Fedor Emelianenko is by near unanimous agreement the greatest heavyweight in the history of mixed martial arts. His win streak speaks for itself:
•Fedor’s 29-fight streak started on April 6, 2001, and ended on June 26, 2010, for more than nine years. Add four fights and a year if you discount the bogus cut stoppage.
•Of his 29 fights, if you throw out the no contest, there were five decisions out of 28, a finishing percentage of 82.1%.
•Ten were against fighters who at some point in their careers held major MMA championships, and that doesn’t include his high profile career win over Mirko Cro Cop.
•Holds career wins over Andrei Arlovski, Mark Coleman (twice), Cro Cop, Mark Hunt, Matt Lindland, Big Nog (twice), Kevin Randleman, and Tim Sylvia.
The sole question is, is Fedor the greatest fighter of all time?
One telling fact is the number of fighters who picked Fedor
In 2008 on Inside MMA , Georges St. Pierre, who is a G.O.A.T. candidate himself, was asked who the best pound for pound fighter in the world was.
Fedor Emelianenko, he replied.
In 2013 the often ranked P4P #1 UFC fighter Jose Aldo was asked to name the greatest fighters of all time. This is his ranking:
1. Fedor Emelianenko;
2. Royce Gracie;
3. Chuck Liddell;
4. Anderson Silva; and,
5. Jose Aldo.
In 2012, the UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos was asked about a poll – IN BRAZIL – that named Fedor as the G.O.A.T.
“Fedor is the greatest,” said JDS. “No doubt. 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.”
In fact, if you survey fighter only, the consensus Greatest Fighter in Mixed Martial Arts history is likely Fedor Emelianenko.
