Top 10 best Eastern European fighters in MMA history

1. “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko

Chances are you knew who was the number one guy was.

Fedor Emelianenko is the greatest heavyweight of All-Time in many MMA fans and media members mind. He is also on the shortlist of fighters in the debate for greatest MMA fighter of All-Time.

The Russian fighter checks all the boxes when you want to speak about an all-time great.

Do you want skills? He is a heavyweight that moves like a lightweight. His hands were fast and packed serious power. The four-time Sambo world champion had great trips in the clinch. On the canvas, he brutalized his adversaries with legendary ground and pound. His submission skills were so legit, he has 15 submission wins in his career.

Do you want accomplishments? Emelianenko won the Pride FC heavyweight title and defended it three times. He was the first and only WAMMA heavyweight champion and defended that title twice. He won the Pride 2004 Open Weight Grand Prix and won three Rings tournaments. Oh yeah, did we mention he was undefeated for almost 10 years?

Do you want high-level competition? Emelianenko holds eight wins over former UFC heavyweight champions. He has an additional six wins over former UFC title challengers.

How about longevity? Emelianenko started his MMA career in 2000, 19 years later he has won seven out of his last nine bouts and just fought for the Bellator heavyweight belt.

Emelianenko is the total package.

While it is possible that Khabib Nurmagomedov could continue his surge and eventually overtake the top spot from his countryman, but for the time being, Emelianenko is the no-brainer pick for the greatest Eastern European fighter of All-Time.