Fedor Emelianenko Returns to MMA NYE, but Against Who?
At this current moment in time, it would be impossible to talk about Fedor Emelianenko with mentioning the disgraced former fighter Chael Sonnen. Who in a recent interview on the MMA Hour espoused that the Russian fighter, considered by many as the greatest heavyweight of all time, was in fact “overrated”. Eluding to many of Emelianenko’s fights having been fixed and that the returning legend did well to avoid the UFC. We may never know if his opinion holds any water and at the end of the day, it’s just his opinion.
Originally slated to face an unknown Indian kickboxer, 1-0 Jaideep Singh. Things have since moved on and who Fedor will now enter into competition against is an unknown. Just to add, why would he face such a low tier fighter who no one has ever heard of? It makes no sense!
Scheduled to make his return for the new promotion Rizin, run by former PRIDE president Nobuyuki Sakakibara in Tokyo Japan this New Year Eve. It’s hard to believe, but it seems as though finding an opponent with some recognition amongst the MMA community who is not under contract is proving difficult. But with such close ties between Sakakibara, Spike and Bellator. You might think Bellator’s President Scott Coker would ride into the rescue and offer one of his heavyweight’s services?
But wait, hold your horses. There’s someone else floating in the background of this picture. A disgruntled former heavyweight and light heavyweight fighter from the UFC. Sitting cage-side for most cards, a man who is now very much a part of the Bellator picture. A retired fighter who only in the last few days has returned to training and as always looks in great shape. I am of course referring to The Natural himself, Mr Randy Couture!
Randy Couture Is Back Training
Look who’s back in the gym…video… @Randy_Couture pic.twitter.com/8vOzhnglMW
— Samuel Spira (@SamSpira) October 11, 2015
Is it just a sheer coincidence that Couture after some 4 years away from the cage. Has now decided to once again don the gloves and get back into fighting shape? Is there something going on begin closed doors that we are not aware of? Long time fans of the sport will recall the excitement to which a potential matchup between these two was met when the possibility was bandied around a few years ago.
Is there a chance that we could now finally see these two go toe to toe? Although both fighters are past the primes. A matchup between the two would no doubt be a huge coup for Sakakibara’s new promotion. Regardless of what Chael Sonnen has to say, let’s forget all about him for now, there you go that wasn’t that difficult now was it.
A long overdue super-fight many thought would never happen would be a massive draw. If Sakakibara has managed to coax the former UFC Champion out of retirement for a big payday. And the opportunity to answer a question many fans though would go left unanswered. The first outing for the New Year’s Eve Rizin promotion in Tokyo Japan would go down as one of the most memorable in the sport, regardless of the outcome. So let’s just wait with fingers and whatever else we can lay our hands on crossed 🙂
Image courtesy of bjee.com & Twitter.com
