UFC champion Jon Jones gushes over meeting MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko at PFL vs. Bellator

Jon Jones meets FedorJon Jones had the opportunity to hang out with heavyweight MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko. ‘Bones’ and ‘The Last Emperor’…

Jon Jones meets Fedor

Jon Jones had the opportunity to hang out with heavyweight MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko.

‘Bones’ and ‘The Last Emperor’ were both in attendance at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Saturday, February 24, for the historic PFL vs. Bellator event. While there, the two combat sports stars had the chance to connect with the current UFC heavyweight champion gushing over the opportunity to meet one of his MMA idols.

“I love you Fedor!” Jones exclaimed. “You were one of my favorites, always, forever, brother. You and Aleksandr. Tell your brother I said hello.”

Fedor Emelianenko’s strained relationship with his brother

The exchange was a little awkward, particularly when Jones commented about Fedor’s brother, Aleksandr Emelianenko. While the younger Emelianenko is an accomplished combat sports athlete in his own right as a three-time Combat Sambo world champion, he and his brother are estranged as a result of Aleksandr’s extensive criminal history.

He was accused of assaulting and raping his former housekeeper in May 2014 in addition to stealing her passport. In May 2015, he was found guilty of sexual assault and sentenced to four and a half years in prison. He was released after 17 months.

In 2017, Aleksandr Emelianenko revealed in an interview with sovsports.ru that he and Fedor had not spoken for a decade at that point, placing the blame on “sycophants” who were leeching off his brother’s fame and fortune. Shortly after, ‘The Last Emperor’ responded in an open letter.

“Usually I don’t comment on other people’s statements. But I cannot remain silent. This is my first and last answer to you. I consider it beneath my dignity to constantly react to your lies.

“And now the most important thing – why I decided to make this open appeal to you: you called my relatives sycophants. Sycophant – that’s you, Judas. I feel sorry that people who were close to you and supported you in hard moments are now suffering. I personally have apologized for you to dozens of people.

“You can say what you like about me, I’ll endure it, but do not dare to insult those close to me. Besides, you don’t even know them. And all those whom you know helped you and played an important role in your life. And you are not worth their little finger. Therefore, you are not in my circle.

“In one of your interviews you said that you can help me. But I do not understand how you, [someone] who was released [from prison] not long ago and is known for constant violations of his training regime, can help me. I can only think of one thing – not to dishonor the family name of me and my parents!” (h/t MMA Mania).

MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko wants to fight ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou in a boxing match

Fedor EmelianenkoRecently retired MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko would love to test out his boxing skills against former UFC heavyweight champion…

Fedor Emelianenko

Recently retired MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko would love to test out his boxing skills against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

After more than 20 years and nearly 50 fights, ‘The Last Emperor’ hung up his gloves following a first-round knockout loss to Bellator MMA heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in February 2023. Emelianenko has essentially slammed the door shut on a potential return to the cage, but the Russian combat sports icon would love to opportunity to step inside the squared circle.

As for who he would like to face in a potential boxing match, Emelianenko had only one name in mind.

“I’d like to fight Francis Ngannou,” Emelianenko said in an interview with Red Corner MMA. “I want to box him. I can’t do MMA anymore, but I’d like to box him. Yes, I’d like to fight him. Maybe it’s not overconfidence, but it’d be interesting to fight him.”

After making a name for himself under the UFC banner, Francis Ngannou parted ways with the promotion in January 2023. Since then, his star power has skyrocketed following a brilliant performance against reigning WBC heavyweight king Tyson Fury. Ngannou may have lost the bout via a very questionable split decision, but his performance against ‘The Gypsy King’ landed him a spot on the WBC’s top 10 heavyweight rankings.

Next, ‘The Predator’ will fight the No. 1 ranked heavyweight contender in the world, Anthony Joshua, on March 9 in Saudi Arabia. If Ngannou pulls off the victory, it will likely set the stage for a championship rematch with Tyson Fury — assuming the British boxing star handles his business with Oleksandr Usyk later this year.

Would you be interested in seeing Fedor Emelianenko strap on the eight-ounce gloves for a clash with Francis Ngannou in the sweet science?

Daniel Cormier coy on dream UFC fight with Fedor Emelianenko: ‘I think he might’ve got me, man’

Daniel Cormier admits he lost UFC dream fight Fedor Emelianenko he would've got me manFormer two-division UFC champion, Daniel Cormier has revealed that a showdown with former Pride Fighting Championship icon, Fedor Emelianenko was his “dream” clash in mixed martial arts competition, however, reluctantly admitted he would likely suffer a defeat against the Russian. Cormier, a former undisputed light heavyweight and heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC, […]

Daniel Cormier admits he lost UFC dream fight Fedor Emelianenko he would've got me man

Former two-division UFC champion, Daniel Cormier has revealed that a showdown with former Pride Fighting Championship icon, Fedor Emelianenko was his “dream” clash in mixed martial arts competition, however, reluctantly admitted he would likely suffer a defeat against the Russian.

Cormier, a former undisputed light heavyweight and heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC, and a Hall of Fame inductee of the organization, called time on his illustrious professional combat sports career back in 2020, bowing out off the back of a decision loss to Stipe Miocic in the pair’s trilogy rubber match.

As for veteran Russian heavyweight, Emelianenko, the fan-favorite who has been tirelessly heralded as likely the greatest heavyweight to ever compete in mixed martial arts competition, called time on his own tenure in the sport after a title rematch loss to Ryan Bader with Bellator MMA back in February.

Daniel Cormier reflects on failed Fedor Emelianenko fight in the UFC

Weighing up a missed pairing with Emelianenko under the banner of the UFC, Cormier heaped praise on the Russian, admitting he likely would’ve been defeated by the Pride FC icon.

“He (Fedor Emelianenko) was good, he was really good,” Daniel Cormier said. “I think he might’ve got me, I think he might’ve got me. He was good, man, yeah, You always put the other man over.” (Transcribed by BJPENN.com)

Reacting to footage of the upcoming release of the new EA Sports UFC 5 video game, Cormier appeared more than excited at the surprise inclusion of former Pride FC and Bellator MMA heavyweight, Emelianenko into a deluxe edition of the game – with the Russian appearing in a UFC video game for the first time in the promotion’s history. 

Do you think Daniel Cormier could have defeated Fedor Emelianenko?

Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali Announced for UFC 5 Video Game in Release Date Trailer

EA Sports announced on Thursday that gamers who preorder the deluxe edition of UFC 5 will receive fighting legends Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali and Fedor…

EA Sports announced on Thursday that gamers who preorder the deluxe edition of UFC 5 will receive fighting legends Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali and Fedor…

MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko calls for boxing match with ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson: ‘That would be awesome’

FedorLegendary heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko may be done in the world of mixed martial arts, but that won’t stop the Russian juggernaut from stepping inside the squared circle someday. After accumulating 40 wins over the course of his 23-year career in MMA, Fedor Emelianenko called it a career following his first-round knockout of Ryan Bader at […]

Fedor

Legendary heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko may be done in the world of mixed martial arts, but that won’t stop the Russian juggernaut from stepping inside the squared circle someday.

After accumulating 40 wins over the course of his 23-year career in MMA, Fedor Emelianenko called it a career following his first-round knockout of Ryan Bader at Bellator 290 in February. Since then, ‘The Last Emperor’ has stayed in shape, and while a return to MMA is off the table, Emelianenko is undeniably intrigued by the idea of trying out his heavy hands inside the boxing ring.

“MMA is done, 100 percent,” Emelianenko told Ariel Helwani during an appearance on The MMA Hour. “I’m not going back to MMA. I want to try myself in boxing. I think that’s going to be interesting. After the last fight with Bader, I took a break. I started lifting weights a little bit, got some muscles back so my injuries are going away, so my shoulder feels better a little bit, and I started boxing, so I feel pretty good and pretty confident in boxing.”

Though it’s far too early to announce an opponent for his proposed boxing debut, Fedor admittedly loves the idea of strapping on the eight-ounce gloves for a clash with heavyweight icon ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.

“We watched the fight on TV of Roy Jones Jr. vs. Mike Tyson. Mike Tyson would be an interesting fight,” Emelianenko said. “He has a big name, he’s a legend. … It would be interesting because you can see a lot of his videos on YouTube and all over the place, he’s still in good shape. He still works pads, he still has that same power” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Tyson is one of the most recognized figures in the sport, holding the undisputed heavyweight title for nearly three years between 1987 and 1990. Tyson kicked off his career with 19-straight victories via knockout, 12 coming in the very first round.

“That would be awesome,” Emelianenko said when asked about the idea of fighting Tyson. “If it would be possible I definitely would do it. I will be ready. I always train. There was a camp right now in Russia. I was there. I’m always ready. I heard that Mike Tyson is going to help Francis Ngannou to prepare for this fight, so he’s probably in good shape too.”

With more than 20 years of experience boxing, Fedor Emelianenko believes he can hold his own inside the squared circle, but ‘The Last Emperor’ is far from delusional about his own skills, particularly when matched up with someone as experienced and dangerous as Mike Tyson.

“Right now I’m 47, but I started boxing when I was 23,” Emelianenko said. “Over half of my life I’ve done boxing. Everybody knows that I’m mostly a wrestler, sambo, judo. I was on the national sambo and judo teams, but you can see in my fights that I’m pretty good at boxing as well. Of course, I’m not as good as Mike Tyson, but it would be interesting.”

Fedor Discusses the Possibility of Fighting Jake Paul

Fedor Emelianenko also addressed the possibility of stepping into the ring with social media star Jake Paul. The Problem Child’ moved to 7-1 in his career, securing a unanimous decision against ex-UFC star Nate Diaz over the weekend. Paul has carved out a pro boxing career on the back of past-their-prime MMA fighters, such as Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, and Anderson Silva.

Though ‘The Last Emperor’ fits the bill in that respect, Jake Paul is known to target fighters that give him a size advantage inside the squared circle, something he would not get by facing Fedor.

“He grows a lot as a fighter,” Emelianenko said of Paul. “If you look into him at the beginning of his boxing career, he wasn’t doing as good, but right now he’s definitely growing and he’s getting better and better. He’s had some knockdowns, knockouts, not with boxers but with the MMA stars.

“The only thing is, the way he chooses his opponents, they’re a little bit smaller, more comfortable for him, for his style of boxing, I guess. They’re all a bit smaller than him. … I didn’t think about [fighting Jake Paul] but I doubt he would want to do it.”

Would you pay to see Fedor make his squared circle debut against Mike Tyson?

Chael Sonnen discusses head trauma suffered against Fedor Emelianenko: ‘I got hit with a missile five seconds into my fight’

Chael Sonnen brain trauma Fedor Emelianenko I was hit with a missile UFCFormer UFC title contender Chael Sonnen speaks on the reality of head trauma and the punishment he took in his career. The issue of fighter safety and more specifically the brain trauma that they are subject to, still looms large over the sport, just as it does in every contact sport. For every dramatic moment […]

Chael Sonnen brain trauma Fedor Emelianenko I was hit with a missile UFC

Former UFC title contender Chael Sonnen speaks on the reality of head trauma and the punishment he took in his career.

The issue of fighter safety and more specifically the brain trauma that they are subject to, still looms large over the sport, just as it does in every contact sport. For every dramatic moment and stunning knockout, there are equally just as scary examples of what this violence does.

 Talking on True Geordie’s podcast, Sonnen discussed the issue of CTE and head trauma, an issue that he had not considered up until recently.

“I do, yes [think about head trauma] and I didn’t use to”, Chael Sonnen said. “Somebody I looked up to, could have even been my father said that’s a guy looking for an excuse, having a concussion and thing likes this then that movie came out called concussion with will smith it was based on a true story and impacted me and it made me start thinking in that direction, I did see several fighter – a lot of boxers that were slowing down and having a hard time.

“So, you start to see this a real thing, guys in the NFL some even led to suicide they were talking about the pains and the depression they were having from CTE”, said Sonnen. I’m very aware of it, I don’t believe that I took some of those shots but I appreciate that it’s a very real thing and coaches are monitoring it, hat doctors now know what to look for. For the longest time we didn’t even know what to look for, I was in college wrestling and you head butted and you were seeing stars as they say, get back in there shake it off.”

Chael Sonnen talks Fedor Emelianenko ‘missile’

Chael Sonnen has had close to 50 professional MMA fights and has taken on some of the most dangerous men that middleweight to heavyweight had to offer over his career. It’s no surprise then that Sonnen has taken a big shot, or two, over his career. However the 45-year-old recalls one delivered from Fedor Emelianenko that shook him to his boots.

“I got hit with a missile five seconds into my fight with Fedor, I mean this thing was a missile, I would have quit that fight right there”, described Chael Sonnen. “As I was falling to the canvas I knew if this fight gets stopped it’ll be the fastest knockout ever and I’m just windmilling my legs trying to get a couple of seconds.

“I felt as though after that fight, for a couple of months that something was amiss, my memory wasn’t quite there or maybe I would be speaking and I was having a hard time finding the word.”

Chael Sonnen on the True Geordie podcast

What’s your favorrite Chael Sonnen fight?