Probably one of the most exciting rounds of MMA this year. With both fighters headhunting and swinging for the fences, it was a foregone conclusion that someone was going to get KTFO. But I honestly didn't think that it would be Fedor in the end. Fedor had Hendo rocked and carelessly went in for the kill, like he did against Werdum. Hendo used his wrestling and pulled an amazing escape and an even more amazing uppercut from underneath and put Fedor out. And may have possibly put out his fight career as well. With three straight losses and all three being finishes. Is it proof that Fedor's prime is well behind him.
Let's look at the facts...
Fedor is only 34 years old. That's young by Randy Couture standards! Fedor hasn't won a fight in almost 2 years his last win being against Brett Rogers in November of 2009. His contract with Strikeforce was over after the Hendo fight. With 3 losses he doesn't have any leverage now to sign with the UFC or even with Strikeforce for that matter. That leaves him few other options to fight against top competition. Fedor comes with baggage. That baggage being his M-1 Global cohorts. Talk about a bunch of guys suckling at the teet! That makes it hard to negotiate with him as well.
What can Fedor do from here?
If I was Fedor or one of his many managers I would encourage him to first GET IN SHAPE! He is 5'10" and 230 Lbs. and fights at Heavyweight. All the top heavyweights now are looking more like 6'4" and 265 Lbs. Fedor can no longer compete with these larger HW's. As evidence, his fight with Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva. Silva simply overpowered him with his size. Being mounted by a mammoth of a man like "Bigfoot" it looked impossible for Fedor to do anything to retaliate. Thus, the beating his face took and the doctor's stoppage of that fight. Fedor just simply looks fat and out of shape. If he cut that weight from his gut he could easily make 205 Lbs. and fight at Light Heavyweight. At LHW Fedor's punching power and submissions would make him a very, VERY scary opponent for anyone at 205! Well except for Dan Henderson...
Another thing that Fedor needs to do is find a new training camp. I know he has his own team and camp in Russia, but can you name any of the fighters in his camp? I can't. You gotta be surrounded by the best and train with the best. Not just train where it's comfortable.
IMHO, Fedor has been fighting stiffs in Japan, Bodog and Affliction in the 4 years since the demise of PRIDEFC. He wasn't fighting top competition in that time period and now that he has stepped up in Strikeforce his diminished skills and and evolution of MMA in general has left Fedor behind. I think it's mainly the evolution of MMA. Because MMA is an ever evolving sport and if you are not keeping up with the changes in your training and preparation for fights it will most definitely show in the cage!
I won't shut the door on Fedor's career just yet. Cause he is still a major draw in MMA amd people will still pay to see him fight. But if he doesn't change something, whether it be the weight class, his management or his training regiment I don't see him being successful in the future. It's sad because I was and am a big fan of PrideFC and Fedor was a really huge part of what Pride was. I won't go as far as saying that "Fedor is done." But I will say that the outlook is not so good.
What do you think? Is Fedor done? What do you think the future holds for "The Last Emperor"? Tell us in the comments!
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