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Joe Rogan Hails Fedor Emelianenko as the Greatest Heavyweight in MMA History
The debate over the greatest heavyweight in MMA history is one that will never truly be settled. Stipe Miocic, Francis Ngannou, Cain Velasquez—each has made an undeniable impact on the sport. However, Joe Rogan has made his stance clear: the best heavyweight in MMA history never fought in the UFC.
Rogan Declares Fedor as the Heavyweight GOAT
Joe Rogan, a longtime UFC commentator and analyst, has seen countless elite fighters step into the Octagon. But when it comes to the all-time greats, his pick for heavyweight GOAT is none other than Fedor Emelianenko.
Emelianenko, known as "The Last Emperor," compiled an astonishing 40-7 professional record in MMA, including an unprecedented 30-fight win streak. Despite never stepping foot in the UFC, his dominance in PRIDE FC and other promotions cemented his legacy as one of the most feared and revered fighters to ever grace the sport.
Fedor’s Legacy Beyond the UFC
Throughout his storied career, Fedor defeated some of the toughest heavyweights in MMA history, including Mark Coleman, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Kevin Randleman, Andrei Arlovski, and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović. His relentless fighting style, iron chin, and unmatched submission skills made him an unstoppable force in his prime.
Yet, despite his legendary resume, Fedor never made the move to the UFC. Dana White and the UFC brass attempted to sign him, with discussions of a super fight against Brock Lesnar, but negotiations fell through, leaving fans to only speculate on how he would have fared against the best of the UFC heavyweight division.
"I Don’t Know If Anybody Beats Fedor In His Prime…"
On a recent episode of the JRE Fight Companion, Rogan elaborated on why he sees Fedor as the heavyweight GOAT:
“Juicy Fedor from PRIDE... I don’t know if anybody beats Fedor in his prime. He was so good. Fedor walked down [Mirko] Cro Cop when he was in his prime.”
Rogan pointed to Fedor’s ability to withstand devastating strikes and his incredible fight IQ:
“You’ve got to remember most of that fight was standing up and Fedor was going blow-to-blow with Cro Cop and walking him down... That Randleman armbar, he f****** suplexes him on his head and five seconds later he’s got him in a kimura, it’s crazy. He was different. He was a monster.”
Fedor’s Final Run in Bellator
While Fedor remained dominant for much of his career, the later years saw him take losses to fighters like Fabricio Werdum and Dan Henderson. However, even as he aged, he continued competing at a high level, eventually finishing his career in Bellator MMA.
In 2023, Fedor finally hung up his gloves following a title rematch against Ryan Bader, concluding one of the most legendary careers in MMA history.
Final Thoughts
Joe Rogan’s take on Fedor as the heavyweight GOAT adds fuel to an already heated debate. While UFC champions like Miocic, Velasquez, and Ngannou have made their own claims to greatness, Fedor’s legacy, despite never fighting in the UFC, remains unparalleled in the eyes of many.
Do you agree with Rogan’s assessment? Is Fedor Emelianenko truly the greatest heavyweight of all time? Let us know in the comments!