Fedor Emelianenko is the best heavy weight fighter 205 lbs and up, claims Stan Leung, who runs the MMA website Fighter-MMA.com.

Leung regularly ranks the fighters each week with Fedor his favorite followed by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mirko Filipovic.

Fedor Emeliananko will next take on Matt Lindland April 14 in Russia for the BodogFight organization. 

In other notable bouts, Emelianenko won a unanimous decision over former K-1 star Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović, a bout he calls his toughest to date. The fight had been delayed previously due to Emelianenko's hand injuries and Cro Cop's loss to Kevin Randleman derailing their expected tournament meeting at PRIDE Final Conflict 2004. Surprising many observers, Emelianenko managed to dominate Cro Cop in stand up fighting, landing many hard body shots, and controlled the bout on the ground. He has later stated that his hand injury took away his grip strength and so prevented him from trying submissions.

 

Emelianenko's most recent title defense was against former K-1 champion Mark Hunt at PRIDE Shockwave 2006. Sporting a broken toe during the contest, Emelianenko nevertheless secured an armbar in the second minute of the first round, but Hunt was able to escape and counter by stepping over Emelianenko, ending in the sidemount position. At five minutes into the first round Hunt made two attempts at an Americana on Emelianenko’s left arm but failed to cinch them in. In the end, Emelianenko submitted Hunt with a Kimura at 8:16 in the first round.

His next bout will easily become the biggest event ever presented by the Bodog organization and it culminates with the increased popularity of Mixed Martial Arts.

"MMA is so popular because it is real," says Leung, himself a fighter.  "The fighters before were fighting for the love of the sport and not the money. Unlike boxing, which became corrupt with shady managers and organizations MMA was a breath of fresh air to boxing.
 
"This biggest reason I think its so popular is because there are so many variables to win. You can knock the guy out or submit someone in so many different ways. In boxing it is all about punching and in MMA there is punches, elbows, knees, kick, slamming people, ground and pound, submission. You see the same 2 people fight they will be 3 different results.
 
"Also marketing has a big thing to do with it. The UFC and Dana White have done an incredible job promoting it to main stream instead of it being a blood sport. I hope he moves the UFC to the next level, hopefully getting better quality fighters and matches to the UFC. In UFC pay per views there is 2 good fights, In Pride fighting every fight could be a headline."

PRIDE Fighters vs UFC Fighters

Leung believes the best fighters are with the PRIDE organization.  Emelianko holding the PRIDE world heavyweight title is one of the primary reasons why Leung ranks him at the top.

"There is a big difference between PRIDE Fighters and UFC fighters. Pride Fighters are more skilled and the organization brings in fighters from all over the world. Contrary to what many Americans think US fighters are not the top in the world. UFC has done a good job bring in US fighters to market.

"Honestly Americans like to see Americans (great marketing but not best product once you see PRIDE) Americans like the KO and seeing some blood and if it goes to the ground they start booing. (The) thing about fighting which makes it so good is the chess match to get a guy in a submissions you have to think two moves ahead. PRIDE fighters are just more skilled and the American audience is not educated enough at this point to see the gracefulness of fighting. Not yet anyways.

"My one peeve is American audiences that start booing because they don’t know fighting and it is an art not a blood fest. I’ll take a guy who is skilled versus power any day. Also, in Japan MMA fighting is treated as an art and respected and fighters respect each other."

PRIDE 34 was scheduled for Japan this weekend. 

Fedor's brother, Aleksander, is listed as a -325 favorite versus Eric Pele during BodogFight's premiere event next weekend.  Fedor Emelianenko comes in as the big -800 favorite.  (find MMA odds here)

"Fedor Emelianenko pound for pound the best fighter in the world today," Leung reiterates. 

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Destiney Bleu Lewis, Sports911.com

Originally published April 7, 2007 4:56 pm ET