MMA icon Fedor Emelianenko rolled again the years to knock out American rival Tim Johnson of their Bellator 269 heavyweight headliner on the Russian fighter’s homecoming in Moscow.
A part of the discuss main as much as Saturday’s combat at VTB Area within the Russian capital had targeted on whether or not this is able to be the final time Emelianenko fights in his homeland – and probably ever.
However in the long run, the 45-year-old veteran scored a surprising KO victory over quantity two-ranked Bellator heavyweight Johnson, catching him with a superbly timed salvo of punches within the first spherical to lay the American out on his again as the competition was waved off and the house crowd erupted.
Remarkably, it was a 40th profession win for Emelianenko and will now push him into potential discuss of a Bellator title combat in what is likely to be his retirement bout.
?The Final Emperor scores the KO in Moscow!
What a second for Fedor, in Bellator’s historic first Russian occasion.#Bellator269 pic.twitter.com/gZq4pH5bMa
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) October 23, 2021
Thought-about by many as the best ever to do it at heavyweight, Emelianenko was making a return to the cage for the primary time since December 2019, when he completed Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson within the first spherical of their bout at Bellator 237 in Japan.
That was seen as one stage on Emelianenko’s retirement tour, with one other coming in Moscow on Saturday night time because the Russian icon fought on dwelling soil for the primary time in 5 years.
Many felt ‘The Final Emperor’ had chosen a tricky opponent within the type of the 36-year-old Johnson, who was coming off a unanimous choice defeat to Valentin Moldavsky in a Bellator interim heavyweight title combat at Bellator 261 in June, following a three-fight successful streak.
However Emelianenko confirmed he nonetheless had dynamite in his fingers, catching Johnson with an ideal three-punch salvo to flatten the American inside the primary two minutes and ship the house crowd wild.
Let's see that in slow-mo! ??
Fedor Emelianenko stays undefeated at dwelling.??#Bellator269 pic.twitter.com/vOaZOSuMCS
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) October 23, 2021
Emelianenko prolonged his unbelievable profession document to 40-6 with one no-contest, and with one combat left on his Bellator contract, the Russian heavyweight legend could possibly be a giant swansong within the US or Japan.
Legends dwell eternally ? ?
Fedor will get the job carried out in Moscow. #Bellator269 pic.twitter.com/WOTPN3c0pp
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) October 23, 2021
“The efficiency he had was unbelievable. Tim’s a tricky man, I do not assume I’ve ever seen Tim get knocked out like that… my jaw dropped,” stated Bellator chief Scott Coker of Emelianenko’s efficiency.
“That is as much as him, personally I feel he needs to proceed. However as an example he needs to retire, this is able to be the right night time,” stated Coker of whether or not Emelianenko would keep it up.
“He is already carried out all of it, every thing in MMA.”
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