During a recent JRE Companion episode for UFC 312, Joe Rogan, Matt Serra, Brendan Schaub, and Bryan Callen discussed how Fedor Emelianenko would have performed in the UFC during his prime.
The conversation emerged during a discussion about heavyweight greats, with Serra stating that Cain Velasquez was arguably “the best heavyweight ever.” However, Rogan countered that Fedor‘s accomplishments in Pride made it difficult to dismiss him from that conversation.
“It’s hard to say because of Fedor,” Rogan said. “If you can get juicy Fedor from Pride I think Cain beats the s*it out of him.”
Serra expressed doubts, praising Fedor‘s striking accuracy and grappling ability:
“I don’t know man, I don’t know if anybody beats Fedor… he’s so accurate with his strikes.”
The group highlighted Fedor‘s notable wins, including walking down Mirko Cro Cop in his prime and submitting Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. However, they acknowledged the different era and testing standards between Pride and the UFC made direct comparisons difficult.
The consensus seemed to be that while Fedor‘s Pride accomplishments were incredible, the modern UFC heavyweight division with its enhanced testing would have presented unique challenges to his style and physical attributes that defined his dominant run in Pride.
Fedor’s Legacy and Potential UFC Run
Despite never competing in the UFC, Fedor Emelianenko remains one of the sport’s most debated figures. His dominance in Pride, where he remained undefeated for nearly a decade, was marked by wins over some of the best heavyweights of his time. Many believe that had he signed with the UFC, he could have continued his reign. However, the discussions around Fedor’s absence from the promotion often lead back to his contentious negotiations with the UFC.
Fedor‘s former manager, Jerry Millen, has long maintained that the UFC wanted to use him as a pawn to discredit Pride fighters. In an interview, Millen stated:
“When UFC bought Pride, they wanted to destroy its prestige, so that everything looked like UFC was the king of everything. But in fact, at that time, they were not.”
He claimed that the UFC was desperate to sign Fedor and offered massive contracts, but Emelianenko refused because of his personal principles and distrust of Dana White.
Millen further elaborated on the failed Brock Lesnar negotiations, which was closest to happening when negotiations took place on the island of Curacao. However, the deal ultimately fell apart due to White’s attitude, with Millen calling him “the main problem.”
Possible Return and Speculated Opponents
Despite retiring from professional competition in February 2023, Fedor has hinted at a potential return, fueling speculation within the MMA community. A cryptic social media post from the Russian legend suggested he might not be done with the sport, and reports indicate that talks with potential opponents are ongoing.
Two names that have surfaced as possible opponents are Andrei Arlovski and Mirko Cro Cop—both of whom have a storied history with Emelianenko.
Arlovski, a former UFC heavyweight champion, fought Fedor in 2009, where he suffered a knockout loss. A rematch between the two veterans would be a nostalgic throwback to a previous era of heavyweight MMA.
Mirko Cro Cop, a feared Croatian striker, also faced Emelianenko in one of Pride’s most legendary matchups back in 2005. That ended in a unanimous decision win for Fedor. A rematch, even at this stage of their careers, would be a massive event for old-school MMA fans.
