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  - A NEW AFFLICTION, FEDOR MUSES ON ARLOVSKI
Sunday, November 23, 2008 - by Tom Hamlin - MMAWeekly.com
It seems Fedor Emelianenko can’t be dragged away from combat sports. Even in his spare time the heavyweight has long practiced the Russian martial art Sambo as his hobby away from the profession of MMA.
“I really do (it) for pleasure, just because I have a desire to do it,” Emelianenko told MMAWeekly.com.
Of course, hobbies can often have their setbacks, and around the same time friend and dream opponent Randy Couture was mixing it up with Brock Lesnar at UFC 91, Emelianenko suffered his first setback in eight years, losing a decision to Blagoi Ivanov in the semifinals of the 2008 World Combat Sambo Championships.
It’s not the first time Emelianenko has lost in Sambo – like this year’s tournament, he also took third in the 2000 WCSC – but his air of invincibility, combined with Lesnar’s victory over Couture and our crumbling economy – well, many fans just want to know the sky isn’t falling.
“I lost to a very good fighter from Bulgaria,” Emelianenko explains. “I missed a throw. Sambo obviously has different rules, and in an MMA fight, if that were to happen, then it wouldn’t have been a big deal, but it’s a different scoring system and unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do certain things that I would do in an MMA ring.”
Rest assured, Emelianenko believes a fight under MMA rules would be an entirely different story.
“Sambo is dear to my heart, but it’s still a hobby,” he explained. “MMA is my profession, and I think in an MMA ring, he would have very little chance against me.”
Emelianenko denies a movie commitment in Thailand and jet-setting schedule led to his defeat.
“I don’t think so,” he continued. “I have my work, and I have my certain pleasures. I don’t think I was in any way differently prepared or ready for that. (Sambo is) just something I do for pure pleasure. The competitor part and the work part is something I devote all my attention to.”
Russian Oleg Taktarov was the first Sambo practioner in mixed martial arts’ early years, first appearing at UFC 5, and then defeating David “Tank” Abbot to win the UFC 6 tournament in 1995.
No competitor would be as synonymous with the sport until the appearance of Andrei Arlovski in 2000, a world champion Sambo competitor who made his debut at UFC 28 and would go on to become a UFC heavyweight champion.
Emelianenko’s next challenge, conveniently enough, is against Arlovski at Affliction’s “Day of Reckoning” on Jan. 24 in Anaheim, Calif. Arlovski got his start in mixed martial arts under M-1, the company run primarily by Emelianenko’s manager, Vadim Finkelstein. In the victory that sent him to the UFC, Arlovski defeated Emelianenko’s close training partner Roman Zentsov.
So, if you look deeper, there’s a little storyline there.
Emelianenko doesn’t give any significance to their past connection, and isn’t concerned that Arlovski’s foundation will present any special problems.
“I always prepare for a very difficult fight no matter what the qualifications or the specialization of the fighter is,” he said. “I don’t think his Sambo background will necessarily impose that much more of a difficulty to me.”
What he is concerned about, though, is Arlovski’s hands. The Belarusian fighter continues to study extensively with renowned boxing coach Freddie Roach in Los Angeles, and has looked fearsomely accurate in his last two performances.
“One of his dangers is that he moves very well on his feet, a lot of fights that separate him from his opponents is that he moves very well and causes them a lot of difficulty.”
Still, he’s ready to put aside his hobby and do his job.
“Andre Arlovski is one of the best fighters in the world,” he said. “I’m ready to get back in the ring.”
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