The 38-year-old has been planning a return to MMA after a 2012 retirement, leading many to suggest that the Russian fighting legend could finally make his way to the UFC.
Advertisement
During tonight’s Bellator 142: Dynamite! event it was revealed that Nobuyuki Sakakibara, the former boss of legendary Japanese promotion PRIDE is starting a new promotion which will debut on New Years Eve with a live show from Toyko on Spike TV headlined by “The Last Emperor”. “I have made a decision to return”.
Only last week, Chael Sonnen tentatively broke a story that the UFC were working on a super-fight between Emelianenko and Anderson Silva at 205lbs. The bout will air on Spike TV. It is now unclear if Emelianenko will compete under the Bellator MMA banner in the future.
Keep an eye on Bleacher Report for more details on the event, and Emelianenko’s signing, as it becomes available.
“I’m a fighter, and I’m ready”, Emelianenko said during the broadcast. Over the past few weeks, there were rumors that Emelianenko had signed with the UFC, but promotion president Dana White squashed that speculation when asked about the negotiations during a press conference in Melbourne this week.
“There is nothing to tell you”.
Advertisement
“In contrast to [the UFC]”, the 34-4 fighter told Breitbart Sports earlier this year, “I have known [Bellator President Scott] Coker for a long time, and he is an old friend. I don’t know what they’re doing right now or what their plans are”.
