| When it comes to mixed martial arts, you would be | | | | 1997 was really a big year for Fedor Emelianenko. In |
| hard pressed to find a family more into the sport than | | | | addition to receiving the prestigious Master of Sports |
| Fedor Emelianenkos. Born and raised in Rubizhne, | | | | official certification in both Sambo and judo, he also |
| Luhansk (at the time, in the 1970s, it was part of | | | | joined the Russian national team and began hitting the |
| Russia. Now, the area belongs to Ukraine), Fedor | | | | fighting circuit pretty hard. In 1998, after taking home the |
| Emelianenko is the oldest of three brothers, all of which | | | | bronze medal in the Russian Judo Champoinship, he |
| participate in MMA fighting on a professional level. Out | | | | began studying new fighting techniques with his mentor |
| of all of the brothers, however, Fedor Emelianenko has | | | | Alexander Vasilievich Michkov. |
| had the most professional success (by far). | | | | By the time 1999 rolled around, Fedor Emelianenko |
| After graduating high school in Russia in 1991, Fedor | | | | was training for hours a day, learning the grappling, |
| Emelianenko went on to attend and graduate with | | | | kickboxing and boxing skills he needed to take his |
| honors from a professional trade school. And in the | | | | fighting to the next level. Additionally, he started running |
| mid 1990s, Fedor Emelianenko served in the Russian | | | | between seven and nine miles twice a day, every |
| Army as a military firefighter, and by the late 1990s he | | | | single day. In 2000, reportedly because he didnt have |
| had gotten married and started a family of his own. | | | | any money, Fedor Emelianenko began competing in |
| Fedor Emelianenko has always had a passion for | | | | mixed martial arts and combat Sambo. |
| mixed martial arts fighting, specifically in the areas of | | | | Since officially going pro, Fedor Emelianenko has lost |
| Sambo and judo. At 10 years old, he began training | | | | only one of the 28 fights he has participated in. This |
| under Vasiliy Ivanovich Gavrilov, who remembers | | | | has garnered him a huge fan base and a decent |
| Fedor Emelianenko as being relatively weak and | | | | amount of publicity. In fact, Fedor Emelianenko has |
| without any inherent grappling talent. However, the | | | | been considered one of the best heavyweight fighters |
| tutor remembers that what Fedor Emelianenko lacked | | | | in the world by publications like The Wrestling |
| in physical strength and natural ability, he more than | | | | Observer, Inside MMA, ESPN and the Orange County |
| made up for with his strong will and perseverance. | | | | Register. |