One of the greatest heavyweights of all time is coming back to
Bellator MMA this year.
The promotion announced on Thursday that a press conference for
Fedor
Emelianenko (39-6, 1 NC) would be taking place on Friday.
During this brief announcement, where Emelianenko was joined by
Bellator head Scott Coker and commentator John McCarthy, Bellator
released the information that the legendary Russian would be
appearing at a card on Oct. 23 in Moscow. This event will be staged
in the VTB Arena in the capital city of Russia – a Bellator first –
although there was no name mentioned for his next adversary.
Emelianenko will serve as the headliner for this unnumbered
Bellator event.
“The Last Emperor” has two bouts left on his Bellator contract, and
his Moscow appearance will not likely be his final battle. The
44-year-old joined the company in 2017, where he faced Matt
Mitrione and lost by knockout in 74 seconds. Each of the five
Bellator appearances for Emelianenko have ended in the first round
due to strikes, win or lose. Dating back to 2018, Emelianenko has
lost just once, to Ryan Bader in
the heavyweight tournament final, while putting Frank Mir,
Chael
Sonnen and Quinton
Jackson away with punches.
The former Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight king
never lost with that Japan-based promotion, competing under its
banner 15 times before it folded in 2017. Along the way, he claimed
the record for the highest winning percentage of any fighter to
compete in the Pride ring. He is also one of just two fighters to
ever defend his championship more than once, alongside Wanderlei
Silva. His run from 2000, which began after losing by doctor
stoppage from an illegal elbow from Tsuyoshi
Kosaka, Emelianenko strung together a 28-fight win streak that
many claim make him the greatest fighter of all time.