The legendary Fedor Emelianenko may have stepped into the cage for the last time in his storied career Saturday night in New Jersey.
In the aftermath of his second straight loss — a doctor stoppage following a vicious pounding from Brazilian powerhouse Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva — Emelianenko hinted that it may be time to hang it up for good.
"Yes, maybe, it’s the last time," Emelianenko said. "Maybe it’s high time. Thanks for everything. I spent a great beautiful long sport life. Maybe it’s God’s will."
The first round of Emelianenko's battle with Silva was competitive as both fighters traded heavy blows. But the much larger Brazilian dominated the second frame after securing an early takedown. Emelianenko sustained significant damage off his back with Silva hammering away with punches and targeting submissions.
The durable Russian survived the onslaught, but the ringside physician had seen enough as Emelianenko's eye was visibly busted up from all the heavy shots. The stoppage was justified because Emelianenko clearly had trouble coping with Silva's massive frame and the exorbitant amount of punishment he sustained warranted an intervention for the sake of his well-being.
The former Pride heavyweight champion suffered his second straight loss to a Brazilian adversary; Emelianenko lost a first-round submission at the hands of Fabricio Werdum last June.
Emelianenko has enjoyed an acclaimed run, beating some of the best heavyweights on the planet and establishing an incomparable legacy. However, his two most recent setbacks are indicative of the rising level of competition and the substantial size differential between him and some of the other heavyweights currently dominating the game.
Leading into the clash Saturday, Emelianenko indicated that he did not make any changes in his training camp to prepare for Silva. If that is the case, Emelianenko must make some adjustments and train with more world-class fighters if he does indeed intend to return to the cage.
Emelianenko's manager, Vadim Finkelstein, said he expects the fighter to change his mind about retirement. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker hopes the Russian will fulfill the four-fight contract he recently inked with the organization.
Despite Emelianenko's two-fight losing streak, there are still many intriguing fights left for the Red Devil Sports Club product. Even in defeat, he demonstrated tremendous power, an iron chin, sublime submission defense and the will of a true champion. However, his lack of hip movement and inability to stop Silva's takedown nor escape his top control exposed more weaknesses in his game.
If there is an injury, Coker said Emelianenko could re-enter the heavyweight Grand Prix. Putting him back into the tournament would be a desperate move on the promoter's part because Shane Del Rosario, who submitted Lavar Johnson on Saturday's card, has proven he deserves the opportunity.
On the other hand, a matchup between Emelianenko and the loser of the upcoming tilt between Alistair Overeem and Werdum is still a highly marketable proposition, one that Coker has already gone on record stating he would like to put together.
The most intelligent move for Emelianenko, however, would be a drop to 205 pounds. "The Last Emperor" is struggling against heavier opponents, and his relatively small frame would allow him to shed an extra 20 pounds to compete in the light heavyweight division. While the latter option is unlikely considering Emelianenko's longtime success as a heavyweight, a potential bout against fellow Pride legend Dan Henderson would be a blockbuster attraction for Strikeforce.
Notwithstanding the possibility of a return, Emelianenko has cemented his place in MMA history.
Meanwhile, a new star was born as Silva picked up the most significant win of his career by smashing a true legend in convincing fashion.
The Brazilian put a stellar game plan into play against Emelianenko. After eating some heavy punches from the Russian early in round one, he quickly brought the fight into his comfort zone and seamlessly transitioned between positions on the mat.
Silva will face the winner of Overeem-Werdum in the next leg of the tournament. He can avenge one of only two losses if Werdum advances, while a win over the Strikeforce heavyweight champion Overeem will propel Silva further up the heavyweight rankings, though business could flounder as a result. Silva may be talented, but his fan base is limited.
In other action on Saturday night, Russian Pride standout Sergei Kharitonov left a lasting impression in his Strikeforce debut, starching former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski with punches in the first round.
Kharitonov may be a newcomer to casual North American fans, but they will soon learn to appreciate his destructive knockout power. The 30-year-old Golden Glory team member had a fierce run in Pride, although a submission loss to Jeff Monson in 2009 still resonates in the minds of critics and hardcore fans.
Kharitonov has won bouts against Werdum and Overeem, which makes his participation in the tournament particularly compelling. In the semifinal round, the former army soldier and Russian Top Team product will face off against the winner of Brett Rogers vs. Josh Barnett, which is slated for April 9 at a location to be determined.
Barnett is heavily favored to use his experience, submissions and cage savvy to vanquish Rogers, which means Kharitonov will likely be taking on the former Pride and UFC star.
Some intriguing fights remain in the Strikeforce Grand Prix. But there is no denying that the organization would have benefited immensely from having fan favorites Emelianenko and Arlovski advance in the tournament.
With relatively unknown names such as Silva and Kharitonov moving on, most fans will be perplexed by who these fighters are, consequently causing viewing figures and attendances to decline.
Moreover, without consistent stars or regular winners, Strikeforce's heavyweights will never reach a level comparable to the UFC's elite.
At this point, Overeem is still the favorite to take it all. The Dutchman is undoubtedly a star the promotion can build around, although too many observers are discounting Werdum's chances. The Brazilian has also won over his share of fans with a friendly personality and smile, as well as a decisive victory over Emelianenko, but Strikeforce would benefit from Overeem's continued success.
Emelianenko's future status is the most important question currently facing Strikeforce. Should the Russian legend decide he's definitely done, the No. 2 MMA organization on the planet will have lost its biggest star.
Life will go on. Strikeforce will continue to put on shows. Mixed martial arts will keep evolving. But Strikeforce's aspirations of pay-per-view could be destroyed and overall business could begin a downward spiral.
Once Emelianenko retires, the UFC will continue to dominate the market with vastly superior marketing, a much deeper selection of quality fighters and a dedication to building the sport as a whole. While Strikeforce scrambles to find a tomato can for Herschel Walker or a sacrificial lamb for Gina Carano in her return, the UFC will continue to match up the best fighters in the world on a consistent basis. There are no favors, no special treatment and no blatant attempts to protect anyone who dares to step into the octagon. James Toney and Kimbo Slice may have been moneymakers, but they were not given another shot once it became apparent they didn't belong.
With that being said, Strikeforce better hope Emelianenko honors his four-fight deal because myriad casual UFC fans tuned in solely for the purpose of seeing the revered Russian in action. With retirement on the horizon and Emelianenko beginning to appear all too human, it's only a matter of time until Strikeforce's top draws, such as Overeem and Nick Diaz, end up in the UFC.
Emelianenko adds credibility, legitimacy and popularity to the promotion. Once he steps away, Strikeforce will lose eyeballs and mainstream media exposure. Perhaps the organization will survive, but it may never again have a superstar of Emelianenko's caliber to carry its brand to the next level.
