Emelianenko Coming Back to America
Posted by Chad Edward on March 11th, 2008“My next bout will be organized in the USA,” Russian heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) told M1Mixfight.com.
The Samboist from Stary Oskol hasn’t fought State-side since breaking “The Hammer” Mark Coleman (15-8) in an armbar in Vegas in October 2006.
“I can’t say anything about my opponent at the moment,” Emelianenko added, but claimed he’s interested in fighting “top ten for sure.”
He left open the possibility of fighting friend “The Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (21-5) who recently returned from a 14-month break to tap judoka Hidehiko Yoshida (7-6-1) in a heel hook at Sengoku.
“I’m aware of the fact such bout is planned but I haven’t been told anything about it as of yet,” he explained.
He quashed rumours of a match-up with undefeated legend Rickson Gracie (11-0), claiming, “Rickson wouldn’t take part in it.”
Ironically, the widely-ranked top heavyweight said, “I want Russian banner to be placed in the first lines of the magazines regardless their bias.”
Emelianenko’s reign atop the weight class is increasingly controversial due to his choice of soft competition in the last 30 months.
He countered UFC President Dana White, who’s openly questioned Emelianenko’s ranking, describing White as someone who “talks a lot, sometimes rashly without having thought before,” and accusing him of offering him “a one-sided contract on unacceptable conditions.”
