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MMA Legend Fedor Emelianenko Slams ‘Trash-Talkers’ in His Farewell Speech

Published 02/03/2023, 6:16 AM EST

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The MMA community will bid farewell to one of its all-time greats this weekend. Fedor Emelianenko will step into the cage for the last time at Bellator 290 as he faces Ryan Bader for the heavyweight championship. The 46-year-old will attempt to complete his career with a win in his final fight. The Bellator heavyweight title will be a cherry on top for a perfect end to the Russian’s two-decade-long career. While many wish to see ‘The Last Emperor’ finish his reign with the heavyweight crown, Emelianenko has a different wish of his own.

Many consider Fedor Emelianenko to be the greatest heavyweight fighter of all time. Although he has not fought in the UFC, he has beaten several stars who have earned a name in the UFC. However, at the end of the day, Emelianenko wants people to remember him for something else.

Fedor Emelianenko has one simple wish

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‘The Last Emperor’ wishes to be remembered for his humility rather than his conquests. The 46-year-old predates the modern MMA landscape where trash talk and publicity stunts earn you a name. In his heyday, Emelianenko earned his name by fighting the best of the best across promotions like Pride FC and Strikeforce.

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He let his fists do the talking and maintained his discipline outside the cage. When asked about it, he said that is exactly what he wished to be remembered for. During a recent appearance on ‘The MMA Hour’ he said, “As a fighter who believed in God, I earned my fans in the cage, not outside of the cage talking trash.”

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As Emelianenko prepares for his last hurrah in the cage, he has the attention of another legend who has a lucrative offer for him.

Roy Jones Jr. wants to fight Emelianenko

Former four-weight world champion boxer Roy Jones Jr. recently expressed his interest in fighting Fedor Emelianenko. Furthermore, Jones Jr. wants to face the MMA legend in MMA.

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via Getty

Speaking of the potential bout, he said, “Yes, such a fight is possible as an exhibition. We have already somehow negotiated on this subject, but they have not been confirmed.

Several MMA legends have tried their hand at boxing for a substantial paycheck. Now a boxing legend wants to do the opposite. Fans will have to wait and see if Emelianenko maintains his resolve to retire or dips his toes into the world of crossover fighting.

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What do you think about Emelianenko’s last wish for his career? And what are your favorite memories from his legendary career? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Yeswanth Praveen

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Yeswanth Praveen is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. His interests mainly lie in the realm of MMA, bodybuilding, and the fitness industry. He finished his Master's in English literature from EFLU, Hyderabad.
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Edited by:

Rohini Kottu