Fedor Emelianenko

DOB: 09/28/1976
Weight: 227lb
Height: 6'0"
Fighting style: Sambo, Judo, Boxing, Muay Thai
MMA Record: 27-1-1
Walk-out Music: Enae Volare Mezzo

Fedor Emelianenko's enthusiasm for fighting began with Sambo and Judo. He initially trained under Vasiliy Ivanovich Gavrilov, and later under his current coach, Vladimir Mihailovich Voronov. Voronov remembers that ten-year-old Fedor was relatively weak physically and did not have an innate grappling talent; instead, Fedor's biggest strength was his perseverance and strong will.

From 1995 until 1997, Fedor served in the Russian Army. His official biography erroneously states that he trained in Sambo during his army years. However, Fedor has specified in his 2005 Amsterdam interview that this is incorrect, and his training in the army was limited to running and strength training in a makeshift gym he put together himself.

Fedor received the official certification of a "Master of Sports" in Sambo and Judo, in 1997. Fedor became Russian Judo Champion in 1998. In 2000, he started studying striking with arms and legs under coach Alexander Vasilievich Michkov. Fedor started competing in combat sambo and mixed martial arts in 2000, because he "didn't have any money".

Fedor used to weight train extensively, but in 1999 he almost completely substituted his weight exercises with sport-specific training in grappling, boxing and kick-boxing. His strength training consists of daily pull-ups, push ups on parallel bars, and crunches. Emelianenko also runs 12-15 kilometers (7.5 - 9.3 miles) every day.

Fedor's team consists of coach Voronov (grappling), coach Michkov (boxing), and his training partners: his brother, Aleksander Emelianenko, and Roman Zentsov, another PRIDE fighter.

In 2005 Emelianenko started paying special attention to improving his kicking technique. He trained Muay Thai with kickboxer Ernesto Hoost in Netherlands in 2005. During his 5 day visit in January 2006 to South Korea to promote Sambo, Fedor mentioned that now he also trains in Taekwondo to improve his kicks.

Fedor suffered his only loss in MMA came at the hands of Tsuyoshi Kohsaka at the King of Kings 2000 Block B event on December 22, 2000, via a TKO (doctor stoppage due to a cut) 17 seconds into the fight. The cut was caused by an elbowstrike, illegal under RINGS rules unless the striker was wearing elbow pads; however the tournament format required a winner and loser be acclaimed. He avenged the loss at the PRIDE Bushido 6 event on April 3, 2005, defeating Kohsaka by TKO due to doctor stoppage after the first round.

On August 28, 2005, Fedor successfully defended his heavyweight title by defeating Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic by way of unanimous decision in the Pride FC Final Conflict event held in Saitama, Japan. It was his third title defense. He said Mirko to be his toughest opponent he has ever fought.