The last man to hold the Pride FC heavyweight title, Fedor Emelianenko, has confirmed that he will indeed tangle with former UFC heavyweight champion, Tim Sylvia, during an event that is scheduled to take place in the United States on July 19.
MMAWeekly.com is reporting the the Russian made the announcement on his personal Web site yesterday (Friday). For more on the monster showdown between the two former champions click here.
Even though Sylvia is an Adrenaline MMA fighter and Fedor is loosely affiliated with M-1, it’s widely believed that the fight would be promoted by Affliction — a popular clothing company that is in the process of forming and MMA promotion — and be aired on Mark Cuban’s HDNet network.
In addition to the Sylvia fight announcement, Emelianenko revealed that he is expected to compete twice more in 2008, including his annual appearance on a New Year’s Eve show.
No opponents for those other bouts have been named at this time; however, don’t be surprised if we see Emelianenko rematch Mirko Cro Cop on December 31.
It looks like Fedor is set to finally respond to the critics such as UFC President Dana White who lament that Emelianenko has padded his record with fights against handpicked opponents and hasn’t taken on any top competition in more than two years.
This could be good if indeed accurate … real good.
61 Comments »
so where is everyone now that says he only fights cans? Is Tim Sylvia good enough competition for the UFC nuthuggers now?
I don’t think it had anything to do with being a “UFC nuthugger”, Fedor really wasn’t fighting top competition, unless you concider Hong Man a top fighter.
He is a man who stood up to the big bad monster Dana white. He wasnt quick to just sign any old ridiculous contract so he fought what was available. IMO, Barnett is the only person he could have faced since UFC bought and destroyed PRIDE. What fights were out there for him that he didnt take? NONE because deep down, as much as I love Barnett, I dont really think he wants anything to do with fighting Fedor. If he did the fight would have happened in Japan a long time ago.
Dana did not offer an acceptable contract, he was smart, he held out and fought what was available to him. Regardless of what we thought about the Hong Man Choi fight, the Japanease culture is complete different from ours and too the Japanease people that was an appealing fight. I have no beef with that. If anything I blame Dana for the lack of big fights For Fedor…Dana bought out all his competition, and if he would ave offered an acceptable deal we would have already seen Fedor vs. Couture by now.
If anything blame Dana!
When in doubt, Blame Dana! Thats what i do@ lol
Oh I agree completely, especially about blaming Dana lol. I just don’t think you have to be a UFC nuthugger to know Fedor hasn’t been able to fight any top guys lately.
the only reason fedor held out is because he actually has pride. i think dana white wanted to have fedor for his own private use(fiscally, not sexually pervs)
fedor will rip anyone to shreds anyways
fedor is the greatest ever
Thank God, this should shut all the stupid haters up. People who hate on Fedor sound so stupid. They sound like a bunch of Dana whites, its pathertic. Hating on Fedor is like Hating on Micheal Jordan. Fedor is the Mike Jordan of mma! I really hope that after he makes sylvia his Bitch, people start showing the greatest fighter in the world some respect. How could people hate on him? He is so great, humble, classy, respectful and dominant. What more can you want out of the best fighter on the planet.
Although Sylvia doesnt always fight to win, he is a very tough guy to defeat. Once Fedor FINISHES him I really hope people start showing the man the respect he deserves. He is the most humble person fighting in mma and combining that with his ability, makes him a truly remarkable champion. Besides Nogueira, No man fighting in the UFC has been able to finish Tim Sylvia since the 1st Arlovski fight, which is impressive. big Props to Nogueira for pulling it off in a come from behind win. Fedors fight wont be as dramatic, it will be much more dominant and should once and for all put all the UFC-ONLY-NUTTHUGGERS on ALERT!!!!
Oscar Robinson, the only basketball player in the history of the NBA to average a triple double for a season. Something Jordan never did and anyone else for that matter. But back to MMA, Fedor only wins this fight by submission. That’s the only thing he’s done lately. I like to see a good submission every now and then but you can almost guarantee you’ll see one in a Fedor fight and that’s pretty boring. Tim Sylvia was submitted by Arlovski, Mir, and, Nogueira. Randy was the only one that could stand with him and beat him. My point is there is no way that Fedor could stand with Tim and even win a decision. Fedor will end up on his back and he will get another boring submission and I still won’t be impressed. Anderson Silva is the best P4P fighter in the world because he can destroy a fighter in so many different areas and Fedor has recently only submitted people and big props to Nog for getting the lucky submission because the fight would have ended in a KO or TKO had he not.
YOu are not seriously trying to compare jordan to oscar right??? LOL
so BACK TO mma,
so just because he might win by “boring submission” is the reason you wont be impressed?? you my friend dont sound like a real MMA fan.
You must not realize how hard it is to get a triple double in the NBA. So to average a triple double for a season is unheard of. Oscar didn’t have the supporting cast that Jordan had until he played with Abdul Jabar his last season and won a championship. If he was not better than Jordan he would be the only person that was close. So back to MMA, so just because I don’t want to see someone submit someone every single fight you think I am not a true MMA fan. The point I was trying to make is that Randy could have submitted Tim but he chose to stand and or GnP him and thats what the fans want to see. I would rather see a five round fight go to a decision than see someone submit someone in the first round every time.
Okay, I had to comment.
Fedor stood with MIRKO CRO COP, a K1 kickboxer, for most of the fight, and pulled off the decision. If you think that he can stand with Mirko and can’t stand with Tim Sylvia, you’re stupid. Tim Sylvia is good at one thing – big fu. Yeah, I’d be a damn good fighter too IF I WAS 6′8″ AND 260+ POUNDS. He easily outweighs all of his opponents and uses THAT to win his fights. Fedor has fought big dudes. He’ll be able to strike with another big dude.
My prediction – Fedor catches Tim Sylvia with a looping left hook, takes him to the ground, and then probably submits him.
On another note – have you not SEEN Fedor’s GNP? It’s terrifying. He dismantled Big Nog with it. Fedor has outstruck K1 kickboxers and shutdown BJJ black belts on the ground. I’m not saying he’s necessarily invincible, but I am definitely saying that it’ll take more than skill to beat him. He’s been caught and staggered and still won. He’s got skills, strength, and heart. You can’t teach what he has.
thats the best comment ever…fedor is something better than ali in his prime
NO Tim Sucks and doesnt want to fight but the pay day at the losers scale.. Randy C
Calm down, no one said he would NEVER fight anyone worthwhile again. They just said the TRUTH, he hasn’t fought anyone but cans for a few years. I’m glad he has stepped up and is going to challenge himself again.
i approve. If fedor wins i will be on his d again.
Tim is a joke. He got released. Its not like he was coming off 2 wins, he was coming off two losses. When fedor steps into the cage then maybe he will get some respect.
yep he lost to randy with a fucking busted back! would you beat randy with a busted back?
he beat brandon vera fair and square he beat arlovski and monson! name another ufc guy other than nog who has won as much top notch fights as big tim?
you cant! tim is no joke
Tim by Gogoplata!!! You heard it here first.
Fedor by some sort of sub.
Its called an arm bar! lol
I think Fedor will get the sub, but if the old (which I doubt) Tim shows up I think he could beat Fedor. I’m going for Big Tim here.
If Silvia wins I’m going to laugh for days and days and days…
You will have Dana laughing with you. and Randy will be crying on your shoulder!!
Tim Sylvia sucks and last fights prove he doesn’t want to fight…. Randy C should fight..
Tim sucks Long live Randy C
Is this is a ring or a cage?
This is possibly one of the biggest match-ups in all of MMA.
This fight stylistically is an incredible fight. I think this fight will actually blow a lot of people away, because Tim Sylvia wants to win, and so does Fedor. If Tim wins, he might just be known as the best heavyweight in the world (other than Randy Couture), because he has to be recognized as a top 5 heavyweight fighter in the world. Yes, he lost to Nogueria, but you also have to think, that Fedor defeated Nog multiple times.
Fedor wants to win to shut everybody up… THIS is going to be a money making event.
I think that his will be an excellent fight to watch for devoted MMA fans – but I doubt it will be a big money maker since neither of these fighters have any marketing appeal to a mainstream audience.
Why is so one fixated on saying Fedor isnt a big draw in the USA? He gets mobbed by fans`whenever he is in Vegas and to my knowledge, when Fedor headlined PRIDE 32 the real deal in las Vegas, IT SOLD OUT!!! PRIDE had a lot of fans in the USA and you cant be a PRIDE fan without not knowing about FEDOR!!!
NC-17…I am with you on this one. Although I am positive that Fedor will finish Sylvia, it will be a very exciting fight for the fans. Sylvia wont be able to make a fight against Fedor Boring, its just not going to happen. I also agree that it is an extremely important fight in the history of mma.
I would also have to agree with the fact that this event will make some serious $$$! Tim may not be a fan favorite, but everyone that knows mma is fully aware of his championship resume. Also, Sylvia left the UFC after his most exciting performance in years (against NOG although he lost). Many new fans ordered that event to see Brock Lesner and Sylvia helped out his pockets by fighting a very exciting fight.
Also, Matt Lindland is already signed to compete on this card and if half of the rumored undercard bouts come out to be true, it will be one of the best mma cards EVER! A card that the UFC will have to respond to, by putting together an extremely stacked card of its own…This whole scenario just benefits us fans.
This will be a very exciting next couple of months. The UFC has some solid cards already booked for the next few months. The we get the TUF Finale in June. This Fedor vs. Sylvia Affliction event will be awesome. Then we get some FREE EliteXC on CBS along with the DREAM lightweight and middleweight Grand Prix’s!!! This is a very exciting time to be a fan off mma!
Fedor by tearing off of arm.
One thing that I find puzzling is why did DW agree to let Tim out of his contract in order to fight Fedor? I’m sure that DW knew that this fight was in the works. He must not think that it will hurt the UFC otherwise he wouldn’t have done it.
It’s because Tim isn’t a big draw in the UFC. Randy is, which is the difference. Most mainstream fans hate Sylvia (the hardcore fans do too, but they at least acknowledge he’s an elite fighter). So the UFC didn’t want to keep paying him 100,000/fight when most fans don’t want to see fight.
It may also be because Dana knows the Couture v Fedor fight will happen. Tim wasn’t popular, so he wasn’t a big draw. However, if he beats Fedor, then Randy v Fedor isn’t such a big deal and Dana wins (although the UFC would have made more money by letting the fight happen). This fight is in the U.S., so that means Fedor is going to get drug tested so no one can cry foul. He may have been drug tested outside the U.S., but anything outside the U.S. carries an asterisk. That’s not meant to be offensive to anyone, it’s just that we generally don’t like cheaters.
On Fedor’s site it says he’ll fight in October and December. I bet you fight in October will be with Randy Couture
I’m not going to knock Fedor I think he is trully one of the best fighters out there and I’m glad that he is fighting Big Tim should be a great fight. However I noticed a few bad mouthing Dana White and truth be told Dana may be a lot of different things but a bad business man he is not. He did everything he could to sign Fedor but it is just simple you sign in the UFC you fight for the UFC and no one else. Fedor didn’t like that and didn’t sign simple, there should be no bad remarks made against either Dana or Fedor. Who knows maybe Fedor will sign with the UFC in a situation where it is a small number of fights maybe 3. Fedor really needs to fight top guys again if he still wants to be considered the top dog out there.
im glad this fight is happening, that is all.
YES…YES…YES…Now we will see where Fedor stacks up against a fighter…Without the pride refs, and the others who back pride…make it happen in the US…in a cage…And big Tim will stop him…And then Randy can go cry on the future of womens mma shoulder (kim)…It is time for Fedor to fight someone with some skills!…or at least someone around his weight!…
when did fedor become a zombie?
My question is for John. Were you at the meeting for the UFC and Fedor? You said the contract was ridiculous. Fedor is not the Jordan, he’s the Floyd Mayweather of MMA. High ranking but dosent fight top contenders. The only reason he took this fight is because he probably saw Tim/Nog and realized Tim is vulnerable to submissions. Just like Floyd he’ll wait till a fighter is past his prime or not fighting that well then fight him. But I think he’s got another thing coming with big Tim, then maybe you will have to hug Dana’s nuts and see that he knows his shit.
Dude who the hell do you want Floyd to fight the only one left is Miguel Cotto and my guess it happens next year. He has fought the best of the best out there and hasn’t ducked anyone. Tell me please who has he ducked?
Who is left are you kidding me? Antonio Margarito offered Floyd 8 mil. for a fight and he turned it down to fight Baldomir for pennys. There’s Cotto, Mosely, Quintanna, and Williams. If you don’t know what your talking about then don’t reply to my post. Floyd is the one that says if it makes money it makes sense, then why turn down 8 mil. to fight Margarito? He said at the WWE to the big show “when someone calls me out I have to retaliate” Shane Mosely called him out after the Hatton fight. The fact is Floyd is not fighting anyone that has a real chance at beating him. “Hint…Fedor”
Just because Fedor hasn’t fought top comp for a while doesn’t mean he hasn’t fought top comp. Nog, twice (Three times actually). Cro Cop, who he stood with. Hunt, Mark Coleman, Randleman and many other fighters who were very risky for him.
Here check this out so you won’t just hear it from me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOSYzIKJFro
If anyone is scared about fighting I would say are the fighters that talk bs about Fedor. Every single fight he has had you could notice the fear factor of the oponent. I think that if this fight does not happen is because Tim is afraid of Fedor. If this bout happens then Tim as well as other fighters will be scared of Fedor.
lol, I swear 90% of people on forums like this just repeat talking points they picked up
i just hope it’s for real.
i mean this was on fedors website so he really beleives its gonna happen. but what about his management when i hear them say it then i’ll beleive it. maybee.
Fedor by annihilation. Timmy ain’t got the skills to finish Fedor. When was the last time that Tim finished someone convincingly? AA part 2. That was quite a while ago. Timmy couldn’t finish a great submission guy like Monson that was a foot shorter and 40 lbs. lighter. Fedor’s submission skills are far and away better than Monson and throw in that he beat Nog twice and i think it is obvious that Timmy is in trouble. And mark my words… Dana will be the one crying that he f**ked up by not signing Fedor.
R.I.P. Timmy
Only chance Sylvia has is win by cut. But I think Fedor will get it down quickly.
Maybe the second fight for him this year will be Randy or AA. If he beats Slyvia, either one of those guys and then CroCop again, I don’t think the remarks abouthim fighting cans will end. UFC or not, he can fight, period. I find Slyvia boring to watch, but I think Fedor will submit him after taking some shots
I’m going to be shocked if Randy Couture and Fedor don’t throw down on New Years Eve. Gonna need an explanation for that if it doesn’t happen..all of Randy’s efforts will seem to have come to no fruition if he doesn’t get the next fight following Tim or the one after on Dec. 31st. Crazy shit Randy must be going through, all of his efforts and Sylvia getting the first fight and all..
Never thought anyone’s picture would look ugly sitting next to Tim Sylvia’s. I have to make an exception for this case, cause I think Fedor just got out of a fight there.
in russia thats a really sexy look.
whose Fedor?
Man I really want to say that Fedor is the best, but unfortunately more than half of you wouldn’t believe me. many say he hasn’t taken on top competition in 2 years, but seriously it wouldn’t have mattered who was in front of him, he would’ve destroyed all of them just the same. You all know he wanted to be in the UFC in the first place, but Dana wouldn’t deal, somehow this got turned around and blamed on the last emperor. Unfortunate. But once he destroys sylvia and couture, the arguements will cease, we will all know what the hardcore mma fans (not the “i only watch UFC” fans) already know. WAR FEDOR!
I won’t believe this fight is going to happen until I see them touch gloves. Emelianenko’s camp is famous for playing games like that.
OMG stop complaining on the *top competition crap* so what hand choosing opponents is like following your own path to getting better and better instead of being dana’s bitch
Fedor will win in the first round by submission.
It’s going to be so easy.
Not to take anything away form Sylvia but when fighters getting in the ring with fedor they forget how to fight. Fedor walks in very calm not one facial expression and just does his job and waits for the next fight.
His easiest fight yet.
Fedor by kimura in the second round. And this WILL NOT be easy for Fedor. Tim Sylvia is a very hard fighter to beat. I would def. say that Fedor is the favorite here, but Sylvia is a tought opponent for anyone. I think if you put him in there with Couture or Minatauro he’d have a really good chance to beat either one of them. I just hope Fedor doesn’t get cut. Elbows and the cage might be a problem for him.
But if he loses you’re going to cry all night long