Fedor Emelianenko

The Last Emperor

Russia

Brutally falls in retirement fight
HeavyweightOther
February 6, 2023
Emelianenko lost to Ryan Bader via TKO (ground and pound) at 2:30 of Round 1 at Bellator 290 on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Emelianenko had won four of his last five fights under the Bellator banner leading up to Saturday, with his lone loss over that span being another first-round finish at the hands of Ryan Bader. Often regarded as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, heavyweight fighters of all-time, Emelianenko deserves credit for wanting to challenge for a title in a difficult matchup in his retirement bout. Unfortunately, he wasn't remotely competitive, even against a fighter in Bader who isn't typically known for his striking. He still has a historic career to hang on the mantle, which includes signature wins over the likes of Mirko Cro Cop, Mark Hunt, big Nog, Frank Mir, Andrei Arlovski, Tim Sylvia and many, many more.
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Discloses COVID-19 battle
HeavyweightOther
January 21, 2021
Emelianenko revealed Thursday via his personal Instagram account that he has been hospitalized following his positive COVID-19 test. "I am feeling well now, I am on the mend," Emelianenko wrote in his post.
ANALYSIS
Several MMA fighters have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, but few required hospital stays like Emelianenko, who has apparently had a tougher recovery from the virus. Fortunately, the 44-year-old appears to be progressing following his treatment, and he still appears commitment to completing the final two fights remaining on his contract with Bellator before likely retiring. Emelianenko last fought December 2019, when he knocked out Quinton Jackson at Bellator 237.
Inks fresh deal with Bellator
HeavyweightOther
June 16, 2019
Emelianenko has signed a five-fight extension with Bellator MMA that president Scott Coker has referred to as a "retirement tour," Marc Raimondi of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
While Fedor was recently knocked out just 35 seconds into his heavyweight title fight against Ryan Bader, the 42-year-old showed he still has something left in the tank with wins over Frank Mir and Chael Sonnen leading up to that bout. Fedor may not have another title run in any major promotion left in him, but he's a future hall-of-famer and legend of the sport, so his drawing power is still alive and well. The plan is for Fedor to compete in multiple countries that haven't seen him for a long time, if at all. While a fight date has yet to be locked in, Coker did mention potential opponents for Fedor, including Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Josh Barnett. Both men are in the over-40 age bracket, so it shouldn't be difficult for the aging veteran to get sanctioned.
Sees late-career run come to end
HeavyweightOther
January 26, 2019
Emelianenko lost to Ryan Bader via TKO (punches) at 0:35 of Round 1 at Bellator 214 on Saturday in Los Angeles.
ANALYSIS
For the last few years, it has been clear that Fedor was nearing the end of his career. Prior to the announcement of the Bellator heavyweight tournament, he had fallen via knockout against Matt Mitrione. However, he still ended up in the bracket and somewhat surprisingly stopped both Frank Mir and Chael Sonnen to make the finals. Unfortunately for him, that run came to a quick end in the main event of Bellator 214. Bader landed his first punch of the fight, and it was over. Fedor can still hold his claim as being one of the best heavyweights in the history of MMA, but nobody would fault him if he walked away from the sport at this point.
Dominates Chael Sonnen to move on the finals of the Bellator heavyweight tournament
HeavyweightOther
October 14, 2018
Emelianenko defeated Chael Sonnen via TKO (punches) at 4:46 of Round 1 at Bellator 208 on Saturday in Uniondale, N.Y.
ANALYSIS
From the start of this fight, it was clear that Emelianeko was going to hurt Sonnen with strikes. He put Sonnen on the ground almost right away and continued to throw. Sonnen tried to go to his wrestling, but Emelianeko had answers nearly each time. At one point, Sonnen took the back and threatened to go for the rear-naked choke. However, Emelianenko reversed the position and went back to work. Towards the end of the round, Emelianeko stopped another takedown and began to landed hammerfists on the ground. Sonnen rolled into a defensive position, and Emelianenko punched until the finish. The former Pride FC champion advances to the finals of the heavyweight tournament against Ryan Bader. He has clearly slowed down late in his career, but he has turned away Father Time so far in this tournament.
Date booked for semifinal bout against Chael Sonnen
HeavyweightOther
July 19, 2018
Emelianenko is slated to take on Chael Sonnen in the Bellator grand prix semifinal on October 13, Shaun Al-Shatti of MMAfighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Emelianenko enters the fight having been victorious in six of his last seven contests. Arguably one of the best heavyweight fighters of his generation, the 41-year-old boasts a career record of 37-5. As for the opposition, Sonnen has dropped four of his previous seven fights and figures to enter the match as a slight underdog.