Guest baseball25 Posted May 5, 2010 Report Posted May 5, 2010 Emelianenko is one of the greatest MMA fighters who ever lived. His legacy in that regard is secure, even if he never wins another fight. That said, to be considered the best NOW, one has to fight and defeat others who are regarded as the best. Five years ago, the best heavyweights were in PRIDE. Now, though, that honor belongs to the UFC. And remember, the top spot is a fluid thing. To not fight the best is kind of like using the old four corners offense and sitting on the crown. Since his win over Mirko “Cro Cop†Filipovic in 2005, Fedor’s level of opposition has dropped. He’s fought Zulu (who lost to Butterbean, for gosh sakes), Mark Coleman, Mark Hunt, Matt Lindland, Hong Man Choi, Tim Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski and Brett Rogers. That’s a dramatic drop-off from what he had faced in the previous five years. You have to prove your superiority in the cage. You can’t rest on your laurels. It’s just like in the NCAA basketball tournament. Teams get rewarded for playing a tough schedule.
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