SAITAMA, Japan – Fedor Emelianenko bid farewell to his Japanese fans at Bellator 237 with a first-round knockout of Quinton Jackson, and Bellator president Scott Coker said another former Pride FC legend could be next for “The Last Emperor”.
Speaking to reporters, including MMA Junkie, backstage at the Saitama Super Arena, Coker said former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett (35-8, 0-0 BMMA) is a strong candidate to face Emelianenko (39-6, 3-2 BMMA) next.
“The guy that keeps knocking on the door is Josh Barnett,” Coker said. “He had an unfortunate situation two weeks ago, or a week ago in Hawaii. He was sick. I’ve been texting with him, and he’s recovering and getting back. He’d like to fight end of January, but I said that’s not going to happen because L.A. is already so booked up.
“But we’ll get Josh in there against the same opponent (Brazil’s Ronny Markes), and we’ll see how it works out. We’ll see if it’s something Fedor wants to do. I know Barnett would like to do it. He tells me he’d like to fight Fedor, so maybe that’s a fight we can put together.”
There was some confusion immediately after Emelianenko’s post-fight interview, with the in-cage translation of his words suggesting his Bellator 237 appearance was the final fight of his career. But it transpired that it was simply his last fight in Japan, with the Russian legend targeting one more fight in the U.S., then a farewell fight in his homeland before he hangs up his gloves.
Coker said he’s happy to be guided by whatever Emelianenko chooses as he looks to give the legendary heavyweight the send-off he deserves.
“It’s really about what Fedor wants,” Coker said. “To me, I want him to feel respected by this sport. I feel like it’s our job to make sure that, as long as he wants to continue in this next year, we’re going to do it. If he really said he wanted to retire tonight I would’ve been all about it. I would’ve been like, ‘Hey, Fedor. Whatever you want.’ But I was in the back talking to his guys, and if we can do a fight in Moscow one day I really feel like it’s like ‘the king has returned.’
“It should be a big celebration. It should be an honoring of Fedor, which he probably won’t want any of it because he’s such a humble guy. But I feel like, (after) so many great years, he’s the GOAT. He’s the GOAT, and he proved it again tonight.”
And, Coker said, the 43-year-old has been turning back the clock with his performances as he bids to end his career on a high.
“I think this is the best I’ve seen him look in the last year-and-a-half,” he said. “So take that for what it’s worth, but he’s 3-1 in his last four fights in Bellator, so he’s doing very well. It’s really going to be up to him.”
Scott Coker: Josh Barnett could be next on Fedor Emelianenko's retirement tour
