteran Chris Leben before a title shot is conceivable. It may be that Silva won’t have the money making matchups he needs at 185 and the move to Light Heavyweight will be a permanent one.
Whoever Silva or Fedor fight, something amazing seems bound to happen. Silva’s last ten wins have all come via knockout or submission. Fedor has secured six submissions in sequence. They’re the best fighters in the world in their absolute fighting prime. We were lucky to see them both on one amazing night. The best of the best.