Serious Expectations Of A 42 Year Old Fighter?

Champion fighters have often had a problem with knowing when to retire.
Fedor Emilianenko is no exception.
For one decade, starting from 2000 to 2010, Fedor reigned as world's supreme heavyweight, compiling a 31-1 record, the only loss coming from a doctor stoppage due to a cut eye. He later avenged that loss and during that hey day beat 4 former UFC Heavyweight champions and in the second phase of his career beat a 5th one (Frank Mir ).
In 2010, at the age of 34, the end of his reign came with a submission loss to Fabricio Werdum, followed by two more consecutive loses, TKO's to Antonio Silva and Dan Henderson.
That should have been the end and retirement but Fedor decided to fight on and officially won 6 of his next 7 seven fights, prior to being TKO'd by Ryan Bader.
Of those six fights that he won stood out the fight with Fabio Maldonado, where Fedor got beat up badly and should never have got the judges nod. The fight was in Russia and he squeezed out a majority decision.
He was 40 years old, got beat up badly by a journeyman fighter and was never in the fight.
Clearly, he should have retired. He did not have it any more. He was too old and TRT was no longer an option.
He still went on, only to be KO'd by Mat Mitrione and i spite of that got invited to participate in Bellator's Heavyweight Championship, where he beat Frank Mir and Chael Sonnen before being stopped by Ryan Bader, at the ripe old age of 42.
Was any one really surprised? No need to denigrate Fedor's legacy but in this age of no more TRT and USADA, 42 year old fighters, no matter how good they used to be, are just to old to compete against younger, stronger fighters.
I seriously doubt that you will ever see guys past their 40, achieve any significant accomplishments and beat world class fighters.
The days of Fedor, Couture and Dan Henderson are over and should stay over, when they get past their prime.

 

In his prime, noone was touching Fedor. Silva is 43, and still competitive among the very best in the UFC....he's fighting one of the most dangerous up and comers around in a month's time.

Jones Fedor and Silva are the GOAT triumvirate of MMA.

 

Religion killed the ice veined Russian experiment. One he started hanging with Rasputin he changed for the worse.

 

None really. His legacy was already set long ago. This is just a true warrior still wanting to do battle far past his prime days.

War Fedor.

 

It is sad but what we will see is Anderson Silva being used as a stepping stone for Israel Adesanya.

 

In his prime, Fedor was awesome in all of his fights. Right now... Fedor is awesome unless he gets hit in the chin. Every single jab now makes him dizzy. Like others have said, this shit ain't a joke. There are plenty of 42 year olds who can take a punch - if they haven't been in 40+ fights. The problem is not the age - it's the fact that he's been punched a few times too many in his head and now he's susceptible to getting knocked down by a 10 year old.

 

I think its partially because of Randy Couture that people have wrong expectations. But when you take a closer look, Randy wasn't quite the boogeyman in his 40s either. He did really good in the fights he won, but he didn't fight a lot really, didn't send shockwaves through the division. After 45 he couldn't really beat anyone notable... And between 40 - 45? Wins against Tito, Chuck, Belfort, Sylvia and Gonzaga... Ok, that's 5 wins, but it gets overrated, especially when you consider the KO losses he suffered during that time against Chuck twice and Belfort once.

 

Werdum
Cormier
Anderson Silva
Mark Hunt
Yoel Romero
Jacare Souza

 

Anderson Silva hasn't legitimately won a fight since 2012 (Stephan Bonnar). Decision against Brunson was beyond stupid, and he got caught with steroids against Diaz.

 

age is just a number

 

And of all those Cormier is still going strong but will lose his next fight

 

You're kidding, right? Outside of the shameful Brunson decision "win", which damn near everyone and their mother thought Silva lost, Silva hasn't won a fight since...Stephan Bonnar in freaking 2012.

 

Fedor started fighting in 2000. Show me how many guys there are out there today who have been fighting since 2000 who are still fighting. How many of them still have a good chin? Its quite simple. Fighters who have been getting punched in the head for 20 years arent going to have good chins.

Fedor left everything he had in the cage in his fight with Sonnen. No way in hell could his body handle 3 intense training camps in the span of 9 months. His body gave out during this camp for Bader and it showed in the fight.

 

Fair play to Fedor though, he's not watched by USADA and still refuses to use PEDs

 

He was K O'D by vitor? His eyelid was ko'd

Fight Finder spotted

 

Shannon brigggs & james toney

 

Yoel Romero is 41.

 

"in this age of no more TRT and USADA"

there is no USADA in Bellator. Casuals.........

 

Fedor is still looking for someone to send him to Valhalla

 

Dont forget Randy's late run was aided by Trt So was Hendo I doubt they'd be as competitive without that boost.