Maybe it’s time for Fedor Emelianenko to hang up the gloves and call it a career.
The enigmatic Russian has been contemplating retirement for some time and, after his brutal knockout loss to Ryan Bader in the Bellator heavyweight grand prix final, Scott Coker says ‘The Last Emperor’ is under no obligation to fight again now that his contract has expired.
“It’s never easy to see your friends get hit and get knocked out and get hurt,” Coke said of Emelianenko’s devastating loss to Bader on Saturday, per MMA Junkie’s Simon Samano.
“That’s really up to him (if he’ll fight again). That’s really up to Fedor. I think that we had a relationship that lasted for many years, and he fought for me back in Strikeforce. And Fedor, he doesn’t have to fight again. He’s already done it all. He’s already the greatest heavyweight of all time. He’s had such a great run. But, really, it’s going to be up to him whether he decides to really put it to rest.”
Emelianenko is considered one of, if not the, greatest heavyweight fighters of all-time. The 42-year-old was hoping to turn back the clock and win his first world title in over ten years at Bellator 214, but it wasn’t meant to be.
Emelianenko picked up two quick knockouts over Frank Mir and Chael Sonnen in the quarter and semi-finals, which led some fans to believe the Emelianenko of old was back.
After losing in such devastating fashion in the finals, however, it’s clear the MMA legend no longer has the durability he once had.
This may be the end of the road for Emelianenko, but the former Pride heavyweight champion will always be considered the ‘GOAT’, according to Coker.
“To me, he’s the GOAT,” Coker said. “And that’s it. It goes back to he’s a guy that’s fought everybody that he was presented with.”