TOKYO – The Fedor Emelianenko retirement tour might not actually finish with his retirement, according to “The Last Emperor” himself.
Emelianenko (38-6 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) signed a multi-fight extension with Bellator in June, and Bellator president Scott Coker said this would allow Emelianenko to close out his career with the promotion.
But Emelianenko said he’ll only decide if he’s done once the remaining fights planned for him are over.
“That’s what we discussed, and that’s what we agreed on, but let’s see how I feel,” Emelianenko said through an interpreter. “Right now, the plan is just like Scott laid out. There’s going to be three fights, and it’s kind of a retirement tour, but when the tour is over, he said let’s see how I feel. We’ll go from there.”
The tour begins with Quinton Jackson, a fellow PRIDE veteran who was never on Emelianenko’s radar until he moved up to heavyweight. Now that Jackson (38-13 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) is at a higher weight class, Emelianenko expects a slower but more powerful version of “Rampage.”
“Early on he was probably lighter, faster and younger,” Emelianenko said. “And now, much like myself, he is a little heavier, a little slower, but he probably hits a lot harder.”
Having competed for more than half of his career in Japan, Emelianenko knows this is likely the last time he’ll get to compete in front of the Japanese fans, as he looks to put on a show this Saturday (Sunday locally).
“I think I’ve already shown the fans everything there is for me to show them,” Emelianenko said. “This will be more like a farewell fight. I would like to entertain them. I want them to be happy watching me fight, and I would like to come back to Japan as a guest.”
Despite retirement tour, Fedor Emelianenko undecided on MMA farewell: 'Let's see how I feel'