Mixed martial arts legend Fedor Emelianenko says he plans on returning to the sport he left in 2012.
According to Russia’s Union MMA, and subsequently confirmed by Bloody Elbow, the 38-year-old has recovered from some injuries and feels the time is right to fight again.
Emelianenko issued the following statement to Union MMA (translated through Google Translate):
“For every athlete it is very important to be able to engage in their favorite thing: give all the best in training, performing in competitions, defending the honor of the motherland.
During his time at the Ministry, I was able to work on the development of the arts, has worked closely with the presidents of sports federations recognized the problem from within the sport, as far as possible, try to solve them. But now I feel that it is time to return to the ring.
I was able to recover and heal old wounds. The last three years I have maintained the physical form, but this level is not enough to go into battle. Therefore recently I started intensive training. We have assembled a team of versatile coaches and athletes who will help me in the training process. I will try to participate in professional growth fighters. There is still work to do to prepare to leave the ring. Negotiations are underway with companies that conduct battles. Once agreements are reached, there will be information on the date of the fight and rival.”
Emelianenko is regarded by many as the greatest heavyweight in MMA history and the greatest mixed martial artist to have never competed in the UFC.
The multiple-time combat sambo world champion became an MMA superstar while competing in the defunct PRIDE promotion in Japan. He earned wins over notables Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, Mark Coleman, Mark Hunt and many others en route to becoming the organization’s most dominant champion. In 2008, he debuted in North America picking up back-to-back victories over former UFC champions Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski in Affliction.
He made his Strikeforce debut against knockout artist Brett Rogers in 2009 and won by knockout in dramatic fashion. However, the illusion that Emelianenko was invincible was shattered in 2010 when current UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum submitted him in 69 seconds. He followed that performance up with one-sided losses to Antonio Silva and Dan Henderson.
Emelianenko left Strikeforce and beat veterans Jeff Monson, Satoshi Ishii and Pedro Rizzo before announcing his retirement.
It’s unclear at this point which promotion Emelianenko wants to sign with the but he has begun negotiating with several organizations.
While there are a number of potential high-profile matchups in the UFC, it would seem Bellator MMA is a logical destination for him. Emelianenko was a special guest during Bellator MMA’s fan fest in June and has a relationship with Scott Coker, the current president of that promotion and former Strikeforce boss.
If he winds up in Bellator, Kimbo Slice, Bobby Lashley, Cheick Kongo and former UFC champion Tito Ortiz could be potential opponents.
