It’s been just over three and a half years since Fedor knocked out Pedro Rizzo on a crappy stream emanating from Russia. It was great seeing the Last Emperor go out on three consecutive wins, but his fights in Russia lacked spectacle, it just wasn’t the same. It was a goodbye tour, and we knew it, but it was also just a little pathetic after seeing Fedor at his best during the most grandiose period of MMA.
Now, he’s coming back. MMA is more popular than ever, and it seems like this just doesn’t matter. Rizin, Fedor’s return, all of it. The hype isn’t there, and that’s sad. The old crew that’s left from Pride, Dream and the picked bones of Japanese MMA not signed to an exclusive contract, are trying to revive glory of old, but it doesn’t seem to be working. You could feel something in the air before, taste it, when a Japanese card was starting. Now, it’s just another MMA event that doesn’t have a great card on at odd hours.
Maybe there’s too much MMA. That might the issue. Or maybe Fedor should’ve never come back. He brings a pressure no other MMA fighter ever has. This is Fedor’s return. This is an event, and yet, it feels like a chore. We just watched more MMA events in the last 30 days than what we’re used to in six months in the old days.
But still, Fedor’s return. We here at MiddleEasy will stay up for all hours to watch Fedor fight, but let’s hope this is the last time he puts on the gloves. This world has moved beyond Fedor. We want him, but we don’t need him.
