The Baddest Man on the Planet

“I’m just trying to be useful to people… trying very hard”

-Fedor

I just got done watching the Best Damn Sports Show special on Fedor entitled: The Baddest Man on the Planet. The show was on Fox Sports Net and knowing their lack of programming it will probably be rebroadcast 500 times this week. If you have a chance to catch it, I think it would be worth your time. The profile of Fedor is interesting because it goes beyond his career as a fighter in a quest to understand what makes him tick.

A couple of things about the piece stood out to me. First, they talked about his training. For all the hyperbole used in previewing this part of the broadcast his training was quite simple. Whenever I see these training montages of Fedor it always reminds of Rocky IV. For my money IV is the best Rocky movie, as in my opinion it single handily ended the Cold War. After Rocky’s “if I can change and you can change” speech the world was never the same. Rocky IV also has the classic training montage in which Rocky trains in the Russian wilderness running in the snow, chopping wood, and lifting old school weights. I think it's entirely possible Fedor constructed his entire training regimen from watching this movie. The work out is pure old school with the only major difference being that Rocky chops wood and Fedor bangs tires with sledge hammers. Other than that it’s completely the same. I half expected him to dedicate his upcoming fight to the memory of the late great Apollo Creed. Perhaps they can get Brock Lesnar to play the part of Dolf Lundgren. It just goes to show you that technology and money are not essential to success. It reminds me of a tour I took of Harvard a few years ago. There wasn’t a computer, projector, or television in a single classroom.

The special also talked about Fedor’s uncanny calmness in the ring and before a fight. His explanation was that there is nothing you can do before to change what’s going to happen. It’s too late to think about strategy on the way to the ring so why worry. Of course this Buddha-esque state of Zen is easier to achieve than to talk about it. Fedor did reveal that he does get nervous before his fights. Based on how all his fights go I can only assume this nervousness revolves around how large his bald spot will look on TV.

In all seriousness the most impressive part of the documentary to me was the discussion of his faith and humility. Everyone they talked to in Russia commented on how down to earth and humble he is. It seems that Fedor may be the only person in Russia, or for that matter the world, who doesn’t think he is invincible. The way he lives his life also seems to reflect this fact. His gym has paint pealing from the walls and heavy bags duck taped together. He is an icon figure in the world of MMA and a legend in his home land, but I'm positive I have a way bigger TV. Everyone always talks about the price of victory, trust me Fedor has paid it.