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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Farah Hannoun and Mike Bohn

Scott Coker: Fedor Emelianenko wants to ‘fight right away,’ still eyes Ryan Bader rematch for retirement fight

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Fedor Emelianenko is eager to rematch Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader.

Since losing to Bader in the heavyweight grand prix final in January 2019, Emelianenko (40-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has scored back-to-back first-round knockouts of Quinton Jackson and Timothy Johnson.

The legendary heavyweight is looking to fight one more time before calling it a career and absolutely wants to run things back with Bader (30-7 MMA, 8-2 BMMA). Bellator president Scott Coker said he was trying to set up Emelianenko’s retirement fight at home, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine put a halt to those plans.

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