Many in the fight game — including Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president Dana White — felt that Fedor Emelianenko should have retired years ago. He did, in fact. “The Last Emperor” called it a day in June 2012 after a knockout win over Pedro Rizzo.
His retirement lasted about 2.5 years because the competitive fire got the better of him, returning to fight for RIZIN and then Fight Night before signing a deal with Bellator MMA in 2017. wasn’t the best, losing to Matt Mitrione in 74 seconds. Fedor went on to go 4-1 with the promotion ahead of Bellator 290, his loss to Ryan Bader.
So, despite many people saying his best days were behind him, Fedor was still winning. But even after picking up back-to-back wins over Timothy Johnson and Quinton Jackson, “The Last Emperor” decided that to win, lose or draw in his rematch against Bader, he would walk away.
And after suffering another first-round knockout loss at the hands of Bader (highlights), Emelianeko is more at peace with his decision than ever. And this time it will be the one that sticks.
“I feel good (about my retirement). My age first, but all my past wounds have started to remind me of that. My body doesn’t feel like it used to,” he said in his usual composure at the post-fight press conference.
Many wondered what another loss to Bader would do for Emelianenko’s legacy, but others felt that whatever the outcome, his place in the history books is secure and no loss to the end of his legendary career would not alter it.
As for what he would most like to remember when the older generation of hardcore fans recounts his conquests to the younger crowd who may not know him too well, Fedor only wants one thing.
“I want to be remembered as a lowly competitor. I take everything as it happens. If I win, if I lose, it doesn’t really matter. This is how it should be. You saw today, the whole arena encouraged me (after my defeat). I get my popularity and my fanbase based on my actions inside the cage, not because I talk trash and talk badly about my opponents.
In a sport full of bitter rivalries, Fedor has never rubbed anyone the wrong way or spoken ill of his opponents before a fight. It is a rare and commendable thing for the great Russian man. The only rivalries he had were competitive in nature, and even then he always showed his opponents the utmost respect, and vice versa.
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