Any plans to come to the UFC?
Fedor: Not in the near future. First, I need to finish my contract with M-1 Global and Strikeforce (2 more fights to go). Then we'll see.

I'm amazed by how you combine religion and don't forget about God while being part of this hard sport.
Fedor: There is no need to combine anything in orthodoxy. This is the way of life. I try to live according to the Commandments, go to church and pray. If you are religious there is no other way than to do that. There is no such question: to combine or not to combine. You always feel what you need to do and what not in order to retain God in your heart. As for the so-called Warrior Path, I represent my country; defend its honor on the international stage just like others do. There is no controversy with the religion. I got blessing from Patriarch Kirill.

Did you fight a lot on the streets or to protect the ones you love?
Fedor: Thanks God, not. The last time I fought on the streets was way before the times of my military duty. There are not many altercations when I'm around.

Have you ever fought or beat up your brother?

Fedor: No, never. I'm older than him. Before army he was a small kid but upon my return he was 15-16 years old, so we already had a lot to talk about and consequently train together.

 

How's the preparation for the upcoming fight going? Vadim Finkelstein mentioned some training together with Dutch strikers that were expected to come to Stary Oskol...
Fedor: The training routine goes in accordance to my trainers' plan. The first stage is over and we've just begun the second one. Hard training as usual: a lot of wrestling, a lot of boxing. Probably in the near future some of these kick boxers will indeed come to Stary Oskol.

Has the filming crew already come over to Oskol in order to tape your preparation as it was before your previous fights?
Fedor: So far there is no one. Probably it was not in the plans this time.

Recently a Russian national TV channel (NTV) showed a program on you (in connection to a religious topic) where some inappropriate phrases were used like: "Who is this mister Emelianenko? A member of a sect? The one repenting his sins? Jesus Christ's warrior?"..."If he visits the church so eagerly why won't he leave this bloody sport?" etc... What is your opinion on that?
Fedor: It seems to me that people employed by NTV have no decency and are not afraid of God, they lack a clear conscience. Even before that they claimed to shoot a program for a modern-day youth. You know, nowadays young people lost their lifetime values, they don't know what they live for. The channel's representative stated that they'd like to use me as an empirical example (= role model) for the ones who drink, take drugs, are lost in debauchery and violence. Officially they asked me for help on this matter through the media channel. The questions they asked me during the interviews had nothing to do with what they broadcast later. They twisted all the facts. I appeared to be some part-time killer part-time member of a sect. Actually, no matter what country I fought in throughout my career, never has any media put presented me like a butcher.... When I was watching that TV episode, it was a revelation to me that I visit the church more often then I have training! I go to church on Saturday and on Sunday that's what I told them actually.
Moreover, in another episode on the same NTV channel I appear to accuse my own brother Alexander of being a skinhead...It's totally untrue. Alexander has sued them already for the damage of his image. I really can't understand why they twist the facts. Are they after the ratings, manufactured sensations? There is a clear lack of professionalism. After such incidents I lose any will to communicate with media...

Recently you took part in a Russian hand-to-hand combat among patriotic orthodox sports clubs in the city of Sergiev Posad.
Fedor: Yes and its great these clubs exist. They cultivate not only physical strength but mental, too. For an orthodox Christian doing Martial Arts it's essential to work on both aspects. It's not to confuse Martial Arts with violence. The essence of Orthodox religion is that we have never been the aggressors but defenders...

I'd like to know your relationship in the family. Are you the leader in your family?
We always discuss things with my wife, I listen to her of course and she listens to me. But I'm the one who makes decisions. I'm the man and I'm the head of our family. I'm responsible.

How powerful is your right hook?
Fedor: I never measured the strength.

Do you like hunting?
Fedor: I like to be there but not to kill animals. In my life I have not hunted that much.

I noticed you don't have many sponsors on your shorts or a T-shirt. Why is that?
Fedor: Russian sponsors are not very interested in me in one way or another. Sometimes foreign companies contact us though.

Hallo, I have a son and a daughter of 6 and 8 respectively. Could you give me advice on how to raise them in terms of sport and MA in particular.
Fedor: Of course, you need to cultivate love for sports in them. However, 6 and 8 is the golden age, so you better let them play actively, raise them through that. I'd strongly recommend you bring them to some serious sport later on (10 years or later). Their little bodies need to grow a bit first to prepare for harder training or a combat in particular.

Any thought on a potential rematch with Brett Rogers?
Fedor: Not really considering he lost his last fight.

Any plans to come to the UFC?
Fedor: Not in the near future. First, I need to finish my contract with M-1 Global and Strikeforce (2 more fights to go). Then we'll see.

Do you train during religious festivities?
Fedor: Well, during preparation for an upcoming fight I do.

What's your aim in life?
Fedor: To live and hail God.

What do you value the most in people? How come you manage to stay modest? Thank you! Thanks to you I quit smoking, stopped drinking alcohol, started doing sports and respect my family.
Fedor: So you see, that's my aim in life. Thanks God, there are people ready to change their lives, turn to the good. Back to your question: I value kindness and love towards others, ability to remain decent in any situation. I try to be the same person I want others to be.

When will the movie you starred in (Fifth Execution) will hit the cinema? It's getting late.
Fedor: As far as I know, it was shown to public in a limited mode at Cannes Film Festival. I believe the plan was to launch in autumn but I don't really know.

Any particular meal you like?
Fedor: Not really. I eat everything my wife gives me. The only thing I "cooked" myself lately was fried eggs and cottage cheese with sour cream (laughs).

Did you fight a lot on the streets or to protect the ones you love?
Fedor: Thanks God, not. The last time I fought on the streets was way before the times of my military duty. There are not many altercations when I'm around.

Do you enjoy watching action movies?
No, I don't. There is no truth in them at all. The same script everywhere: stack them with a lot of fireworks and special effects and forget about any normal scenario. I like movies with idea. I like watching 'The Brother' 1 and 2 (Russian movie: Brat). I have kids so my favorite foreign movies recently are 'Hatiko' and 'A Christmas Carol' with Jim Carey.

I'm sure lots of people try to confront you in public. How do you remain calm?
Fedor: I can imagine that at press-conferences some people want to generate more attention to them by various statements or even insults. I don't think it's good. Moreover, I always keep in mind I'm accountable for my action. That's why I try not to play these games.

Do you consider Fabricio Werdum to be a dangerous opponent?
Fedor: Of course. He's a cerebral and thinking fighter. His style is unorthodox and one of the more interesting.

Is it true that you run (jog) more than 10 km a day?
Fedor: On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday I run 14.5 - 15 km in the morning. On Wednesdays and Saturdays I go to Russian banya (kind of sauna, check Wiki for details). Sunday is for relaxation. That concerns a fight preparation period. In the off-season the distance gets shorter.

I'm amazed by how you combine religion and don't forget about God while being part of this hard sport.
Fedor: There is no need to combine anything in orthodoxy. This is the way of life. I try to live according to the Commandments, go to church and pray. If you are religious there is no other way than to do that. There is no such question: to combine or not to combine. You always feel what you need to do and what not in order to retain God in your heart. As for the so-called Warrior Path, I represent my country; defend its honor on the international stage just like others do. There is no controversy with the religion. I got blessing from Patriarch Kirill.

Was Rogers really greased in your fight?
Fedor: I can’t confirm anything. But he felt different than others.

Have you ever fought or beat up your brother?
Fedor: No, never. I'm older than him. Before army he was a small kid but upon my return he was 15-16 years old, so we already had a lot to talk about and consequently train together.

When you were young who did you want to be like?
Fedor: You know, I always admired what several Russian historical persons did in the past (Alexander Nevskiy, Dmitry DOnskoy, Alexander Peresvet, Fedor Ushakov, Alexander Suvorov). I read a lot about them and watched historic movies. WHen I got introduced to the world of sport the role models for me were Yury Vlasov
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yury_Vlasov), Lev Yashin
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lev_Yashin), Vladislav Trtiak
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladislav_Tretiak), Alexander Medved
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Medved)...

Fedor, your next fight will be against Fabricio Werdum. But will you fight Brock Lesnar or is only rumors? People say he challenged you and waits for your reaction...
Fedor: You know our own wishes are not really taken into considerations. UFC had an opportunity to close a deal with us, but they didn't use it. Until my contract with M-1 Global and Strikeforce expires, there is no talk of fighting elsewhere no matter how loud anyone talks about that.

Have you ever fought Kimbo Slice?
Fedor: No, never. We have never even met each other.

I'd really like to train with you. Is that possible?
Fedor: Lots of guys who come to train happen to ask me a lot for a photo together and it really distracts from the training itself. That's why in the period of preparations for an upcoming fight we don't hold any open trainings or seminars. After that you can find information on my website efedor.ru or official M-1 site mixfight.ru

Have you ever smoked in your life?
Fedor: No, I never event wanted or tried to.

What do you feel before the fight knowing that your opponents are no slouches?
Fedor: I'm no different than other people. I feel excited and nervous. But when I proceed to the ring I gather myself, concentrate and everything goes away.

In your fight against Mirko Crocop there was a moment in the first when the fight hit the ground and you got into a very lucrative position for a knee to the head. Why didn't you throw a knee then?
Fedor: My trainers and teammates asked me this very question, too. I can't name the reason why. I'm the one who makes decisions in the course of the fight and probably I didn't feel this strike was necessary and that's why I didn't capitalize on the position.