Semmy Schilt: No Plans for Rematch With Fedor

Dutch K1 legend Semmy Schilt has no immediate plans for a return to Mixed Martial Arts or a rematch with Fedor Emelianenko. In a recent interview - the Golden Glory star dismissed rumours that he was being lined up to fight Emelianenko, although he did leave the door open for a fight in the future.

Schilt spoke to m1mixfight.com during a recent trip to Moscow. He told them that a fight with Fedor Emelianenko was not imminent. The two had previously fought at Pride 21: Demolition in June 2002. Semmy Schilt went the distance, but lost a unanimous decision to Emelianenko. He said:

“Well, I don’t believe in a rematch. The match has happened long time ago, you know. I had a good fight with Fedor. I lost on points and it’s too bad. Well, I think he was the rightful winner at that moment. Maybe down the road if we fight again it’s going to be different. And for me, personally, it’s not going to be a rematch, it’s going to be a real fight again. What’s done is done. I’m not too much into chasing the best. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen.

There are no negotiations going on now. I have a contract with K-1 which also cooperates with Hero’s (from now on DREAM) and M-1 Global I believe. Maybe there are some options so that I could participate there. Also I had a fight in Serbia which was a good experience.

I’m not really concentrating on MMA right now. I do train a little because we got another fighter Michael Knaap who is an MMA-fighter himself. So I train with him. That’s it. But I know a few submissions and arm-locks. But in a fight it’s always different, it’s rather difficult to apply it in a fight. At this moment I don’t really lift weights much because the kickboxing… it’s more explosive. When I fought in MMA I did a lot more weight training as it was much more important then."

Schilt was dismissive of Ultimate Fighting Championship’s president Dana White’s statements about Fedor Emelianenko. White stated a number of times that the Russian is not a top 5 Heavyweight. Semmy Schilt thinks differently.

“I think it’s a very American way to provoke guys. Fedor beat Coleman who didn’t get any chance but even Nogueira didn’t have a chance. The fact Fedor takes it easy now I can’t blame him. You have to think about your body, not only about the money.”

Semmy Schilt had no doubt in his mind who is at the top of the pecking order in Mixed Martial Arts.

“In heavyweight I think it’s Fedor. They say a lot about the UFC, about Randy Couture and now Nogueira but I think it’s Fedor, Nogueira, Barnett, then there’s Kharitonov but these are the contenders from Pride. Then, of course, you got Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture. But it’s all about the politics, what side you are on and what you gained the most by winning from who.”