Fedor Emelianenko opts against retirement, next fight likely in Russia

http://mmajunkie.com/news/24730/fedor-emelianenko-opts-against-retirement-next-fight-likely-in-russia.mma

Fedor Emelianenko isn't retiring.

The MMA great and former PRIDE heavyweight champion, who recently suffered his third consecutive Strikeforce defeat after a decade-long 27-fight win streak, will fight again.

Officials today announced his plans, which include a likely next fight in his native Russia.

"We consulted with Fedor, and it was decided that he should not leave the sport in this way," Emelianenko's manager, M-1 Global president and co-founder Vadim Finkelstein, stated. "His friends and past opponents support Fedor in continuing his career, and he agreed.

"We want to organize a fight for Fedor in Russia and have already begun working in this direction. If everything goes as planned, we will produce a card in Moscow or St. Petersburg sometime in the fall with Fedor as the main event."

An opponent hasn't been determined. Finkelstein stated Emelianenko may also fight in Japan on New Year's Eve.

If successful, the 34-year-old Emelianenko could return to the U.S. in 2012. Emelianenko (31-4 MMA, 1-3 SF), who fulfilled the terms of his Strikeforce contract with a recent TKO loss to Dan Henderson, has fought his past six fights in the U.S. and went 3-3. Overall, he's 4-3 in the U.S.

Emelianenko, once widely regarded as the sport's top fighter, is winless since a Strikeforce-debut victory over Brett Rogers in November 2009. Since then, he's suffered a submission loss to Fabricio Werdum in 2010 and a recent TKO defeat to Antonio Silva in the opening round of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix earlier this year. Despite the losses, all three of his recent Strikeforce fights have been some of the highest-rated events in Showtime's MMA history.

Following his recent Henderson loss, which headlined a July 30 event in the Chicago area, Emelianenko wasn't sure if he'd retire or fight again.

"Right now, what I'd like to do is return home to Russia to see my newborn daughter," he said. "She was just born, and I'm very fortunate for this gift in my life. With respect to MMA, I just have to think about it and decide what I'm going to do in the future.

"My entire adult life and young life, all I've known is training and fighting and competing. That's something that I very much love continue doing, and I'd still like for that to be a large part of my life. But today, my life, what's first is my faith and my religion, and then my family. That's what I live for. ... My job and what I do for work is secondary behind those two things."

Que the Fedor is afraid to fight UFC fighters talk.

Just make Fedor vs Overeem.

never heard of him? Is he good?

OU wrote:

never heard of him? Is he good?

Not sure. I'll see if these guys think so.

I just checked with the official MMA fact machine. It's saying this guy is a bum who just got KTFO by a MW?

Fedor is just scared to fight UFC guys.

GDPofDRC wrote:

Fedor is not scared to fight the UFC guys, that is ridiculous. He just can't beat most of them...

I'm going to go get the papers, get the papers.

damn you deleted your post, now mine doesn't make sense lol

There was a glitch in the Matrix...

Andrew the Raider King wrote:

Fedor is not scared to fight the UFC guys, that is ridiculous. He just can't beat most of them...

Fedor knows Kongo would maul his ass

back to the bums.....maybe he can win another 30 strait and be called the best in the world again.

I figure another bout against Tim Sylvia, AA and Brett Rogers and Sherdog will say he is the best, fighting the best. Just to top it off he is gonna take on Matt Lindland again...

Fedor vs James Toney coming soon.

sokolkevin wrote:

back to the bums.....maybe he can win another 30 strait and be called the best in the world again.

This implies he wasn't beating top ranked fighters and the legit #1 in the World at any point in his career. You can't be trying to sell that...

Since when was HMC or Matt Lindland high ranked HWs?

Andrew the Raider King wrote:

Since when was HMC or Matt Lindland high ranked HWs?

I wasn't aware that was the toughest stretch of fighters Fedor has ever faced? You mean to tell me he NEVER beat any highly ranked fighters? Ever? That is what you guys are selling here?

After Cro-Cop? Not really. I mean he fought Slim Sylvia and Glass Joe, who used to be name fighters and held the UFC HW belt back when it didn't mean anything. He did beat up Coleman like 5 years ago...Did you really want me to count those fights as fighting superior talent? Because using rankings for your support, means you may lose the argument because you threw out reason...

people saying fedor wasnt the best hw in the past decade sound just as dumb as those who hate on brock and say he wasnt a legit highly ranked top 5 hw. in the end, both proved themselfs among some of the best in the world during their time. some fighters times last longer than others , thats the only difference

Todd Duffee by KO

Todd Duffee is the GOAT!