Hands down, Fedor Emelianenko was the greatest fighter of all time, at least according to UFC heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos.
In a recent poll at Portal do Vale Tudo, Brazilian fans were asked who they felt was the greatest fighter of all time. The list of names included all-time greats like Emelianenko, Anderson Silva, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Dan Henderson and Randy Couture.
Emelianenko dominated the polls with a whopping 73 percent of the votes. Surprisingly, Silva came in second with only 12 percent of the votes.
In an interview with Superesportes, Dos Santos said he felt the voters got it right.
"Fedor is the greatest, no doubt," said Dos Santos. "For me, in a matter of admiration, he is the greatest of all time. He is a heavyweight who beat everybody. He certainly was 'The Baddest Man on the Planet.' If he came back to fight, it would be incredible for the sport. I'm a big fan of his."
During the glory years of Pride Fighting Championships, Emelianenko was ranked across the board as the No. 1 heavyweight and top pound-for-pound fighter in the world. In a time when Pride had the best heavyweights in the world, he remained unbeaten for nearly a decade.
Newer fans look back and aren't as appreciative of Emelianenko's body of work due to the inconsistency in level of opposition.
Emelianenko's greatness extends far beyond breaking MMA records and competing in the UFC. There was always a mysterious aura permeating from the former Pride heavyweight champ that infatuated so many people who watched him compete.
Unlike many fighters today, Emelianenko was a man of few words, which instilled fear in most of his opponents. With his head hung low and his feet moving a few inches apart, no one knew what to expect when Emelianenko walked down the aisle.
It was almost like a calm sense of dread or understanding. Despite his exceedingly average appearance, it didn't take a rocket scientist to realize there was something strong and unique about this individual that would never be duplicated.
With that said, there is no right or wrong when it comes to debating "the greatest of all time."
There were fighters who weren't even listed that a case could be made for to top the list of all-time greats. It's all a matter of opinion.
For Dos Santos and the country of Brazil, the throne belongs to "The Last Emperor."
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1355001-junior-dos-santos-fedor-is-the-greatest-of-all-timeBest comment:
Dana's # 1 UFC Heavyweight acknowledging Fedor as the greatest of all time.
