Fedor Emelianenko has one fight left on his Bellator deal and a former opponent in his crosshairs for a rematch, confirmed promotion president Scott Coker at a news conference Friday.
Following the conclusion of Bellator 283, Coker confirmed recent reports from Russian news outlets that Emelianenko (40-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has openly said in local interviews he wants Ryan Bader (30-7 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) as the opponent for his final MMA bout.
“I’ll tell you that’s a fight Fedor really wants,” Coker told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “We’ve had that conversation. This is his last fight on his contract. He told me he wants to retire. I haven’t talked to Bader about it. It’s something, that, it’s hard to say no to Fedor. Let’s put it that way. We’ll definitely consider it. It’s definitely not inked or something that is imminent. But definitely, we’ll have that conversation.”
While the deal is not done, Coker has openly alluded to the pull Emelianenko has in choosing who he fights, when, and where. Since his two-fight retirement tour was declared, Emelianenko has voiced his interest in Bader over all other options.
When his underling Valentin Moldavsky positioned himself as the next man up for then-champion Bader, Emelianenko stepped aside. Moldavsky lost his challenge attempt. Bader then went on to defeat Cheick Kongo weeks later. He has not competed since that May 6 fight.
Emelianenko has not competed since an October knockout win over Tim Johnson in Moscow. He is currently on a two-fight winning streak that dates back to his first fight against Bader at Bellator 214 in January 2019.
The first meeting served as the heavyweight grand prix final. Bader finished Emelianenko with strikes 35 seconds into Round 1.
Due to the quick, dominant win the first time around, Bader told MMA Junkie in January he didn’t really see any benefit of fighting Emelianenko again but would be open to the idea.
“I get it,” Bader said. “I ended up knocking him out in 35 seconds, and I can see how he wouldn’t want to go out like that and want a rematch. I’m open to it, but I haven’t really thought about it too much.”
Scott Coker: Fedor Emelianenko ‘really wants’ Ryan Bader for final MMA fight
