Scott Coker: Bellator targeting Moscow for Fedor Emelianenko’s farewell fight

If all goes to plan, Fedor Emelianenko will get his wish and have the final fight of his MMA career on Russian soil.

“The Last Emperor,” whose farewell tour has been more drawn out than expected due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is set for two more bouts before officially hanging up his gloves and retiring from the sport.

Scott Coker told MMA Junkie this past week that he had enjoyed a “great” meeting with Emelianenko (39-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) ahead of Bellator 244 in Uncasville, with the Bellator president confirming that the talks had gone well and that the promotion would “do it right” with regard to the Russian legend’s final fights.

The Bellator chief has since spoken to Russian news agency TASS and revealed that the promotion plans to hold Emelianenko’s final fight in Moscow to allow the heavyweight legend to close out his career in front of his home fans.

“Yes, we plan that Fedor will hold his last fight in Moscow,” Coker said.

Emelianenko, who turns 44 at the end of September, suggested to Russian media last week that he wasn’t quite ready to call time on his career just yet, with the Stary Oskol native saying he still has a few more fights in him.

“My sports career is slowly nearing its conclusion, though I am looking forward to more fights. Time will tell,” Emelianenko told TASS. “It will all depend on the way I feel and on my desire to carry on fighting.”

Emelianenko reached the final of Bellator’s heavyweight grand prix last year, but was knocked out in 35 seconds by Ryan Bader, who captured the tournament crown and the vacant heavyweight title. He then returned to action on Dec. 28 last year and finished Quinton Jackson in less than three minutes at Bellator 237 in Saitama, Japan.