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ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The so-called experts got a break Saturday night when mixed martial arts top dog Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) put to rest any and all rumors of his demise. The 36-second stoppage of former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia (Pictures) before a sold-out crowd of 13,988 at the Honda Center testified to that fact.

Emelianenko attacked from the get-go, pummeling Sylvia with punches and eventually knocking him off his feet. He then swarmed the downed giant, continuously punching before taking his back and locking up a rear-naked choke.

Sylvia tried to fight the choke. However, he said it was over his windpipe and was very painful in addition to cutting off his air.

“I don’t think Fedor is human,” Sylvia half-joked after the fight. “He is by far the best fighter in the world.”

Fedor Emelianenko (right) vs. Tim Sylvia (Photo by Dave Mandel)

Emelianenko chuckled when told of Sylvia’s comment.

“I am human and I get nervous like everyone else,” said the newly crowned champion through an interpreter.

The much-ballyhooed showdown between Emelianenko and embattled UFC champion Randy Couture (Pictures) was trotted back into the spotlight after the fight. Asked whom he wanted to fight next, Emelianenko said Couture.

Emelianenko also cleared up questions about his health after the fight. Seen with a wrap on his hand, he stated that it was no big deal, that his thumb had just popped out and he had popped it back in.

Fedor Emelianenko submits Tim Sylvia (Photo by Dave Mandel)

“Anyone who doesn’t think that guy is the baddest man on the planet is completely full of s---,” former UFC referee and current Affliction broadcaster “Big” John McCarthy, in awe of Emelianenko’s performance, told Sherdog.com.