"The sauna helps with rejuvenation between practices. We boil the water, then we get the steam. We get massages and beat each other with branches. It helps get rid of all the lactic acid. It helps with restoration so you can start the week full of energy."
-- The last man to hold the Pride FC heavyweight title, Fedor Emelianenko, reveals a bizarre (and perhaps antiquated) recuperative practice that he and his primary training partner, Kirill Sidelnikov, often rely on to stay fresh after training sessions. The sauna is located in a rundown house in Emelianenko's hometown of Stary Oskol, Russia. The odd-looking procedure was demonstrated through fogged glass during the 60-minute "Baddest Man on the Planet" special, which aired on FOX Sports Net (FSN) this evening. If you missed the show, go watch it. Fedor is unlike any other major mixed martial arts fighter in the world on so many different levels. It's remarkable, really.