Yeah that's the first time iv'e heard fedor described as athletic, cunning, ferocious, tenacious, aggressive and high fight IQ(which he seemed to lose later in his career) were more appropriate ways to describe him I'd say.
Also athleticism matters to an extent but it isn't a foot race, or jumping contest, and there are different ways to be athletic. there are people who can beat me in 100m, that can't beat me in an 800m, and dudes who could beat me in both but I could break their neck with my bare hands. You are going to needs endurance, toughness and willpower as well and it by and large something that's hard to test unless someone is beating the crap out of you.
Then consider that MMA is amazingly technical and experienced based, and the barrier to competing at a high level and earning a lot of money is pretty high. Being athletic won't help you if you can be submitted easily due to lack of mastery of various grappling arts or you can't pace yourself in a fight and burn yourself out etc