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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.
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.
