On June 26, 2010, heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko suffered a costly defeat due to a significant mistake. This fight, headlining a Strikeforce event in San Jose, California, marked the end of his remarkable 28-fight unbeaten streak.
Fabricio Werdum was tasked with the difficult challenge of defeating the formidable Russian phenom. The future UFC champion accomplished this with surprising ease, beating Emelianenko in just over a minute.
A Costly Rookie Error
Emelianenko entered the fight with an impressive 31-1 (1 NC) record, facing one of MMA`s most dangerous grapplers. It was therefore a shock when he committed a fundamental error within the first minute. During a chaotic exchange, Emelianenko took Werdum to the ground. Crucially, he mistook what was likely a slip or planned movement for Werdum being stunned by strikes.
Believing he had the finish, `The Last Emperor` made the critical error of diving directly into Werdum`s guard to deliver ground and pound. Once in this position, it became evident that Werdum was unharmed and quickly secured a tight triangle choke. Despite attempts to escape, Emelianenko was forced to tap out after only 69 seconds.
Joe Rogan`s View: Emelianenko as the GOAT
Joe Rogan recently discussed the greatest heavyweight in MMA history on his podcast. When Brendan Schaub suggested Cain Velasquez was the best in his prime, Rogan offered a different perspective, arguing for Emelianenko. Rogan stated that a prime Emelianenko from the Pride era would be incredibly difficult for anyone to defeat, highlighting his performance against Mirko Cro Cop where he pushed the pace in a striking battle, and his incredible submission win against Kevin Randleman, where he quickly secured a kimura after being suplexed. Rogan described prime Emelianenko as “different” and “a monster.”
