How Many #1 Ranked Fighters from 2003 are still at the Top? (Fedor Related)

[Hans Gruber]

None.

Why are fools acting like Fedor losing in 2017 is shocking?

Fedor's time has past. His chin looks spotty. No shame in that. It happens to most fighters that fight too long. If he keeps fighting bigger fighters with KO power he will keep losing. That doesn't change what he accomplished in his career. If he wants to keep fighting that is his business.

He no longer trains with killers, his ground game is no where near where it was, he isn't as fast, and isn't nearly as elusive, and his chin has deteriorated. A smaller HW like him losing a step or two is a death sentence when facing guys that can put you out with one punch.

He is the greatest HW of all time but he is no longer elite. People pretending that him losing now means that he was always overrated are morons plain and simple.

 

[Hans Gruber]

Should have mentioned in the 1st post:

I actually want to see Fedor vs Sonnen next. Fedor doesn't need to be facing big HWs with KO power anymore. Can't see him beating too many HWs nowadays. I would favor guys like Kongo and Nelson over him too. They have held up better.

 

[Minowafanatic]

Fedor is completely shot. He can't fight anyone decent with a punch and expect to win, and even vs. a middleweight like Sonnen would be a competitive matchup for him at this point. 2003-2008 though, he was an absolute monster.

For reference, here are the #1 ranked fighters in July in 2003 according to FightMatrix:

HW: Fedor Emelianenko
LHW: Randy Couture
MW: Murilo Bustamante
WW: Matt Hughes
LW: Takanori Gomi

 

[MisdemeanorMMA]

Fedor is completely shot. He can't fight anyone decent with a punch and expect to win, and even vs. a middleweight like Sonnen would be a competitive matchup for him at this point. 2003-2008 though, he was an absolute monster.

For reference, here are the #1 ranked fighters in July in 2003 according to FightMatrix:

HW: Fedor Emelianenko
LHW: Randy Couture
MW: Murilo Bustamante
WW: Matt Hughes
LW: Takanori Gomi

Its to much mileage for anyone. Hughes was getting KO'd at the end, gomi gets rocked often now. Any fighter who keeps fighting will go through this.

 

[Hans Gruber]

Its to much mileage for anyone. Hughes was getting KO'd at the end, gomi gets rocked often now. Any fighter who keeps fighting will go through this.

Exactly. Most fighters have a short shelve life and once they get KOed or concussed multiple times it becomes easier and easier to go out.

 

[Sapp]

Nobody thought it was shocking.

 

[hugemmafan22]

The worst thing about it is Fedors complete lack of technique. You can get older and slower but you shouldn't become horribly unskilled and look like you have no business being a once top ten heavyweight in your prime. I rewatched Fedors pride fights and he had the same wild and untechnical style. It's amazing he made it for so long without somebody being able to expose his holes. A decade ago and more the average top fighter had very poor striking and very basic grappling. A simple armband was very common. Shogun was a beast in pride while not being able to throw a basic punch with good form and no boxing ability at all.

 

[Minowafanatic]

The worst thing about it is Fedors complete lack of technique. You can get older and slower but you shouldn't become horribly unskilled and look like you have no business being a once top ten heavyweight in your prime. I rewatched Fedors pride fights and he had the same wild and untechnical style. It's amazing he made it for so long without somebody being able to expose his holes. A decade ago and more the average top fighter had very poor striking and very basic grappling. A simple armband was very common. Shogun was a beast in pride while not being able to throw a basic punch with good form and no boxing ability at all.

Lol, no. No one without their minds already made up can watch his fights with CroCop and Nogueira and think his striking and grappling skills were anything less than top notch.

 

[hugemmafan22]

Lol, no. No one without their minds already made up can watch his fights with CroCop and Nogueira and think his striking and grappling skills were anything less than top notch.

He's always been a wild striker. Just back then striking was very poor in the sport. Nowadays striking still isn't too good in mma but it has gotten much better. I've always felt Fedor had poor grappling. He only submitted guys with very limited submission knowledge. He also had very poor wrestling. It's not his fault that he came from sambo a sport only practiced in a particular region by a very small talent pool. A sport like sambo is not going to produce an elite athlete.