op ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko returns to the States and returns to fighting top competition July 19 when he takes on former UFC heavyweight titleholder Tim Sylvia in the main event of Affliction “Banned” at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
Widely regarded as the best fighter in the world, Emelianenko solidified his place in the Japanese Rings and Pride organizations, obtaining the Pride belt by defeating current UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at Pride 25 in March of 2003. But since defeating Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic at Pride: Final Conflict 2005, Emelianenko has received criticism for not competing against top tier talent.
Although ranked No. 1 in the world, Emelianenko in a lot of ways has to re-establish himself in the heavyweight division. In his second appearance in the U.S., he seeks to silence the critics when he squares off against Top 5 ranked Tim Sylvia for the WAMMA heavyweight title.
"How can you say that the guy is the number one fighter in the world if there's different organizations not willing to work with each other?" said Affliction vice president Tom Atencio. "If there is even a shadow of a doubt that this guy is not the best, how can you say he's the best in the world worthy of a belt of even the title if he's not fighting everybody?"
"Fedor’s willing to come over here and put his title on the line," added Atencio. "Everybody says he's the number one fighter in the world. Well here's one step closer to being it if he beats Tim Sylvia."
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