Bellator Discussing A Year-End Event In Japan With Fedor Returning Against ‘Rampage’ Or Barnett
The legendary heavyweight fighter Fedor Emelianenko is coming off a vicious 35-second knockout loss to Ryan Bader back in January at Bellator 214. The loss snapped Russian’s two-fight winning streak which he earned over the likes of Chael Sonnen and Frank Mir.
Following his recent loss, Fedor teases retirement from combat sports, and many thought that’s the end however slow down last month he put his retirement plans on the side and inked a new multi-fight deal with Bellator MMA.
“Last Emperor” isn’t showing as dominant performances as of lately as once he does under the PRIDE banner, but he always gets the job done regardless.
Bellator MMA CEO Scott Coker is in discussion with RIZIN chief Nobuyuki Sakakibara to set a stage in Japan for crossover matches. Interestingly Coker wants Fedor in that fight card, and he throws few names that can very well fight with a legend. (h/t MMAMania)
“That’s something that we’re definitely working on,” Coker told Ariel Helwani. “It’s a situation where we haven’t finalized the details, Sakakibara and myself. Once that gets done, we can talk about the athletes. I would love to have Fedor fight in Japan because I think it’d be so much fun to watch that fight. Whether it’s a Japanese fighter or he fights ‘Rampage’ Jackson or Josh Barnett, or whoever, I think it would just be a magical night to see him back in the Bellator cage in Tokyo.”
Rampage Jackson 41, made a name in the light heavyweight division after sacking Chuck Liddell in 2003. Jackson, Barnett, and Fedor were big names in PRIDE back in the 2000s. Rampage last fought back in September 2018 where he scores a TKO win over Wanderlei Silva.
It will be great to see either fighter to lock horns with Fedor.
