The Future for Fedor Emelianenko: Japan or Russia, Most Likely New Year's Eve

If there’s one thing that both fans and cynics of Fedor Emelianenko can agree on, it’s that his next fight is going to be a proving point for the man who once ruled the Heavyweight division without equal. Leading back all the way to his glory days in PRIDE FC, up to and including his headline attractions in the short-lived Affliction promotion and now Strikeforce, many believed that Fedor was invincible and undefeatable. That all came crashing down when Fabricio Werdum shocked the world and submitted Fedor, seemingly turning the MMA world upside-down overnight. Vadim Finkelstein, the premiere face of Fedor’s semi-notorious management team M-1 Global, recently commented on when Fedor would once again be stepping into action. And it’s going to be a lot sooner than I think any of us expected- according to Vadim, Fedor’s return will be on a New Year’s Eve super-card in either Japan or Russia.

In an interview with lowkick.com, Vadim had this to say about the immediate plans for Fedor: “We plan to organize an interim fight for Fedor. We are considering two options: Japan and Russia. We have a lucrative offer from the Japanese partners, who are interested in Fedor fighting on the New Year’s Eve. This is the most interesting option for us. But we are also not excluding an option that Fedor Emelianenko will fight in Russia, sometime in December. We have to organize another fight for Fedor, as Fabricio Werdum is currently injured and no one knows when he will come back. Strikeforce have absolutely nothing against the rematch, that’s exactly why we are planning the last fight on Fedor’s contract to be against Werdum.”

I agree with Vadim’s proposal both in theory and in practice. I think Werdum/Fedor II is realistically the only fight that makes sense right now, given the shocking conclusion to their first fight. I think a second fight would be radically different no matter who won, and with the first fight being the most shocking moment in a year practically stuffed past the breaking point with shocking moments, an immediate rematch would generate a lot of interest and a lot of money. But no one is ducking anyone, regardless of what Fedor and Werdum cynics alike have to say (both groups believe that one man is running scared from the idea of a rematch with the other). Werdum is simply injured, and the vast money-making potential of a rematch would take a severe hit if Fedor were to lose on another widely-televised Strikeforce card. Better to have him compete in a one-off in Japan or Russia to get some of his momentum back.

And, yes, I understand how the anti-Fedor crowd will spin this as Fedor trying to fight a can in a land that is ridiculously one-sided in favor of him in order to try and recapture his mystique. To which I say: it is what it is. Fedor fighting at all is better than Fedor not fighting, and as he’s one of my favorite fighters of all time, I’ll take it any way I can get it. I think a Fedor fight in Japan or Russia would be more of a spectacle than anything, but what a spectacle it would be. Japan’s New Years Eve cards are already famous for being quite the spectacle, and seeing a packed Russian arena going bonkers for Fedor would also be quite a sight to see. I think the often-criticized M-1 Global is making a smart move here, and I’m actually really looking forward to seeing who Fedor is matched up with.

But let’s get some debate going, fans and friends. Is this a smart move by M-1 Global? Are you interested in seeing Fedor compete in Japan or Russia? And above all else, do you see this as a smart move to keep Fedor active, or just a cheap way to get some of that luster back? Opinions please.