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MB667
08-12-2005, 12:46
Emelianenko is now the main worry of the summit of MMA
by Marcelo Dunlop

It’s always like this. Only long after the approach of a natural phenomenon of huge proportions the authorities gather to discuss its amazing destructive power, emergency measures and what to do with the debris.

Whether natural or not, the heavyweight champion of the biggest MMA organization in the world is definitely the hurricane that’s been causing the biggest damages in the martial arts world – a fact proven by his undisputed win against Mirko Cro Cop. Before defeating the Croatian politician and former cop, retaining the belt in the city of Stari Oskol, the cold-eyed, chubby fighter had beaten Ricardo Arona, Renato Babalu, Semmy Schilt and Rodrigo Minotauro (twice). Meticulous strategist? Impenetrable fortress? Or, perhaps, the greatest fighter there has ever been? Before this report, the best analysis of the monster from the cold was recently made during the recording of a documentary on his life. Asked whether she was scared when her daddy got into the ring, little Mashenka didn’t even blink before answering: “No, he hits everyone anyway…�

“The truth is when he came around no one had any idea who Fedor was. The Russians used to be strong, but not as technical,� Babalu, who was defeated by him in Rings in 2001, recalls. Ze Mario Sperry, one of the Brazilians who has more often seen Emelianenko fight in loco, gives a hint on how to beat him: “Of course it’s no easy task, but it’s not impossible either: the thing is to trade and then put him down somehow.� Well, this is what Gary Goodridge, Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman unsuccessfully tried. Boiling down: in a five-year MMA career, Fedor’s hand was not raised only once, due to a cut in a fight against Japanese Tsuyoshi Kohsaka.

Even if hurricane Emelianenko never again catches unwary opponents, GRACIEMAG.com listened to great stars of the rings and, in a small piece of Eastern Europe hidden somewhere in Rio de Janeiro, gathered two of the main runners-up for the next Pride Heavyweight GP, scheduled for the beginning of 2006. Among typical Russian dishes, Rodrigo Minotauro and Pedro Rizzo scrutinized all of the virtues, possible weaknesses and main secrets of the greatest fighter nowadays. To Brazilian athletes and supporters, deserving or not, as long as there is a Fedor on top, there will always be that feeling that something is rotten in the state of mixed martial arts, whose flag is traditionally Brazilian.

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The day before he fought Mirko Cro Cop for the heavyweight belt, Emelianenko’s breakfast was eggs, bacon and sausages. What bothers you guys most, the fact that Pride today has a non-Brazilian king or that he is, well, chubby?

Rizzo: What really bothers is that he’s got on his waist that which we want [laughs].

Nogueira: His genetics say he is chubby, so that’s got nothing to do with it. There are other great fighters with the same body type, such as Mark Hunt.

What we must do is to push one another and train harder. Further, the fact that he is fat makes it even more complicated when it comes to such an explosive, slippery fellow. It’s like Jeremy Horn, when the guy is fat an the skin is smooth, it gets hard to grab him.

Rizzo: More muscular fighters have more edges you can grab.

Nogueira: It was three times I fought him hitherto, right? What puzzles me is that he is smiling the whole time. As soon as he sees us he starts smiling. Amaury Bitetti says it’s because he is happy, he has the belt, what would you want him to do? Cry?

Is the secret in the water he drinks? Or the vodka perhaps?

Nogueira: He does like drinking, I remember after I defeated Mirko he came up to congratulate me with a powerful breath in the lobby of the Japanese hotel. He was all happy, at leisure and drunk, invited me to have a drink with him. I then remembered he owned the belt and tought: “What I’ll have is your neck, now it’s easy to kick your ass [laughs jocosely].� Now, for real, down in Russia those guys train a lot, both him and his brother, who I used to think had an even heavy hand, more dangerous boxing. But after this fight with Cro Cop, Fedor showed he has greatly evolved in standup game.

Rizzo: In that hellish cold one’s got nothing else to do: you either train or you train. I, who have never drunk in my life, would have to train like that to, just to warm myself up.

Who can defeat him, and how?

Rizzo: The secret is truly exchanging strikes, and then just let MMA flow. Because playing on the bottom is difficult, since to attack from the guard you’d have to open it, then he jumps out and stands up.

Nogueira: The key to beating him, to me, is explosion. It’s what got in my way when fighting him. I go for the spring, he takes off. I try a thrust, he hits and runs. The person who has best fought him hitherto was Arona, who is as explosive as he is. Took him down and got his back. Arona can take anyone down.

Then it’s possible for Arona and Wanderlei, even lighter, to give him a try?

Nogueira: Well, it is. Just go there try it… (General Laughter)

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Can Fedor be deemed the most complete MMA fighter of all time?

(They think for some time.)
Rizzo: These days everyone is complete. He is quite complete, I don’t know. And he can play true MMA, he trades standing, he takes down, plays on top, submits, he doesn’t only play on the bottom. He is good at everything, so in order to beat him one must do everything too.

Nogueira: He’s got a good play. But if you look at it, Igor Vovchanchyn has already had a phase like this, for three years he’d beat Kerr, Sakuraba… Until he fell under Coleman and didn’t make ir. Fedor hasn’t faced a wrestler full on , someone who falls on top… Let’s see. He fought Coleman in the end of his career, as well as Randleman.


Technically he may not have such a big advantage, but physically he is the fastest heavy guy in MMA history. He tries a punch, misses it, then immediately shoots again – Cro Cop for example didn’t even see them coming.


Nogueira: He’s the fastest I’ve ever seen. Much faster than Mirko. And he’s got a great reaction.

Rizzo: That’s what I was going to say: he has a fast eye, good for counter-attacking.

And in every fight he shows up with something new under his sleeve. Against Filipovic he used a great clinch-strike combo: he’d go for the uchi-mata, quickly following with a powerful hook.

Nogueira: He must practise that a lot, because it’s not easy to improvise that kind of thing. He is really with a good combination of styles, he can go from one art to the other – that’s what makes him different.

Rizzo: Exactly, he managed to mix everything, Fedor is no excellent striker, no excellent wrestler, no excellent ground player, but he is good at everything. To me Shogun won the Grand Prix because he did like him, showed the best in MMA: wenr for the striking, grabbed, took down, fell on the bottom, reversed, fell on top… And he was the underdog, which somehow helps, the responsibility is helpful.

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Fedor was the underdog in that first fight against Rodrigo “Minotauro� Nogueira, who on his hand was undefeated till then, in 2003…

Nogueira: That’s right, I fought that one nearly crippled, with a contusion on the sciatic nerve. On the way to the stadium I had to sit in the middle of the street. But it was the main fight and I was there in Japan, what could I do?

How important is the psychological factor in the ring?

Nogueira: A lot. Today the Russian’s mind is strong and it’s hard to beat him. I think for example that his brother Aleksander’s hand is better than his. But he probably doesn’t have all that stamina…

A Russian director who shot the documentary of Emelianenko’s life said he was impressed by Fedor’s discipline and humility, his training routine. Does he let that through, the aspect of a fully disciplined athlete? He claims to run about ten miles daily on the steppes…

Nogueira: He is married and probably’s got a slow nightlife. The rhythm down in Russia, in Cuba, is psychotic, they train their whole lives.

Rizzo: That is it. And Fedor looks like a small refrigerator on top with those little legs underneath. But he invests a lot in training: the same way Rodrigo goes to Cuba and I go to Holland, Fedor is now in Holland all the time training muay thai with Ernesto Hoost.

Then he has that conscience concerning his career, another positive trait…
Nogueira: He does have a good manager. He only signs up fights when he is 100% sure

Rizzo: You just have to look at who he’s fought this year. He faced a weak Kohsaka and only fought in August because Pride’s summit went there with the contract and the pen and told him: “Sign it or leave!�

Nogueira: If he didn’t fight his belt would have fallen again, as it did in 2003 [when Rodrigo submitted Cro Cop and gained Pride’s provisional belt]. So they pushed him.

What did you guys think about Fedor x Mirko? Was the result as expected?

Nogueira: It was, kind of. I even thought for the fact Cro Cop had knocked Fedor’s brother out, he could win. In the first round he was even dangerous. But Fedor is much more of a fighter.

Rizzo: I was betting everything on Fedor. I lived with Mirko in a gym for two months, in the same room. He doesn’t have a warrior’s heart. You just have to see his style, always backwards. Peter Aerts said something I agree on: “The longer the fight takes, the more chances Mirko has of losing it.� He has no heart to turn a fight upside down.

Nogueira: Fedor, on his side, will fight you to death.

And Cro Cop fights in the counter-attack, waiting for a hole to get in, which is easier in any kind of martial art. The one who attacks more exposes themselves…

Rizzo: But when you push the rhythm up it gets easier to trap them. Fedor has that styles, like Shogun’s, of going irresponsibly, and that smothers counter-attacks. But indeed Fedor got out of that fight more injured than Mirko.

Nogueira: What if the opposite happens: Fedor gives Mirko one of those nose blows? I think Mirko just calls for the waiter and asks for the check.

Rizzo: Yes, Mirko never takes the initiative. I always cheer against him. It’s like Bob Sapp winning K-1, a big guy with no technique.

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What about Fedor’s ground play?

Nogueira: It wasn’t all that good in this fight, he probably trained to fight standing.

Rizzo: This last fight he mounted about 30 times incorrectly, looked like a horse. But Mirko did a good guard-work, defended well. He’s got strong legs, hard to get in. He doesn’t want to fight you on the floor.

How did the two of you change your preparation after losing to Russian fighters?

Nogueira: Every time you lose it’s good because you see something is amiss. The guy that’s on top with no effort just settles. I’m training force and explosion, working with rubber. That’s why I’m on a diet here, when it comes to eating I’m a Gracie. Rizzo, I’ll go for the cabbage and you for the sausage.

Rizzo: (Laughs) But I believe in genetics. No matter how hard I train, I’ll never be as explosive as Cacareco or Randleman. One must find their own path. In my fight against Kharitonov I was stupid, I’d trained for ten days and wasn’t well. The first jab I suffered I should have taken him down. After that loss I realized I had to mix my game a bit more. I lack some connection among standup, wrestling and ground techniques. In MMA everyone is getting good at everything, so we’ve got to train the weak spots to stay in front.

Nogueira: When everybody is good at everything I want to be home, watching it was on TV.

What about the news in the heavyweight milieu? Is there anyone else who can show up out of nowhere before the Grand Prix next year?

Nogueira: There’s that Roger Gracie kid, he is good, I guess if you put him up against a wrestler in his debut he can make it.


“I’ve fought strong guys. Like Fedor, never�
By Renato Babalu, Gracie Barra Combat Team

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When I fought Fedor in 2001 no one knew who he was. I suffered a stomach kick in the first round and there went my stamina. He then played technically, striking from the top, and made good use of Rings’ rules. I ended the round exhausted. I went for the jackpot in round two but I was truly done. Look, I’ve fought many people from around the world, so I’ve seen many strong fighters. But like him, never, no kidding…

He’s got takedown skills, but sometimes just throws you down, using tremendous strength that he just doesn’t look like he’s got. But being chubby means nothing, and he is proof of it. Fedor is a modern age fighter, a guy who knows how to do everything. I’m not sure the technique to beat him is to take him down: Randleman gave him quite the takedown, the guy didn’t even shake, just went there and submitted the American. Then the right strategy is to go for the striking. Cro Cop did a great fight with him, just went back a bit too much. He just should have trusted in his shoots some more, he even broke the Russian’s nose. Of course he didn’t even notice it, but that seems to be the way. I think Rizzo has a good weapon to fight him, which is the thigh-kick, which Fedor doesn’t usually block. Then one should make a good strategy and pray one good blow gets in.

In my fight against him I could have gone better. We knew the Russians were strong, but technically a bit weak. But I had some training mistakes and suffered from jet lag, didn’t have the support I have today. Today, to face him, no one can go with a blind training. Further, one must remember who the Russians are. They descend from Caucasians, a race that always fought against the harshest climatic conditions. I’ve heard the Olympic champion Aleksander Karelin was born weighing 11.5lb… Nearly an ox.

honingdas
08-12-2005, 13:28
strak verhaal...

Ralph
08-12-2005, 13:31
Cool deze interviews!

Mephisto
08-12-2005, 13:44
Top,

Leuk inzicht in hoe die gasten denken.

mossad
08-12-2005, 14:08
Wel grappig dat Rizzo vind dat Mirko geen warrior is omdat hij niet agressief genoeg vecht. Ik geloof dat hij daar zelf ook een handje van heeft. Als je drie ronden met een agressieve Fedor vecht heb je een aardig setje ballen.

Het valt me ook op dat ze allemaal met excuses aankomen voor hun verliespartijen.

Anonymous
08-12-2005, 14:44
Wel grappig dat Rizzo vind dat Mirko geen warrior is omdat hij niet agressief genoeg vecht. Ik geloof dat hij daar zelf ook een handje van heeft. Als je drie ronden met een agressieve Fedor vecht heb je een aardig setje ballen.

Het valt me ook op dat ze allemaal met excuses aankomen voor hun verliespartijen.

precies, bovendien kan ik deze opmerking ook niet helemaal plaatsen:

Rizzo: Yes, Mirko never takes the initiative. I always cheer against him. It’s like Bob Sapp winning K-1, a big guy with no technique.

ik vind Mirko juist altijd heel technisch vechten. die vergelijking met Bob Sapp slaat helemaal nergens op.

inc
08-12-2005, 14:48
leuk om dit zo te lezen....

Nickuraba
08-12-2005, 14:57
k ben het met mossad eens, pff zeg overal smoesjes voor, en domme praat. tjeck deze:

Rizzo: Yes, Mirko never takes the initiative. I always cheer against him. It’s like Bob Sapp winning K-1, a big guy with no technique.


dat slaat toch alles, die big guy zou hem waarschijnlijk harder neerleggen dan in zijn laatste pot gebeurde. Hij stelt dus dat hij geen techniek heeft...

en als die smoesjes indeed, pfff komop zeg

Remco
08-12-2005, 16:00
Goh, ik vind het wel klasse dat ze Fedor deze credits toekennen, zeker Babalu.

Anonymous
08-12-2005, 18:11
wat een ouwe wijfen, misschien kunnen ze wel winnen als ze met z'n tweeen tegen Fedor gaan. :?

Anonymous
08-12-2005, 18:48
DIe Rizzo is zowat de grootste counter vechter ooit in de UFC...raar dat dan juist hij, CroCop een gebrek aan iniatief verwijt

leks
09-12-2005, 01:21
Leuk en lekker los interview, maar die Brazilianen zijn ook best wel arrogant dat sijpelt er ook wat doorheen, vind ik op zich niet zo erg ze dolden ook wat.

Denk dat er wel wat waarheid in de kritiek op Crocop zit, maar inderdaad het is wel erg krom dat Rizzo dit uit, hij is in mijn ogen de typische vechter zonder warriors heart.

The Maniac
09-12-2005, 16:33
Rizzo die wat over Cro Cop vertelt die rizzo deelt vaak geen klap uit hij is zo passief als maar kan tegen Sergey kreeg hij een asswhupping omdat hij niks deed.

Remco
09-12-2005, 17:06
Like a dear in the headlight!

Kharitonov OWNED hem.

Chico
09-12-2005, 22:31
die docu?? is dat pride to the top of is het weer iets nieuws??

The Bulldog
09-12-2005, 23:23
Tja je moet wat zeggen, als er mensen zijn die het beter tegen Fedor doen dan dat jij deed toch?

1 ding is duidelijk ze breken hun kop , over de vraag hoe Fedor te stoppen..