Fedor Emelianenko recently sat down for a very candid interview with Sport Express.ru. Fightline.com was able to obtain a wonderful translation of the article which appeared on the Sherdog forums. Enjoy.

The Best Fighter in the world in Chuck Norris version. (They mean Chuck Norris here as an org, like UFC. Doesn't make much sense in English, I know; but they're trying to make a joke in Russian).

We missed our Tula train - so Fedor Emelianenko had to wait for us near the Kursk station entrance. He was wearing worn out jeans and a funny hat - nobody recognized him. Legend of legends. One of the most mystical personalities in the sports world: in Mixed Martial Arts, Emelianenko, the first Russian world champion, doesn't know defeat. And each fight, according to rumors, adds half a million dollars to his bank account.

No one recognizes you on the train?

Fedor: Nope, - laughs it off - , I sat down in the corner, pulled down my hat - and fell asleep.

His nickname in Japan is "Emperor", and he knows what national worship is. He cannot even freely take a step in Seoul or Tokyo. That's why he doesn't want to lose a minute of having a calm mind - at least noone here bothers him, or whispers behind his back.

But he doesn't even take of his hat in Moscow. We though he's trying to hide from his followers. But it turned out to be much simpler:

Fedor: Sorry guys, I will keep the hat on. I got a flue after President's Cup in Sambo. Doctors are asking to be careful. Honestly, I just came to my senses. Spent ten days in Pyatigorsk. Mineral baths, mud procedures...

So you're better now - thank god. What did you do in Tula?

Fedor: I visited my wife and daughter, they live there for now. Vasilisa is just a tiny thing, was born on 29th of December. As soon as I finish building the house in Stary Oskol I will move them there, won't take long.

Fedor, you probably read the Chuck Norris interview in new year's issue of SE?

Fedor: I think I read it, but don't remember the details

You don't remember, how Chuck called you the best figher of all times and nations? And added: "There is noone in Martial Arts who could beat Emelianenko."

Fedor: That's Chuck's opinion, I don't think of myself as that strong. I just train alot - so that's why I am able to escape defeat so far. I'm trying to do everything, so that Russia takes first place in world ratings. But of course it's very flattering that Chuck says such things.