Now you’re exaggerating greatly.
1. Fedor was no long reigning champion back then, he got the title just 2 years prior to their fight and it was his 2nd title defence.
2. If you mean by seasoned veteran, being KOed and submitted and also having 2 draws on his resume, than yes CroCop was that. And he even failed to win PRIDE’s Interim title, Gane at least has that. Also Gane has more top10 wins than CroCop had back then.
3. No the fight wasn’t years in the making. Fedor only became the champ in 2003 and they fought in 2005. In 2004 and in end of 2003 CroCop suffered loses, so there definitely wasn’t years of build up to that fight. It wasn’t like Khabib vs Tony.
4. If you followed HW division and you now what you’re looking at, you should’ve predicted Ngannou vs Gane for the title at least 2 years ago. I know I did and I’m thrilled it’s finally happening.
Fedor defended his status in every fight. It was different system of competition back then, they did not give some belt in every fight. Every loss would have costed Fedor the 1st place in the world, so he defended his status in every fight.
Fedor was also Grand Prix champion, which is also another world title, in system and format different than UFC or pro boxing linear.
In those 2 years 2003 - 2005 Fedor beat additional 6-7 good opponents, and won another world title Grand Prix.
Modern UFC guys have like 4 fights in 2 years, Pride guys had 10 fights in 2 years, so 2 years were a lot longer and more filled time 15-20 years ago.
Cro Cop had more Top 10 wins in 2005, than Gagne has now.
Cro Cop had more quality wins: Fujita 2x, Sakuraba, Herring, Vovchanchyn, Waterman, Alex Emelianenko, Colemam, Randleman, Barnett
vs
Gagne: JDS, Volkov, Rozenstruik, Lewis
Cro Cop was bigger star than Gagne. Cro Cop was allredy big star from K-1, well known to public, watched by millions on TV against legends like Hoost, Arerts, Le Banner, Hug, Hunt, Sapp, Bonjasky, Bernardo.
Cro Cop also had more extensive MMA career, with more big fights.
Cro Cop has knocked out Fedor's brother Alexander which aggrivated Fedor, and KOd Fedor's sparring partner Ibragim Magomedov.
Matchup between Fedor and Cro Cop was expected on 2004 GP.
But it was expected from 2003, when many felt that Fedor has ducked Cro Cop.
Fedor claimed injury, but then just a month after Cro Cop - Nogueira, he fought and punched Nagata in different organisatiom Inoki. If the injury was really the issue, the Fedor - Cro Cop fight could have been postproned for a month or two.
Fedor also broke off with Russian Top Team, went to Red Devils, caused conflict and contract dispute with his Russian Top Team and contract dispute with Pride organisation; and it all happened like 3 weeks before Cro Cop - Fedor fight that was allready officialy announced.
Many felt that it was obvious that Fedor ducked Cro Cop, that he did not want to fight dangerous new opponent who was suddenly taking over MMA scene with incredible knockouts. Many felt that Fedor wanted to buy more time to study and prepaire, to postprone the match for a year, or two, and to send one dangerous opponent on another Nogueira, hoping that Nogueira would win.
It all contributed to the huge expectation and hype for 2005 Fedor - Cro Cop fight that was for years and many fights in making. And such expectation will hardly ever repeat.
