Hendo vs. Fedor: was the ref right?


July 31, 2011

7 Comments

Photo: Esther Lin

Fedor Emelianenko suffered his third failed outing in a row at this Saturday’s Strikeforce show in Chicago. It was a woeful ending for someone who reigned MMA with an iron hand for ten years… perhaps.

Fedor, as with a lot of other great athletes who dazzled during the early part of the century, has proven unable to repeat the performances of days past, many of which came in the rings of Japan. There was one peculiarity in his fight with Dan Henderson, though.

Upon sliding to the Russian’s back, at a harrowing moment for him in the fight, Henderson had his turn as aggressor. Emelianenko did indeed look to have been knocked out but quickly recovered and replaced guard. It was too late, though, as Herb Dean had already called an end to the bout.

Still in the ring, Fedor showed his dismay about the interruption. It may have been the correct decision, however, in protecting the fighter’s well-being.

What are your thoughts, dear reader, did the ref get it right? Rewatch the match and comment below:

  • Alex

    I think the stoppage was called early… for sure Fedor received that big punch, but he tried to roll to start working on his guard, and if you´re knocked out it´s impossible to do this…

    also I want to add that those punches in the back of the head are illegal…

  • Topsyjt

    Great uppercut by hendo. Clealry hurt fedor & the 2 follow up strikes to back of fedors head wudnt have helped fedor either. Thst said he did recover extrmemy fast & look to be working a guard position. Without the “illegal” strikes fedor wud be pushed to make it out of the round. Love both guys. Well done for the bout guys. Thank you x

  • Fazal Khan

    Herb Dean was right to stop it. Fedor went limp and Hendo got off two more strikes. Hendo won fair and square, and congratulations to him.

    Fedor’s hands were sloppy, he looked weak and he gave up his back like nothing, there’s obviously more wrong with him then there is right at the moment.

    I’m still a Fedor fan though, he achieved amazing things in the sport, but the sport and the fighters have evolved and It looks as though Fedor hasn’t.

    That doesn’t take away his previous achievement’s, it just means he needs to realize whats going on around him, and possibly move training camps, it might do him a world of good.

    • Blayne b.

      I don’t think fedor made a huge error, or that there is something ‘wrong’ with him. I would attribute the victory more to dan’s very technical half guard to back take, to pairing that up with the uppercut from behind. It looked very much like Dan trained that combo a thousand times. It was spot on.

      • Jimmy

        What up Blayne!

  • doggy

    everybody knows that punches was illegal

  • http://twitter.com/gulleezy GEWLIZ

    Two HARD punches to the back of the head.

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