Heavyweight "superfight" May 5th: Alex Emelianenko vs. Gabe Gonzaga (MMA crossovers into pro boxing)

Bizarre turn of events.

Gonzaga is officially retired from the Octagon/cage, finishing with a record of 17-11 (7 KO, 9 subs in the W column; 9 losses by KO) and last competing in that sport 2 years ago. He just made his pro boxing debut last October. He fought a 41 year old, also making their pro debut, and eked out a majority decision (40-36 x2 and 38-38) in a 4-rounder in Worcester, MA.

Emelianenko, the younger brother of the legendary Fedor, has been active in his native discipline as recently as last month. He never campaigned in the UFC but was a high-level journeymen/contender elsewhere for a number of years. He signed with RCC Promotions (German Titov) last week and is training as part of friend-of-the-family and Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov's team. He was 25-7, with knockouts comprising 17 victories and 3 defeats (submissions 5 & 4, respectively).

These guys somehow never crossed paths in MMA, primarily because of politics (the Emelianenko bros were Pride and then M1 guys, while Gonzaga spent most of his time in the UFC) but they do have a couple of common opponents. Mirko Filipović dealt Sasha his first loss via signature head kick, and split a pair with Gonzaga, knocked out in 2007 and returning the favor eight years later. They also both were bested cleanly by Fabrício Werdum - the Brazilian twice kayoing his countryman, and making the Russian tap out.

Emelianenko is two years Gonzaga's junior, and two inches taller.

...bizarre!

 

@UnleashtheFURY this seems like exactly your kind of freak show.

 

@The Professor don't move this; it actually is already in the correct forum, and bizarrely enough, belongs here.

 

Yeah, figure he would have probably always been the favorite to put Gonzaga to sleep under either rule set tbh.

 

He's a pretty hardcore guy, just fights bears for laughs.

 

I once got roughed up by a Worcester cop while tripping balls.