Chael Sonnen says: 'Fedor Emelianenko is overrated'

Sonnen (photo) has PRIDE veterans as his favorite targets. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

Due to his, let's say, irreverent style and always controversial statements, Chael Sonnen has a vast collection of enemies, inside and outside the world of MMA. Now, the loudmouth appears to have added another big name to his list: the legendary Fedor Emelianenko. When commenting on the Russian's return to the ring, scheduled for the end of the year in Japan, Sonnen relativized Fedor's achievements, questioned his legacy and said that the former PRIDE heavyweight champion is an overrated fighter.

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"He (Fedor Emelianenko) is definitely overrated. But he's not that well-regarded. The people who listen to his show, who listen to my podcast, we have some hardcore fans, who watched his fights in Japan. They watched those fights and they're happier to be able to forget when he came to the United States and fought real sanctioned fights. , with a real judge, who doesn't wear a headset. They forgot about it. The average human being doesn't have the vaguest idea who he is. And history will not reflect well Fedor Emelianenko, as well as his MMA career,” said Sonnen, in an interview with “The MMA Hour” podcast.

Chael continued and did not slow down his criticism of Fedor. “The guys just told him: you're going to fight the easiest guy possible and get the biggest payout for it. Fedor is doing well. Who is in Japan now? What is the level of competition? Who are they going to put him to fight against? There isn't even a division in which he can work. So, what they hope is that he can attract attention and sell a lot of tickets by doing this, which I believe there is a great chance that he will do”, he concluded.

Fedor's opponent at Rizin Fighting, an event run by the former owner of PRIDE, has not yet been officially confirmed, but according to the North American website “MMA Fighting”, the Russian will face the inexperienced Indian Jaideep Singh.