Fedor Emelianenko vs Mirko Cro Cop | August 28, 2005
When we talk about the degradation of the heavyweight division in MMA, all you really need to do is go back and watch some of those old fights to see what we're talking about. Look at the technical and athletic ability on display here and tell me with a straight face that the modern heavyweight division could replicate this.
It's impossible to really understand how hot both these guys are when the fight came together. Cro Cop, a K-1 star and one of the best kickboxers on the planet, entered this one immediately established he was the goods. From his debut in 2001, up to this fight, he would go 16-2-2 while taking out some of the biggest names in the sport - Josh Barnett, Igor Vovchanchyn, Sakuraba, etc. He was on a 7 fight win streak with his previous six wins coming by stoppage. And that was over a span of like one and a half years. It is funny to note this fight was 'supposed' to happen in 2004, but politicking team and a surprise loss to Kevin Randleman in the '04 Grand Prix killed it.
In August 2005, Fedor was the best fighter in the sport. His run through PRIDE had been so thoroughly dominant, the only moment of real duress had been him getting suplexed on to his head by Kevin Randleman only for Fedor to sub him 30 seconds later. He had thoroughly defeated Big Nog to win the heavyweight title and the 2004 Grand Prix.
The most interesting thing about this fight is how prepared Fedor is to hang with Cro Cop on the feet. He spent his camp working with Ernesto Hoost and his team in Holland. And you can see it in the fight. The counter leg kicks. The development of his active guard and checks to deal with the kicks of Cro Cop. Just next level stuff. Things we don't see in MMA today despite the fact we know it works!
