Bellator 269 video: Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Johnson face off for first time

“The Last Emperor” is nearing his return to action for the first time in nearly two years.

Two days before his Bellator 269 headliner vs. Tim Johnson, heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko came face to face with his opponent for the first time Thursday when the two squared off following a promotional news conference.

Emelianenko (39-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) and Johnson (15-7 MMA, 3-3 UFC) will face off one more time Friday at the ceremonial weigh-ins before they throw down in a three-round heavyweight tilt Saturday at VTB Arena in Moscow. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Emelianenko, 45, has not competed since a quick first-round TKO over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in December 2019. The PRIDE and Strikeforce alum has won three of his most recent four outings, a stretch that also includes victories over Frank Mir and Chael Sonnen, as well as a loss to Ryan Bader.

As for Johnson, the former UFC fighter won three straight fights en route to a Bellator interim title shot in June. However, he lost to Emelianenko’s protege Valentin Moldavsky by unanimous decision.

Check out the faceoffs for Emelianenko vs. Johnson, Vitaly Minakov vs. Said Sowma, Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Patrik Pietila, and Anatoly Tokov vs. Sharaf Davlatmurodov in the video above.