Fedor Emelianenko (photo via EFN)

By FCF Staff

One of Fabio Maldonado’s appeals to overturn his controversial defeat to Fedor Emelianenko has reportedly been successful.

The heavyweights fought at EFN 50 in June, and the bout was declared a majority decision win for Emelianenko. Maldonado battered Emelianenko throughout round one, and many believed the fight should have been stopped. Although the latter won rounds two and three, the consensus was that the fight should have been scored a draw.

Maldonado appealed the decision with the Russia MMA Union as well as the World MMA Association. His team also cited Emelianenko’s role as the Russion MMA Union’s President, as a potential conflict of interest. The official for the card were selected by the Union.

According to a follow up report from MMA Fighting.com, the WMMA has decided to overturn the decision, and has declared the bout a draw. The Russian MMA Union, however, denied Maldonado’s appeal in June; reportedly stating that the fighter needed to submit an appeal within 40 minutes of the bout (which Maldonado did not).

Emelianenko is currently a free agent. Following the controversial fight the UFC’s Dana White praised the former PRIDE champ for the toughness and heart he showed in the bout.