Fedor Emelianenko’s Victory Over Fabio Maldonado Overturned
Russian mixed martial arts (MMA) legend Fedor Emelianenko’s latest appearance inside the MMA cage was a wild one, in fact one may argue that the contest should have been stopped in the first round after Brazilian challenger Fabio Maldonado bludgeoned Emelianenko with a barrage of strikes, sending him sputtering across the cage on wobbly legs.
Regardless of Maldonado’s efforts, however, Emelianenko would be rewarded the majority decision after the conclusion of the three round war, sparking speculation world-wide throughout the MMA community.
Maldonado had previously attempted to appeal the decision, however, it was denied by WMMAA Head Judge Radmir Gabdullin who is also the Russian MMA union’s Vice President in addition to being one of Emelianenko’s training partners. He has since been suspended form the WMMAA.
Now it appears the World Mixed Martial Arts Association (WMMAA), according to Bloody Elbow’s Karim Zidan, has overturned the Emelianenko victory and has ruled the bout a draw:
Fedor's win against Fabio Maldonado has been overturned because of Fedor's relationship w/ the Russian MMA Union. New result is a draw.
— Karim Zidan 🪶 (@ZidanSports) July 15, 2016
The Russian MMA Union is sticking to their guns however, and Gabdullin had this to say:
“The WMMAA can express their views, but do not have the right to influence the judge’s decision on the Russian professional promotion. This situation I regard as an unfounded attempt to take away a well-deserved victory from Russian legend Fedor Emelianenko.””
Do you think the right decision was made by the WMMAA, or should Emelianenko’s victory have been upheld?
