On June 26, 2010, heavyweight icon Fedor Emelianenko suffered a costly defeat due to a significant misjudgment. His remarkable 28-fight undefeated streak was at stake in the main event of a Strikeforce show held in San Jose, California.
Fabricio Werdum faced the daunting challenge of dethroning Russia`s feared phenom. The future UFC titleholder achieved a surprisingly swift victory, defeating Emelianenko in a little over 60 seconds.
Fedor Emelianenko`s Rookie Error Proved Costly
Emelianenko entered the bout with an impressive 31-1 (1 NC) professional record against one of MMA`s most dangerous submission specialists. Therefore, it was astonishing to see him make a fundamental error less than a minute into the contest against Werdum.
During an aggressive striking exchange, Emelianenko managed to force his opponent to the canvas. However, he misidentified what appeared to be a slip as Werdum being significantly stunned by one of his punches.
Sensing an opportunity for a finish, `The Last Emperor` committed a critical error by diving directly into Werdum`s renowned guard, attempting to finish the fight with ground and pound.
Once in position, it became evident Werdum was not hurt; he swiftly locked in a triangle choke. Despite his efforts to escape the hold, Emelianenko was forced to tap out, ending the fight at just 69 seconds.
Joe Rogan Declares Fedor Emelianenko the Heavyweight GOAT
Earlier this year, commentator Joe Rogan weighed in on the debate for the greatest heavyweight in MMA history during an episode of his podcast.
Analyst Brendan Schaub initiated the discussion by stating, “I think Cain [Velasquez] in his prime is the best heavyweight ever.”
Rogan countered, asserting his belief that Emelianenko holds the title of the greatest big man to compete in the sport. “It’s hard to say, because of Fedor,” Rogan remarked.
“If you were to take the prime Fedor from the Pride era, I don’t know if anyone could defeat him. He was phenomenal; Fedor pressured [Mirko] Cro Cop during his peak. Remember, the majority of that fight was contested on the feet, with Fedor trading strikes and constantly pushing forward against Cro Cop. Think about the [Kevin] Randleman fight – Randleman suplexes him directly onto his head, and five seconds later, Fedor has him caught in a kimura. It was unbelievable. He was unique, a true force of nature.”
