Fedor Emelianenko recently entered the Bellator MMA cage to fight against Timothy Johnson. Returning to action after nearly one year, he put up an impressive performance. Emelianenko knocked Johnson out in the first round to get the win in the main event of Bellator 269.
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‘The Last Emperor’ is no stranger to quick finishes and knockouts, with 16 of his 40 wins coming via knockout. The 45-year-old fighter has been in the sport for over 21 years and is still going strong. According to him, his journey and his motivation should inspire the younger generation.
In the post-fight press conference after his main event win, Emelianenko was asked about Khabib Nurmagomedov. ‘The Eagle’ was in the crowd for the event and said that the Fedor was too fast for his age. He was also asked if his body still has what it takes to keep going.
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Emelianenko said, “Well, so far I’ve managed to get through all the hard training, thank God. We will keep training and see what happens. As for today, everything’s good and I’m feeling great.”
“Let me thank Khabib for the kind words,” Fedor said. “And I also think this will be a great motivation for the youth to see me still in the game. Encouraging them to train, making their way up in the sport, any sport.”
Fedor Emelianenko: Legacy and future
‘The Last Emperor’ made his professional MMA debut back in 2000. He is considered one of the greatest heavyweight fighters of all time. His fight against Mirko Cro Cop was awarded the ‘Fight of the Decade’ (the 2000s). Sports Illustrated awarded him the 2000s ‘Fighter of the Decade’ as well.
The Russian fighter retired from the sport of MMA in 2012, but made his comeback in 2015. Since his comeback, he is 6-2 and is undefeated in his last two fights. His latest knockout victory even got the former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov excited.
As far as the future is concerned, Emelianenko has one fight left in his contract. Right now, the Russian fighter has not decided on his future and will let everyone know after discussing it with his family.
What do you think of Fedor’s longevity? Is he the greatest heavyweight in MMA history? Let us know your thoughts!
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