Dana White: Fedor Emelianenko not ‘one of the greatest of all-time,’ should have retired ‘a few years ago’

[Willy Wanker]

disagree... pride's HW was 90% little fat japanese guy. easy work for fedor. look at guys like cro cop, fought majority of his career in japan against smaller guys and then when he came to the US, got knocked out from his signature head kick by a fat brazilian! LOL.

Fedor beat a lot of Japanese cans, but I'm not comparing who had the worse bums, and UFC had their fair share of cans as well at the time. I'm just saying the top HWs in Pride were much better than the top HWs in UFC from 2001-2006.

Cro Cop didn't do well in UFC, but former champs UFC champs like Sylvia and Arlovski didn't do well outside of the UFC when they left around 2007-2008 especially Arlovski, and both got beat easily by Fedor.

[OctoberRed]

. Not being a ufc champion ever hurts anyones legacy bc that’s the gold standard that’s not debatable .

Not for Rickson

[juggernaut666]

Not for Rickson

Rickson in boxing terms would be that fantasy fighter from the old days that was invincible where few had the knowledge anyway to compete with him . Rickson is also a businessman not the true Gracie warrior ,that would be Renzo despite being less talented . Rickson showed great interest choking out Chuck Norris in a real exhibition but never put that same enthusiasm against modern top fighters he was offered .

Rickson could have stamped out a better history but decided against the UFC where the family put Royce in there to show true technical aspects of a fight system against much bigger guys and thought it would demonstrate the BJJ better then the much dominant Rickson .


I watched Rickson in Vale Tudo in 94 ,I thought to myself he’s a bit overstated to who he fought which were guys who wouldn’t really cut it on a top platform. Takada are his staple fights a Japan pro wrestler trained in pancrase that’s just a really hard sell talking about great fighters who never tested himself to his ability unfortunately.

Those who trained with Rickson though say he’s the best including Olympic wrestler Mark Shultz who had a real grappling match in Rickson dojo with him privately getting ready for UFC he fought once in defeating Gary Goodridge easily .

Rickson won the match but said that was the toughest grappling match he ever had with Shultz who was knew to submissions . Rickson will go down as an enigma more legend of what he could have done but never did as far as achievements in modern MMA as it grew . He’s definitely looked at as the best old school Jiu Jitsu practitioner a very technical and physical well balanced fighter .

[OctoberRed]

Rickson in boxing terms would be that fantasy fighter from the old days that was invincible where few had the knowledge anyway to compete with him . Rickson is also a businessman not the true Gracie warrior ,that would be Renzo despite being less talented . Rickson showed great interest choking out Chuck Norris in a real exhibition but never put that same enthusiasm against modern top fighters he was offered .

Rickson could have stamped out a better history but decided against the UFC where the family put Royce in there to show true technical aspects of a fight system against much bigger guys and thought it would demonstrate the BJJ better then the much dominant Rickson .


I watched Rickson in Vale Tudo in 94 ,I thought to myself he’s a bit overstated to who he fought which were guys who wouldn’t really cut it on a top platform. Takada are his staple fights a Japan pro wrestler trained in pancrase that’s just a really hard sell talking about great fighters who never tested himself to his ability unfortunately.

Those who trained with Rickson though say he’s the best including Olympic wrestler Mark Shultz who had a real grappling match in Rickson dojo with him privately getting ready for UFC he fought once in defeating Gary Goodridge easily .

Rickson won the match but said that was the toughest grappling match he ever had with Shultz who was knew to submissions . Rickson will go down as an enigma more legend of what he could have done but never did as far as achievements in modern MMA as it grew . He’s definitely looked at as the best old school Jiu Jitsu practitioner a very technical and physical well balanced fighter .

Rickson vs. Sakuraba was the Mayweather-Pacquiao of MMA at one point

[juggernaut666]

Rickson vs. Sakuraba was the Mayweather-Pacquiao of MMA at one point

Yea maybe , for me it was Rickson vs Marco Ruas a rivalry way beforehand. I know Rickson declined both ,I’d say he beats Sakuraba , Ruas a tougher match at the time in 1996/ 2000 . I don’t think Sakuraba gets by Rickson just based on his abilities to counter moves ahead and neutralize opponents. Renzo and Royce didn’t have the abilities to really stuff guys like Rickson, they were more technical but not as effective which is another topic .

[Anthony342]

Not for Rickson

That's big time debatable considering Pride had the better competition. What a dumbass thing to say. That's like saying it hurts someone's legacy if they didn't have a long career in WWE. Didn't hurt Kevin Von Erich or Bruiser Brody's legacies any. Ditto for Nick Bockwinkel.

[juggernaut666]

That's big time debatable considering Pride had the better competition. What a dumbass thing to say. That's like saying it hurts someone's legacy if they didn't have a long career in WWE. Didn't hurt Kevin Von Erich or Bruiser Brody's legacies any. Ditto for Nick Bockwinkel.

This is false . Most top Pride guys left after losing in the UFC . But if we actually stuck to facts the years where Rickson should’ve fought in the UFC he had Shamrock, Severn , Taktorov , Ruas at 5he time he was asked to fight there . The fact his own family created it first for him not Royce should end here .

As far as someone who also followed Pro wrestling way bf you guys it’s just a dumb comparison to try and bring this in the argument, many wrestling back in 5be day weren’t even allowed to multi cross platform and were black balled wrestling in the WWF which is what I still call it bc that’s what it was . A legacy in wrestling however includes few who haven’t wrestled in the / WWE but if you think it doesn’t effect anyone when it existed who didn’t go there then your insane bc that is the gold standard if you disagree you’re on good drugs . Lol

[OctoberRed]

This is false . Most top Pride guys left after losing in the UFC . But if we actually stuck to facts the years where Rickson should’ve fought in the UFC he had Shamrock, Severn , Taktorov , Ruas at 5he time he was asked to fight there . The fact his own family created it first for him not Royce should end here .

As far as someone who also followed Pro wrestling way bf you guys it’s just a dumb comparison to try and bring this in the argument, many wrestling back in 5be day weren’t even allowed to multi cross platform and were black balled wrestling in the WWF which is what I still call it bc that’s what it was . A legacy in wrestling however includes few who haven’t wrestled in the / WWE but if you think it doesn’t effect anyone when it existed who didn’t go there then your insane bc that is the gold standard if you disagree you’re on good drugs . Lol

Juggernaut makes some solid points here.

[juggernaut666]

Juggernaut makes some solid points here.

Rickson biggest strength is his state of mind , im not against him but anyone challlenging me on this is losing cause . But the years that certain things were supposed to happen they never did . It’s not if Rickson could’ve won , I think he beats Severn and Taktorov in tough ones and the others are toss ups but he chose not to take routes bc of money his own family owned the UFC at that time though to demonstrate the art .

When Shamrock and Severn were the top guys seemed like interest faded . Rules were under a lot of pressure bc of tv time with no time limits ,the World Combat Championship ( WCC ) came in the late 90”s and changed the rules for one event, unfortunately bankruped themselves and luckily ufc didn’t do it but were close . I remember many things from articles you can’t find anymore ,I actually knew the Gracie family bf Shamrock even fought him from martial arts magazines I was 20 at the time when I started collecting and he didn’t even know who they were entering UFC 1 ?

I did a few martial arts like small circle jui Jitsu , traditional arts even watched Bart Vale the first American shoot fighter on live tv in 1987 just happened to come on at the dinner table and my eyes lit up on the news that’s what got me into it really I was like 15 . I was like I wanna be that guy ,that knows everything…and there’s fighting where I can grab and beat the brakes off someone and UFC came out in 1992/ 1993 . Unfortunately the closest thing I got to it was a UFC 1 contract that someone showed me years ago he was a former training partner on and off who was a Muay Thai champion .

[OctoberRed]

Rickson biggest strength is his state of mind , im not against him but anyone challlenging me on this is losing cause . But the years that certain things were supposed to happen they never did . It’s not if Rickson could’ve won , I think he beats Severn and Taktorov in tough ones and the others are toss ups but he chose not to take routes bc of money his own family owned the UFC at that time though to demonstrate the art .

When Shamrock and Severn were the top guys seemed like interest faded . Rules were under a lot of pressure bc of tv time with no time limits ,the World Combat Championship ( WCC ) came in the late 90”s and changed the rules for one event, unfortunately bankruped themselves and luckily ufc didn’t do it but were close . I remember many things from articles you can’t find anymore ,I actually knew the Gracie family bf Shamrock even fought him from martial arts magazines I was 20 at the time when I started collecting and he didn’t even know who they were entering UFC 1 ?

I did a few martial arts like small circle jui Jitsu , traditional arts even watched Bart Vale the first American shoot fighter on live tv in 1987 just happened to come on at the dinner table and my eyes lit up on the news that’s what got me into it really I was like 15 . I was like I wanna be that guy ,that knows everything…and there’s fighting where I can grab and beat the brakes off someone and UFC came out in 1992/ 1993 . Unfortunately the closest thing I got to it was a UFC 1 contract that someone showed me years ago he was a former training partner on and off who was a Muay Thai champion .

Rickson vs. Sakuraba was the Mayweather-Pacquiao of MMA at one point..