“I would’ve been stuck,” Fedor Emelianenko recalls ‘pointless’ meeting with Dana White on island amidst rumors of UFC signing
Fedor Emelianenko reveals UFC contract offered by Dana White during his tenure in Strike Force ahead of retirement fight at Bellator 290
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MMA Heavyweight legend, Fedor Emelianenko appeared on the MMA Hour podcast to discuss his upcoming fight at Bellator 290 against current Bellator heavyweight champion, Ryan Bader. The bout at Bellator 290 will be Fedor’s retirement fight after a decorated MMA career spanning over 23 years.
Fedor Emelianenko is the most legendary heavyweight who never fought in the UFC. The 46-year-old fighter has multiple championships and several accolades as a combat sports athlete. Fedor’s resume includes championship accolades like the PRIDE FC championship, FIAS World Combat Sambo championship, and the Russian Judo Federation National Championship.
Due to his multi-faceted accolades and accomplishments in combat sports, Fedor Emelinanenko is often considered the greatest heavyweight in MMA history. However, in his recent interview ahead of the Bellator 290 fight, the Russian fighter revealed that he had once been offered a contract to fight in the UFC by Dana White.
MMA Hour host, Ariel Helwani asked the heavyweight legend what made him decline UFC’s offer. “Honestly, I did not understand the point of that meeting. Dana White offered me to sign the UFC contract while I was already signed to Strike Force. I would’ve been stuck and then taken to court. I wouldn’t have been able to fight either in Strike Force or in the UFC,” Fedor revealed his one meeting with UFC boss, Dana White on an island during a vacation.
A look into heavyweight legend, Fedor Emelianenko’s decorated MMA career spanning over 23 years ahead of retirement fight
Fedor Emelianenko (40-6-1) is often considered the greatest heavyweight in MMA history. With multiple accolades and championships in different promotions, Fedor’s incredible 28-fight win streak over the duration of eight years cemented his legacy as the most accomplished heavyweight ever.
The Russian MMA legend will be fighting his final bout at Bellator 290 against the current heavyweight champion, Ryan Bader. Fedor revealed in his interview with Ariel Helwani that he wishes to retire as the heavyweight champion. Emelianenko’s most notable recent wins have come over fighters like Andrei Arlovski, Gary Goodridge, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Frank Mir, Chael Sonnen, Mark Coleman, Brett Rodgers, and Mark Hunt among many others.
Also known as “The Last Emperor”, Fedor is one of the very few accomplished heavyweights to have never fought in the UFC. Fedor revealed that this was mostly due to the UFC’s one-sided contracts which according to him “enslaved and limited fighters’ autonomy”. In one of his older interviews, the Russian heavyweight had called UFC’s contract “draconian and oppressive.”
Emelianenko is set to take on Ryan Bader in his retirement fight and wishes to be remembered for his untarnished legacy with accolades and championships lined up in his resume.
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Debabrata Samal
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