A decade in the making, Scott Coker thrilled to promote Fedor Emelianenko fight in Russia

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Scott Coker has had the vision for a decade, and Oct. 23 it will finally become a reality.

Fedor Emelianenko is headed home to Russia and for the first time, Bellator is going with him. Emelianenko (39-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) will fight against an opponent yet to be announced at VTB Arena and he won’t be alone. Many of the top Russian fighters in Bellator also are expected to be on the card.

“When Fedor said to me, ‘I have a team. I want to bring a team over,’ we started signing fighters, developing them from different territories and countries, and then it just panned out that they have a lot of amazing talent in that area,” Coker told MMA Junkie at a Bellator 261 post-fight news conference. “I think you’re seeing that here at Bellator.”

Coker first promoted Emelianenko in Strikeforce when “The Last Emperor” competed four times under the promotion’s banner. Since then, Coker has dreamed of booking Emelianenko for an event in his home country.

“Moscow is a big statement,” Coker said. “To me, I feel like honestly, it’s something I’ve wanted to do for the last 10 years since I started working with Fedor – to go to Moscow. Fedor always invites me and we couldn’t work out the timing. I haven’t been there, but to go there and bring Bellator there in their inaugural event and have Fedor leading us into Moscow is a special treat.”

Bellator 261 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card aired on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Check out Scott Coker’s full Bellator 261 post-fight news conference in the video above.