Preparing for the upcoming fight against former UFC heavyweight champion Andre Arlovski in a bout headling Affliction & M-1's 'Day of Reckoning' set to emanate on January, 24-th from Anaheim, California WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko talks the training, why he prefers to stay in Stary Oskol, whether he's willing to fight Josh Barnett, Randy Couture of Brock Lesnar, comments the statements of Dana White and Freddie Roach and so much more. The interview was conducted together with www.fiveouncesofpain.com Question: You train in your home town of Stary Oskol, which is very isolated from the rest of the world. With so many world class camps popping up that have some many top coaches and training partners, why do you choose to keep things simple? MY TRAINING IS NOT SIMPLE. I BELIEVE I TRAIN HARDER THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD. AND THE STRENGTH AND POWER I OBTAIN CAN ONLY BE HERE IN RUSSIA. I FEED OFF MY SURROUNDINGS AND I DO NOT BELIEVE I WOULD BE AS PREPARED IF I TRAINED SOMEWHERE ELSE. I LIKE TO HAVE EVERYTHING I LOVE AROUND ME WHEN I TRAIN. Question: During a recent press conference to promote "Day of Reckoning," Andrei Arlovski questioned the sincerity of a statement you made last month regarding the your loss at the Combat Sambo Championships. His exact quote was the following: "After his loss in the Sambo tournament, I think he's messed up a little bit. He says it's not important, but c'mon, let's be serious. He was unbeatable, like, five years, six years in Sambo, and he's not beatable in MMA. When you lose something, of course it's (expletive) important. For me, it's really hard to believe that he doesn't care about it. Of course he cares. He's not like 100 percent sure of himself." Can you respond to that statement? MAYBE ANDREI IS TRYING TO CONVINCE HIMSELF THAT I HAVE BEEN WEAKENED IN SOME WAY. BUT IT IS NO MATTER. WE ARE NOT FIGHTING SAMBO WITH ANDREI. THE ONLY 100% I AM SURE ABOUT IS THAT I WILL BE 100% READY TO FIGHT MMA AGAINST ANDREI. AND THAT IS THE ONLY THING I CARE ABOUT RIGHT NOW. Question: One of Arlovski's trainers, famed boxing trainer Freddie Roach, questioned some aspects of your standup from a technical boxing perspective, most notably your footwork. Do you feel Roach's criticisms are relevant to MMA? THE BEAUTY ABOUT MMA IS THAT EVERY FIGHTER HAS HIS OWN UNIQUE STYLE AND PREFERENCES. BUT IT IS NOT A BEAUTY CONTEST. WE FIGHT TO SEE WHICH FIGHTER'S APPROACH PREVAILS. BUT AGAIN, WE ARE NOT BOXING AND WE ARE NOT FIGHTING SAMBO. WE FIGHT MMA. Question: How do you feel about an opponent's trainer saying picking apart your standup like that? SOMETIMES IT IS A TRAINER'S JOB TO POINT OUT WEAKNESSES IN HIS FIGHTER'S OPPONENTS. AND SOMETIMES IT IS A TRAINER'S JOB TO CONVINCE HIS FIGHTER THAT HIS OPPONENT HAS WEAKNESSES. WE WILL SEE. Question: During a recent radio interview, UFC president Dana White once again made some negative remarks about you. He especially tried to discredit your victory over Tim Sylvia, saying: "Tim Sylvia!? Everybody knocked Tim Sylvia down in the first round… Randy Couture knocked Tim Sylvia down in the first round too and took his back. Randy just couldn't choke him out or he would have choked him out the same exact way Fedor did!" Could you respond to that statement? I THINK IF DANA WHITE SAYS SOMETHING NEGATIVE ABOUT HIS CHAMPIONS THEN HE IS ONLY SAYING SOMETHING NEGATIVE ABOUT HIS OWN ORGANIZATION. I HAVE VICTORIES OVER MANY OF THE UFC'S CHAMPIONS. IF HE SAYS SOMETHING BAD ABOUT ME OR THEM THEN HE ONLY MAKES HIS ORGANIZATION LOOK WEAK. Question: White has said many negative things about you in the past. Is it at a point where he has burned a bridge with you, or would you still consider fighting in a promotion he's involved with under the right circumstances? I DO NOT PAY TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO WHAT DANA WHITE SAYS IN THE MEDIA. HE IS TRYING TO SELL ONE THING AS GOOD AND MAKE YOU NOT BUY ANOTHER THING BY SAYING IT IS BAD. I JUST WANT TO FIGHT THE BEST FIGHTERS IN THE WORLD. I AM LUCKY THAT THE BEST HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHTERS IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW ARE WITH M-1 GLOBAL AND AFFLICTION. IF THE SITUATION IS RIGHT AND THERE IS SOMEONE REALLY GOOD IN THE UFC THAT WILL FIGHT ME THEN I WOULD BE FINE WITH FIGHTING THEM. Question: If you fought for the UFC, do you think Dana would be referring to you as the number one heavyweight in the world? (LAUGHS) I THINK IF I FOUGHT FOR THE UFC, HE WOULD TRY TO SELL ME AS THE GREATEST MMA FIGHTER THAT EVER LIVED. Question: White has blamed your management as the reason why you are not in the UFC. Do you agree with his assessment? NO. Question: There have also been questions raised about how much control you have over your career. Could you set the record straight and comment who has the final say in regard to who has final say: you or your management? IT DEPENDS ON THE DECISIONS. I AM NOT A SPECIALIST IN SOME THINGS. SOMETIMES I MAKE THE DECISIONS AND SOMETIMES WE MAKE THEM TOGETHER. IF I STOP FIGHTING TOMORROW, I STOP. IF I WANT TO FIGHT SAMBO, I FIGHT. IF I NEED TO FINISH MY TRAINING CAMP AND MISS A PRESS CONFERENCE, I NEED TO. BUT I AM LUCKY TO HAVE GOOD MANAGEMENT AND MY TEAM, M-1 GLOBAL. I AM PART OF M-1 GLOBAL SO IT IS EASY TO MAKE DECISIONS TOGETHER. Question: White has proclaimed Anderson Silva the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Do you have any interest in fighting Silva and if so, how do you see that fight going down? IF THIS WAS FIGHT THAT THE FANS WOULD WANT, WHY NOT? I NEVER MAKE PREDICTIONS ON HOW A FIGHT WILL TURN OUT. Question: M-1 USA Vice President Jerry Millen made the statement that in a fight with Brock Lesnar, he would not make it past the first round against you. Do you agree with that assessment? I DO NOT LIKE TO MAKE PREDICTIONS. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN A RING. LESNER HAS SOME NATURAL TALENT. IT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING FIGHT FOR FANS TO SEE. Question: Your protege, Kirill "Baby Fedor" Sidelnikov will also be competing at "Day of Reckoning." At only 20-years of age, do you think he's ready for such a high-profile match against a seasoned veteran such as Paul Buentello? KIRILL HAS IMPROVED GREATLY WITH HIS FIGHTS IN THE M-1 CHALLENGE AND HELPED OUR RED DEVIL TEAM REACH THE WORLD FINALS. I THINK BUENTELLO IS A GOOD TEST FOR KIRILL BUT I KNOW KIRILL IS READY. Question: During some recent interviews you revealed that you weren't looking forward to a possible fight vs. Couture because he's a friend. But if he were to suddenly to become a free agent, would you refuse the fight? I WOULD NOT REFUSE THE FIGHT BECAUSE I BELIEVE RANDY AND I ARE BOTH AMBASSADORS FOR THE SPORT OF MMA AND WE WOULD HELP GROW THE SPORT VERY MUCH WITH THE FIGHT. THIS WAS THE MAIN REASON WHY I WANTED TO FIGHT RANDY, EVEN IF IT MEANT TO FIGHT SOMEONE I ADMIRED. Question: If you are able to defeat Arlovski, it's been said your next fight could come against the winner of the Barnett vs. Yvel fight. It's also been said that you are friends with Barnett. You said you weren't looking forward to fight Couture because he's a friend, so how do you feel about the possibility of facing him? YES, JOSH AND I ARE FRIENDS. BUT ONCE AGAIN, THE BEST SHOULD FIGHT THE BEST FOR THE SPORT OF MMA. IT WOULD BE OK. Question: Ideally, how many times would you like to fight in 2009? GOD WILLING, IT WILL BE NICE TO FIGHT 3 TIMES IN 2009 AND HAVE ONE MORE FIGHT NEW YEARS EVE. SOURCE http://www.m1mixfight.com/info/interviews/2009/1/7/Fedor-exclusive-interview-prior-to-DoR/
...... Good interview. I don't agree with all of Fedor's career choices but he is right about Dana White. It's hard listening to the guy talk. All he does is shill for his own company and talk shit about everyone else.
Fedors an intelligent man and it shows in his interviews.He always say the right things ....pure class.IF he spoke english he could give people in the US a different view of how MMA fighters are....but unfortunately,most think all MMA fighters act like those idiots on TUF:shit:
.... That's nice, a lot of fighters do that and get criticized. Fedor is not above criticism for some of the shitty opponents he had for a bit. No complaints about Sylvia or AA but I am sorry fighting guys like Zulu and Linland was silly.
Most Fedor Interviews that REED has Read R Pretty MUNDANE...But he Let his Guard DOWN a Bit Here...N a GOOD Way.... REED:hammert:
It's Possible to B a Little Tooooooooooooo Nice, Tooooooooo P.C. though...Then, U Run the Risk of Being UNinteresting N your Interviews...Showing a HINT of Arrogance Every Now & Then ISN'T Necessarily Bad... REED:hammert:
Good interview, I like the idea of a Fedor/Barnett fight. Always suprised me they never fought in Pride. Could be a very interesting one.
Is anyone else tired of listening to Fedor and Dana White bitch about each other? I know I am. It's obvious, Fedor is not gonna fight for the UFC any time soon. Fedor doesn't need the UFC, and obviously the UFC doesn't need Fedor. Fedor can easily make a living fighting in Japan for better money than what the UFC will probably pay him, and he can do it on his own terms. The UFC has enough stars that they can keep putting on succesful PPV's without Fedor. Fedor isn't a PPV draw in this country anyway, so it's not really a big loss to the UFC. I'm sure he could become a big draw, but as of now, he just isn't. I don't blame Fedor for sticking to his guns regarding Sambo and all the other reasons he doesn't want to sign with the UFC, as that's what's best for him, and he's in a position to do so. And I find no fault with the UFC for not caving to Fedor's demands as that could start a trend that in their mind's would not be good for the UFC's bottom line. Does it suck for the fans? Of course it does. But it is what it is, and these MMA 'writers' need to get over it already. It ain't gonna happen, so it's pointless to bring it up in every single interview. TFK
The "Bitching" Seems to B 1-Sided, from what REED has Seen...When Negotiations FAIL, Dana White is the 1 that Gets PISSY & Tries to Pretend that Fedor DOESN'T Exist, Knowing Full Well he'd B ON Dude's NUTS if he Joined UFC (just as Fedor Alluded to N this Interview)... REED:mj:
Question: If you fought for the UFC, do you think Dana would be referring to you as the number one heavyweight in the world? (LAUGHS) I THINK IF I FOUGHT FOR THE UFC, HE WOULD TRY TO SELL ME AS THE GREATEST MMA FIGHTER THAT EVER LIVED. HOW is that an Example of Fedor Bitching???... REED:dunno:
I agree, in all the interviews I have read or seen, Fedor usually always takes the high road. I have never heard him take shots at another fighter nor the UFC, Dana White always comes off as a spoiled brat. The bitching is always one sided. Fedor usually has the same comment, that he will do what is best for him and his family.
Agreed, nothing bitchy about that at all. TFK just gets a little touchy when it comes to demigod Dana. It was just an observation, and a very accurate one at that, no bitching.
Jesus, you're a retard. How is complaining about both sides, which includes White, getting touchy? I swear, I'm amazed that some of you can even turn your computers on. TFK
Let's B REAL, TFK... U're Smart Enough to REALIZE that U NEVER Criticize UFC or Dana White SINGULARLY...EVER...If/When U Do Criticize them, U Throw Someone Else Under the Bus w/Them...N This Instance, U Hurled Fedor Under there when it was UNwarranted...He WASN'T Bitching N that Interview @ All... To Date, U're THE ONLY Guy on this Forum that DOESN'T have a Problem w/the UFC Payscale...The CLOSEST U'll Come to Criticizing them N that Regard is by Referencing Boxing's Payscale & How the HIGH END Boxer Salaries are RUINING Boxing...THEN, Instead of Addressing the PALTRY Pay of Most UFC Guys, U Instead ASK what Lower Level Boxers Make N Comparison... The FACT is, U're Obviously RELUCTANT to Criticize the UFC &/or Dana White...EVERY Poster N the MMA Forum KNOWS that about U...REED has even Said that it WOULDN'T Surprise him if U were EMPLOYED by UFC's Corporate Office N Some Capacity... REED::
Actually I do, and I have, most recently with the UFC's failure to mention the passing of Justin Eilers. I don't have a problem with the MMA Payscale. It's not just the UFC. It's UFC, Dream, Strike Force, pretty much anyone but Affliction. Again, I criticize the UFC when it's warrented. But most of you guys are so caught up in what you want to believe, that I'm some UFC 'Fan boy', that you refuse to see things as they are. You should actually try reading and comprehending my posts instead of just going by what you'd like to believe. You want to see UFC fan boys, go to Sherdog. I'm a fan of all MMA. Hell, my favorite fighter doesn't even fight for the UFC. I've been to many more live non UFC shows then I have UFC shows. I know criticizing Fedor is blasphemy in the eyes of many, but the truth is, both he and White have been criticizing each other in interviews for many months now. But Fedor never gets called on it, because it's so much easier to like him than Dana White. TFK
Actually, i think most people blame Dana White for all the crap with the UFC and Fedor because Dana always acts like a spoiled brat when talking about any fighter or organization outside the UFC. I remember him talking shit about Pride and all of their fighters, now he speaks out the other side of his mouth and rides Rampage's cock. Dana has always been this way. He is very unlikable and the truth is Fedor comes off as a soft spoken statesman and ambassador for MMA. You know there is a distinct difference in the way Dana White and Fedor discuss each other in interviews. Everyone in the MMA world knows.
