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Fedor Emelianenko to Receive Championship Ring
POSTED: January 7, 2009 - 5:36 pm
CATEGORIES: MMA, International
WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko to Receive Championship Ring During Special Ceremony on Jan. 23 during Weigh-ins for Affliction and M-1's "Day of Reckoning."
The World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) announced Wednesday that is has scheduled an official ring presentation ceremony involving current WAMMA (www.GoWAMMA.com) heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko for Friday, January 23.
The public will be able to see Fedor receive his championship ring at Honda Center in Anaheim, California at 3 p.m. PT during weigh-ins for Affliction and M-1's"Day of Reckoning" event.
Emelianenko became the first-ever holder of the WAMMA heavyweight championship after submitting former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia during Affliction's first-ever event last July.
In addition to the WAMMA championship belt, a WAMMA championship ring was also commissioned by WAMMA from Tiffany's. The ring was custom designed in the same manner in which the famed jewelry company produces championship rings for the NFL's Super Bowl champions.
"We couldn't be more proud of having Fedor Emelianenko represent WAMMA as its first-ever heavyweight champion," said WAMMA Chief Operating OfficerMichael Lynch. "Fedor is not only a world class fighter, but he is a world class person. He has always carried himself as a professional and comes from an old school mentality in that he prefers to let his actions speak louder than words."
Fedor's opportunity to bask in the glow of the ring ceremony could be short-lived, as the next day (Jan. 24) he is set to defend his WAMMA heavyweight title at "Day of Reckoning" vs. Andrei Arvloski, a former UFC heavyweight champion.
"Arlovski could very well be the toughest test of Fedor's career," Lynch began, "With an undercard shown live on HDNet and a stacked main event on PPV, Fedor's WAMMA Championship defense will be the highlight of a superb night of fights during Affliction and M-1's "Day of Reckoning" on January 24th."
Also scheduled for Affliction and M-1's "Day of Reckoning" is a heavyweight clash between Josh Barnett and Gilbert Yvel. Affliction Entertainment Vice PresidentTom Atencio has already gone on record to proclaim that the winner of Barnett vs. Yvel will face the Fedor/Arlovski winner.
But the day prior to the heavyweight fireworks, WAMMA cordially invites everyone to attend the championship ring presentation ceremony for WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko inside Honda Center in Anaheim, California on Friday, January 23 at 3 p.m. PT.
COMMENTS (7): Submit A Comment
1. Poeticguy
January 7, 2009 - 5:50 pm
Why give him the Championship ring, right before his fight? Affliction should have waited until after the fight..may during a post conference interview to crown him the champ..either way, he Fedor will win the fight..
2. brian
January 7, 2009 - 5:58 pm
While i think fedor should win arlovski is no pushover, he is incredably athletic and fast, fedor should have a much tougher night than when he faced tim. Also remember andre took sambo a lot as a kid so all of fedors sambo tricks will be known, if andre can withstand the powerful punches i think he really has a better than 50-50 chance of pulling off the upset, but anyway it ends i will be happy because we will be watching two of the top 10 heavyweight fighters in the world go at it.
3. Chris
January 8, 2009 - 1:01 am
Why does the WAMMA think that Fedor is the best fighter in the world? Until the time comes when Fedor and other title holders in the various MMA promotions around the world are allowed to compete each other, Fedor cannot be legitimately considered the best in the world and an "objective" organization such as the WAMMA should understand that.
4. Jai
January 8, 2009 - 1:54 pm
I think it's funny that WAMMA has not presented any UFC champions with a belt. Anderson Silva, GSP, BJ Penn, Evans? I mean c'mon! These are the guys man! C'mon people.
5. Jerome in Whitby
January 9, 2009 - 3:37 am
WAMMA objective? LOL!
6. mark
January 9, 2009 - 2:05 pm
I don't think the UFC would allow any of their champions to fight for a WAMMA belt. In my opinion GSP and Evans are the only fighters the UFC has that are really the best in the world. Aoki is the top lightweight, Gegard Mousasi is the top at 185, and Fedor is the top heavyweight. You have to fight the best in your division to be considered the best. Anderson Silva and Penn don't have any top competition to face in the UFC.
7. jim
January 10, 2009 - 12:48 am
I can't believe you actually think that Mousasi is a better fighter than anderson silva. Anderson is the most dominant and talented guy at 185. Fedor is definitely the best at heavyweight, but brock lesnar gets better and better each fight. It will be interesting to see how he fares against Mir the second time. As for the UFC letting their guys fight for WAMMA, the UFC has an open contract with their fighters. THey are allowed to fight in any organization they want, as long as they fulfill their contract with the UFC as well. It's pretty cool that WAMMA is presenting rings instead of belts. I imagine it'll be something like a super bowl ring, where you get one when you win the title. It's like being able to keep the belt after losing it.
