Earlier this week, the news came down from Bellator CEO Scott Coker that “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko will make his return to the Bellator cage in October at the promotion’s first-ever event in Russia. It would be a Moscow homecoming of sorts for the Russian sports icon from Stary Oskol. The question following the news, of course, was who would the one-time Pride Fighting Championship heavyweight king face in what could be the last bout of his career.
The answer to that question still remains. However, following Bellator 261, Coker did reveal several notable heavyweight greats that could be in play as possible foes for the 44-year-old.
“There is a long laundry list here. People have raised their hands to come fight Fedor in Russia. I’m sure you guys know all the names that have been thrown out there. We’re going to evaluate it and I’m going to talk to Fedor tomorrow morning and see what he’s thinking. I know what he’s going to say, ‘You guys pick it out.’ Believe me, there’s no shortage of opponents right now,” Coker told the media.
“The managers of all the free agents are calling. Josh Barnett texted me today. I talked to [Junior Dos Santos’] manager a couple days ago. Alistair Overeem’s. The list goes on and on. It’ll probably take us a week or two to figure this out.
At this juncture, Bellator does not need their expensive mixed martial arts legend to rack up wins to set up title or money fights in the future. So it does allow some room for various booking options. However, far removed from the pound-for-pound star UFC President Dana White tried hard to sign more than a decade ago, Emelianenko does need a dance partner with similar mileage and name value that can bring interest for those uninterested in seeing the well-aged Russian competing in his mid-40s.
With that in mind, here’s a ranking of the best options for Emelianenko’s next fight and why.
Fedor Emelianenko opponent option 1: Alistair Overeem
Emelianenko versus Alistair Overeem was the fight everyone hoped to see when the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix commenced in 2011. Coker–the then boss of Strikeforce– even put both men on the same side of the bracket in the hopes of getting to the bout sooner than later. In the end, it never came to fruition. Emelianenko was obliterated by Antonio “Big Foot” Silva in the quarterfinals before he could even get to Overeem in the semis.
Now could be a perfect time for this long overdue scrap. The fear always was that Overeem might be too fast and skilled of a striker for the Russian. That may still be the case, but with both men’s chins completely compromised after a combined 113 professional bouts, things are a craps shoot for both on the feet. Plus, we get two of the best heavyweight strikers to compete in the sport go toe-to-toe in a tactical battle of greybeards for as long as it lasts.
2: Junior Dos Santos
Despite a rough final two years in the Octagon, where he lost four straight by technical knockout, Junior Dos Santos is still one of the greatest heavyweights in UFC history. With Randy Couture in his 50s and Cain Velasquez seemingly in retirement, this may be the closest fight fans will get to of the UFC’s true heavyweight legends facing off with the demigod of Pride FC big men.
Similar to the Overeem booking, it would also be a fan-friendly scrap between two strikers who get finishes and are very susceptible to a reset button shot on their chin. It’s a fun fight from a historic and matchmaking perspective.
3: Anderson Silva
Coker was asked after Bellator 261 if his lack of interest in signing Anderson Silva had changed following the UFC middleweight legends successful boxing debut. Although the promotional head honcho still seemed disinterested in adding the 46-year-old, who wouldn’t want to see this dream fight? Especially, after “The Spider” stunned many in beating a former professional boxing champion in June.
Silva is one of the only two fighters on this list actually older than Emelianenko, and he two offers the striking excitement and flawed chin of Dos Santos and Overeem. But he would be one of the few options where Emelianenko would have a notable size advantage if he wanted to test the ground game with the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.
It’s as marketable as it will ever get after what Silva just did in boxing, and Emelianenko winning three of his last five. Furthermore, these two were on many fans’ Mount Rushmore of MMA for almost two decades. Yes, they are old, but it’s a rare chance at true dream matchmaking when it’s still sorta fun.
4: Josh Barnett
During his legacy-building run outside the UFC, Emelianenko seemed to fight everyone…except Josh Barnett. Not in Pride FC, not in Affliction, or Strikeforce for that matter. Despite being two of the best heavyweights outside the UFC for much of the 2000s and 2010s, these two never got booked against the other.
Be it on the feet, or more likely the mat, it is an old-school fan’s delight. As a master of Russian Sambo battles a wrestling shooter, and two old-timers make good on a fight two decades overdue.
5: Tito Ortiz
Like Silva, Tito Ortiz is the only other fighter on this list older than Emelianenko. And similar to Dos Santos and Silva, he brings to the booking a classic matchup of UFC and Pride FC greats. Ortiz has always been a large light heavyweight, so size is really not a question in this one. Plus, his game has never been based around striking, making this one of the few opponent options where Emelianenko should have a clear advantage on the feet.
Like Barnett, it’s a clash of Sambo against wrestling, but while the 46-year-old still has dangerous ground and pound, he can be submitted, and it could be one last chance to see a hallmark of Emelianenko’s greatness: His submission skills off his back.