"If a fighter gets under his opponents skin, it is the equivalent
of getting the plague."
These quotes are from
Mind Games: Psychological Warfare in MMA,
an article in issue 56 of
Fighters Only magazine.
The pyschologist quoted is Dr Joe Bell.
"The best when it comes to the staredown is Fedor Emelianenko. Watch
him: he does not make eye contact and his entire expression is extremely
relaxed - you would think he is about to perform a ballet or something.
"But here is the crucial thing. When the referee tells them to head back
to their corners, Fedor suddenly darts a short look directly at his
opponent - or through his opponent, I should say.
"This kind of look is associated with antisocial behavioural disorders
and psychopaths. They don't look at you, they look through you. It's
emotionless, it goes deeper than skin level.
"You will get a lot of fighters who will catch that look and suddenly
realise they don't want to be there.
"Wanderlei Silva has a stare-down that makes you think 'this is gonna
hurt', but Fedor's makes you think 'shit, I might die'."
Here's what Fedors last victim Brett Rogers had to say after the face
off at the press conference (BEFORE the fight):
”He’s definitely a different fighter. I look into his eyes and I see
nothing. I don’t see if he’s serious. I don’t see if he’s trying to be
funny. I can’t sense anything from him. A lot of people say, ‘Don’t pay
attention to his demeanor because it will psyche you out.’ It’s true. I
feel that.”
Brett Rogers on Looking into Fedor’s Eyes: “I See
Nothing” : MMA News, MMA Betting, UFC Gambling and girls – MMA Fix