CRUSHING KO KEEPS FEDOR ON HIS THRONE - Martial Arts Forums

***complete*** · 01-25-2009, 08:59 AM

CRUSHING KO KEEPS FEDOR ON HIS THRONE
Saturday, January 24, 2009 - by Ken Pishna - MMAWeekly.com

For three minutes, Andrei Arlovski appeared that he had finally cracked the code to the world's greatest heavyweight. In the end, he only found a chink in Fedor Emelianenko's armor, not a way to pierce his heart.

Arlovski had the reach advantage in this fight. He had the speed advantage. He was elusive. And true to the pre-fight words of his boxing trainer, Freddie Roach, he appeared to have Fedor frustrated, something rarely seen in the Russian's demeanor.

There was even a trickle of blood flowing from Fedor's nose.

But just when Arlovski seemed to be ramping up – a crushing overhand right stunned Fedor and a push kick sent him back against the ropes – Fedor brought Arlovski back to earth... literally. Following the push kick with an apparent flying knee, Fedor caught Arlovski just before he went airborne, one sledgehammer right hand leaving the former UFC champion diving face first into the canvas.

"I feel great," said Fedor following the defense of his title. "I just want to say thanks to Andrei, he's one of the very best fighters in the world."

The win sets up a bout between the MMAWeekly.com World MMA Rankings No. 1 and No. 2 heavyweight fighters in the world, pitting Fedor against Josh Barnett. But Fedor didn't want to talk the future just yet, his head still clouded with the shots he took from Arlovski, and the brick he slammed upside his opponent's head.

"Right now, I'm just thinking of him as my friend. We're very close, we're friends," Fedor commented about Barnett.

And with that, The Last Emperor retains his throne.

-Fedor Emelianenko def. Andrei Arlovski by KO (Punch) at 3:14, R1