UFC
UFC QUOTABLES: Miguel Torres offers advice to Fedor Emelianenko - "Man up or get left behind"
Feb 20, 2011 - 9:00:04 PM UFC QUOTABLES: Miguel Torres offers advice to Fedor Emelianenko - "Man up or get left behind"

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"[Fedor is] at a crossroads in his life. [He's been] dominating his division, plus the popularity, exposure and everything that comes with being The Man, a showman, a father, representing a country and people – and being a fighter.

He needs to adjust to the times and start working on being a cerebral fighter (again) and not a showman. He needs to play catch-up in a world he used to dominate. That stings really bad, but you man up or get left behind...

I say yes, [he needs to leave Russia]. Russia will always be his home, but he lacks growth. Sometimes loyalty can hold you back...

I left to find growth – and everyone hates me for it, saying I'm a deserter and forgot where I came from. Even now, with my new style, people say I'm scared or not exciting. When I was training here, I didn't give a (care) and fought for the fans. When I lost, everyone threw (crap) on me saying I was nobody. My new style is actually cerebral and smart. I don't get hurt anymore, but lost fans. When I get the belt back, they will (love me) again, but I won't care. I'm all grown up...

When you man up, people will critique you and hate you for leaving, call you names and judge you for doing what's good for you. I feel Fedor's situation. It (freaking) sucks, but (crap) happens. All we can do is get better – and (screw) everyone else."

-Miguel Torres offers some words of wisdom to Fedor Emelianenko in an interview with MMAFighting.com.

Penick's Analysis: Torres knows where Fedor's at more than most. Though he didn't have a decade long undefeated streak, he did hold a 37-1 record over nine years in the sport before getting caught by Brian Bowles. He then followed that up with a loss to Joseph Benavidez. Now he's changed a lot of things up in his training and his style, and he received a lot of backlash for it at UFC 126. But what his detractors failed to mention was that he was efficient and extremely effective, all the while avoiding any unnecessary damage and not making any mistakes. He had been stuck in a certain style and he made adjustments, and that's an example Fedor can follow. His coaches said after the loss to Bigfoot Silva that there wasn't a gameplan for the fight. Well, with the increasing skill level in the heavyweight division and the changes the sport has undergone even over the last five years, it's time for "The Last Emperor" to bring his game into 2011 if he's going to continue.