Fedor Emelianenko (photo via AXS TV)

By FCF Staff

Recently Bellator announced that Fedor Emelianenko will take on Matt Mitrione next February, but fellow legend Antonio Rogueira Nogueira believes “The Last Emperor” should hang up the gloves.

Last week Bellator announced that it has signed the Russian heavyweight to a multi-fight deal, and that he’ll take on Mitrione February 18th. The bout will be Emelianenko’s third, since the 40 year-old fighter ended his retirement last year.

Nogueira was a guest on “Submission Radio” recently, and while discussing Fedor, “Minotauro” stated (quote via MMA Fighting.com):

“If he got to the UFC five years ago, maybe seven years ago, something like that, he’d be in his prime,” Nogueira said. “But now, it’s not his time go anymore. If I’m in his place, It’s time to retire.”

The Brazilian star reportedly went on to add, however, that Emelianenko “got everything” to defeat Mitrione. Nogueira faced Emelianenko three times under the PRIDE banner, and went o-2 with 1 no contest.