MMA - Fedor Training With Tyrone Spong

May 2008. Fedor finished his study as a student of chair of Physical Training at Belgorod State University. It's understandable that Fedor's schedule wouldn't let him graduate as quickly as other students normally do. The topic of his thesis was "Methodology of physical skills' development training for 13-15 year old Sambo practitioners". Fedor may get to use his education and experience at the still in construction Academy of Fedor Emelianenko in Belgorod to coach professional fighers.

-Fedor was 12 when he started training grappling under Vladimir Voronov, who remains his trainer to this day. For 20 years Voronov has been as much a part of Fedor's life off the mat as on it. Fedor (teenager) aspired to join the Russian national team. He didn't partake in life's pleasures but instead spent all of his time studying and training. Two factors were constant in his life then: a lack of money and the presence of his family and team. Frequently there wasn't enough money for food. Fedor and his brother Aleksander were constantly growing and training, and their mouths were not the smallest to feed. The food Olga Emelianenko grew in her makeshift garden was often not enough, and come winter a garden was impossible. "My mother not only loves me as a son," Fedor has proudly said, "but respects me as a person." Voronov pitched in, dropping off bags of grain or potatoes. The harder life became, the closer Fedor and his family and his team grew. The more they depended on each other's existence, the less money mattered.
-At only 20 years old Fedor was recognized with the title of Master of sports in Sambo and Judo.-Following his return from the army, Fedor once again fell into serious training with the Russian National Sambo and Judo teams, but there was not enough to eat, no money for uniforms or shoes. -He had married his childhood sweetheart, Oksana, near the mats and in front of Voronov and his team at the Vladimir Nevsky Club,the gym where he had trained since he was 11. The trainer helped the young couple renovate their small temporary flat while they waited impatiently for the arrival of their daughter, Mashenka, and their first studio apartment that the city would give them. "In the army I was never disrespectful, never cocky, though I could always stand up for myself, and I always tried to help those younger than me. I did have to fight a lot but only at the very start." The problems with compensation for athletes worsened.During this time Fedor was accepted onto both the Russian National Sambo and Judo teams. Though he was representing his country, he had no income. The fighters were thankful for any opportunity to work and feed their families. With no future or prospects of doing what he loved doing, Fedor tentatively turned to MMA as a way out. After much trepidation he floated the idea of fighting in the sport with his trainer. Voronov was not against it, thinking that Fedor would be able to handle himself in MMA. Leaving the Russian Judo and Sambo teams for the totally unknown, with no certain future, was an immensely hard decision. But with the blessings of his wife and trainer, Fedor stepped into the ring.
Not surprisingly Fedor is known very well in Stary Oskol. Every taxi driver, shopkeeper and hotel receptionist has a story about him. All praise his humility, with some saying he is the most humble person they know and praising the way he has remained one of them.

*Fedor training in his camp, in the streets of Japan and with Tyrone Spong (K-1 fighter) blocking left high kicks. You can see this was an specific training to get ready for Cro Cop.