Feder Emelianenko, the all-time great heavyweight fighter, wants revenge on Ryan Bader’s loss.
That’s what Bellator President Scott Coker told reporters, who said Emelianenko had lobbied for Bader to be his last opponent in the Paramount Global-owned fight promotion.
“I’ll tell you that’s a fight Fedor really wants,” Coker said after Bellator 283 this past Friday. We’ve already had this conversation.
“This is his last fight on his contract. He told me he wants to retire, and I haven’t talked to Bader about it. It’s something that it is, and it’s difficult to say no Fedor. We’ll definitely consider it, but it’s definitely not inked or something that’s imminent. But definitely, we’ll have that conversation.”
Emelianenko is a former PRIDE champion who was widely considered to be the greatest heavyweight ever. He began his “retirement” tour this year by knocking out Tim Johnson at Bellator 269 Moscow. It was his second straight win since a knockout loss to Bader dashed his hopes of winning the promotion’s title and heavyweight grand prix.
Coker stated that Russia might host Emelianenko’s last fight. However, he claimed plans are still not finalized.
In January, Bader told MMA Junkie he is open to a rematch with Emelianenko before taking on the ex-champ’s protege, Valentin Moldavsky, at Bellator 273.
” I can understand why he would not want to fight like that. And, I’d love to see a rematch.” Bader stated. It’s possible, I’m willing to consider it .”
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Bader won Moldavsky’s unanimous decision. He then went on and defended the heavyweight title with another victory over Cheick Kongo. He called for a rematch against Linton Vassell who he defeated in 2017, as a lightweight heavyweight.
