Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tim Sylvia looks like it’s really going to happen folks. I repeat, Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tim Sylvia looks like it’s really going to happen.

Or at least we think so.

Here’s the story right now: In early April of 2008, Fedor Emelianenko confirmed to Sherdog.com that he will take on the former UFC Heavyweight Champion by saying the following: "[Sylvia] is a good fighter, a strong fighter, the former UFC heavyweight champion, which is important. I am looking forward to fighting him and training hard for this fight."

What’s more, there are even rumors that the fight will take place at the American Airline Arena in Dallas, Texas and will air on HDNet.

Still, the fight hasn’t been signed yet, even if it has been agreed to.

But let’s not let a little thing like that stop us from speculating.

If this fight comes to fruition, it will be one for the ages that will offer an answer to multiple questions. After all, with Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic’s flop in the UFC and Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira’s new UFC Heavyweight Championship belt, no one really knows what to make of these former PRIDE heavyweights. Along with this, Fedor has been away from fighting worthy heavyweight challengers for a good long while now. In fact, he hasn’t fought a legitimate heavyweight challenger since taking on Mark Hunt back on at PRIDE: Shockwave 2006 on 12/31/06.

So if he defeats Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia, a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, all the questions go away. But if he doesn’t. . .

Heck, let’s just get to the preview.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tim Sylvia

Fedor Emelianenko has only lost once in his illustrious MMA career, as his 27-1 overall MMA record will attest to. There’s a reason why that record looks so good.

Namely, he’s one of the best fighters of all time.

Fedor is ridiculously strong for his size. He has excellent takedowns, takedown defense, and ground control skills. Further, he is a ground and pound nightmare when maintaining the top position on the canvas. That said, if you put him on his back, he still has an above average guard and submissions.

On his feet, Fedor is solid in a technical sense. What’s more, he also has a ton of power and explosiveness.

Finally, Emelianenko always comes to fight in shape, despite the fact that he looks kind of chubby. And to top things off, he’s one of the best at coming up with a workable game plan, such as when he decided to strike with Cro Cop by crowding him way back on 8/28/05 at PRIDE: Final Conflict. And, of course, as great champions often seem to be able to do, Fedor is capable of not only formulating a good plan but also following through on it.

Tim Sylvia possesses an impressive overall MMA record of 24-4 with 16 (T)KO’s and two submission victories to his credit. The story on this Miletich fighter is simple.

He’s tough as nails, has the heart of a champion, and hits like a truck. Oh yeah, and he also has excellent takedowns and takedown defense to go along with his ridiculous size and reach.

We’re talking about a 6-foot-8, 260 pound fighter here with excellent technical striking skills. If you don’t believe me, just ask Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. He may have won his fight against Sylvia, but he didn’t look like it after the bout.

Unlike Fedor, Tim Sylvia does appear to have a weakness, however. Namely, he doesn’t have much in the line of submission and is somewhat susceptible to being submitted when on the ground.

But first you have to get him there before being knocked out.

Prediction : How Tim Sylvia vs. Fedor Emelianenko breaks down

If this fight stays standing, Fedor will have a very difficult time with Sylvia’s reach. Though the Russian fighter certainly has enough power to make his bigger opponent pay in a large way, chances are that Sylvia’s sheer length and striking acumen would win out in the end if the fight stays on their feet.

So Fedor will likely have to get this one to the ground. Once there, if Fedor is able to maintain top position, a furious onslaught of ground and pound would likely commence before the former PRIDE Heavyweight Champion started looking for a fight ending submission.

But first Fedor would have to get Sylvia there.

So can Tim Sylvia keep things on his feet long enough to score the knockout? Can Fedor Emelianenko get Sylvia to the ground where he’s likely to be able to end things eventually?

And perhaps just as important, will the long layoff from strong heavyweight competition result in Fedor not being the same fighter we are used to seeing?

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