MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko has named his first fight with Antonio Nogueira as his favourite ever as he approaches his 48th and final bout tomorrow night in California.
The Russian heavyweight is considered one of the greatest in the sport's history, and after over two decades competing around the world, he has decided to hang up the gloves at the age of 46. He is a former Pride heavyweight champion, and spent the first ten years of the century as a seemingly unbeatable force atop the sport.
Fedor will retire win, lose or draw after his Bellator heavyweight title rematch with Ryan Bader on Saturday night in Inglewood with many in the sport believing that he is at least one of the greats in MMA's brief history having never competed in the UFC. And speaking with Mirror Fighting ahead of the bout, he revealed that his favourite fight happened almost 20 years ago.
"My first fight with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira for the belt," he responded when asked about the moment or fight that stands out from his career, allowing a brief moment of earnestness to shine through his notoriously stoic interview nature. "The whole fight week was amazing, it was my first fight for the belt."
"And the whole training camp was crazy and I was getting prepared because everything was going through my mind. There was going to be a belt and a fight with one of the greatest fighters of all time. It really stimulated me because I was training three times as hard as I ever did before. From that, there was a lot of pressure on my because it was a fight for the belt."
During his three-fight retirement tour, which was delayed by the pandemic, Bellator have allowed the legendary fighter to return to his home country and main event one last time in Moscow. And perhaps more sentimental for old school fans of the sport, they brought him to Japan for a farewell bout with fellow Pride legend Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson.
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The journey comes to a head with a chance to avenge one of his six career losses against heavyweight champion Bader, and leave the sport on top of one of its biggest promotions. Legends of the cage will be in attendance for a ceremony honouring Fedor after the fight, and he is keen to ride off into the sunset and spend his retirement with his family.
"I'm feeling as good as a 46-year-old man can feel," he joked. "The only thing I'm thinking about is that this is my last fight and I will be done. Finally I'm going to be able to spend more time with my family and spend more time with my team. Family will come in first place, but my team is my family as well.
"I've had a pretty special experience with Bellator because over here I was not just a fighter but I was a coach as well. We've had probably the greatest relationship I have had anywhere. There were some moments in the last fight, I've thought over it, I've worked on my footwork and this time it is going to be different."
