Fedor Emelianenko Interview [eng] 09.28.2010

He's the strongest fighter in the world. In Moscow he only appears while traveling. And he doesn't live in California or Florida like many probably think, but rather Stary Oskol which is in Belgograd Oblast. I'm more used to tranquility, to nature. And of course the people close to me, who surrounded me all my life, who I love, who love me, are all in Oskol. If you search the name "fyodor" the first suggestion that shows up is emelianenko. Despite this to find information on him is not so simple. About his fights and victories all is known.. But he rarely gives interviews about himself. Sometimes it happens that people come by, they start filming or writing, and tell me "Let's make a photo of you chopping down a tree, in the woods or something.. we need sensationalism." But if I don't chop wood or cut down trees, why should I decieve people? Thanks to god. Thanks to god for this victory. This victory belongs to all Orthodox Christians, all who prayed for me. Thank you What changed my life was a trip to Diveevo, in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Where I walked through the monestary. Practiced a small ritual... And understood, I had to change my lifestyle. Fedor Emelianenko admits that when he was younger he watched films of Chuck Norris, Jean Claude Van Damme. Seeing them made him train harder and more seriously. But now when he knows them personally, he does not want to follow their route. Albeit he did take part in one film. Well the film [ha ha]. The film is called "Fifth Execution". When it will be out, for now I don't know. Possibly in the winter. I played as a spetsnaz, as a soldier from a spetsnaz group. I didn't like it, starring. It is not me. There's a first time for everything. The filming took place in 2009. Emelianenko the spetsnaz comes out juxtaposed with Emelianenko the fighter. Losing to Fabricio Werdum, Fedor showed he's an ordinary person. As an athlete the loss of course, affected him. But at the same time he'd like nothing more than for people to end their unrealistic views of him. It is very painful and unpleasant for me when people tell me "Feda, we supported you! We waited up all night, got drunk. When it finally came on we raised our spirits, got drunk some more and cheered and yelled across the neighborhood." This is so uncomfortable for me that to be honest, in these moments, I just want to leave. Don't worry, Emelianenko isn't going anywhere. Today he is only 34, and has more victories in-store. Sport can be approached many ways. One competes to defend his country. While another competes to become known, to attain fame and special treatment. One competes without dwelling on how much money and glory he recieves. Another competes only to raise his profile, his popularity with the ladies, I don't know. He does not like the spotlight. He doesn't meet with journalists often, but when he does agree to do an interview, he doesn't make special conditions. For us he reserved as much time as we needed. A person should carry himself in a cultured manner. But to simply be an entertainer, for what purpose, to be recognized on the street? I don't see the point of that. Like on television programs. I get a lot of offers to take part from various channels but I decline only because the topics are devoid. Simply fluff. From the tougher questions Emelianenko didn't run. For example on the topic of his brother Alexander. The Emelianenko brothers are no less known than the Klitschko brothers. Why aren't they as good friends as the Klitschkos and why is it so rare to see them together. We had our misunderstandings in the past, sometimes as brothers we did not understand eachother. Somewhere along the the line Alexander grew up, he felt self-sufficient. He desired to live more independently. God bless him. If he can, I'm only happy for him. And of course the defeat of Fedor this summer. Officially the second of his career, and the first truly undisputable. The first time in 10 years of no-rules fighting. In June he fell to the hands of Brazilian Fabricio Werdum. When I left the fight I understood the whole situation and said right away that my opponent will avoid me for as long as possible. When the fight will happen, for now I don't know. He apparently had an operation done on his hand. He will delay the rematch as long as possible. I understand that we're all people, this is sport, this is life. And I was always prepared for this. Another matter is if the people who surrounded me and watch my fights were prepared. Because they saw me with a halo. For me it is simply unpleasant, hurtful, and regrettable seeing how people obsess. How.. well thinking about my career and that's all. I'm not superman, and I'm not unbeatable. I'm an ordinary human, with my own... flaws.