Fedor Emelianenko

By FCF Staff

Bellator has yet to hold an event in Russia, but it looks like the promotion is hoping to hold an event in the nation with its greatest fighter to date, Fedor Emelianenko.

Recently Bellator announced that it had signed Emelianenko to a contract extension, in a deal which will facilitate the 43-year-old’s retirement tour. While speaking to RT recently, Bellator President Scott Coker reported that the promotion intends to hold an event in Emelianenko’s native Russia, with the plan of having the legend fight on the card (quotes via MMA Junkie):

“Fighting in Russia is definitely something we’d like to have happen. We think Fedor will be a great fighter, obviously because of his history, to launch us in the territory.”

“I think Fedor will fight a couple of times before we go to Russia,” he explained. “We’re working on a fight hopefully to have him fighting in Japan before the end of the year, and that’s what we’re working on. It’s not signed yet, by any means – it’s not done yet. I’ll see Fedor in Milan in two weeks and we’ll have a discussion, but we’re getting close.”

“I think the plan was to have Fedor fight two times, and then go to Russia,” he said. “And I think this will probably be his final match. This’ll be the retirement fight.

Emelianenko (38-6) hasn’t fought since January when he was stopped by Ryan Bader in the finals of Bellator’s heavyweight grand prix.