Former heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko will make his return to the ring this October when Bellator MMA heads to Moscow, Russia.
The event will mark for the debut of the promotion in Russia, with the card taking place October 23 from the VTB Arena and airing live on Showtime.
The opponent for Emelianenko will be announced soon.
“I have had the pleasure of working alongside Fedor for 12 years and nine of his fights during his time with Bellator and Strikeforce,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “It’s an honor to bring him home to compete in front of his fans who have followed his entire career. In addition to Fedor, we will showcase Bellator’s deep roster of Russian talent and put together a historic card for our first trip to Russia on Oct. 23.”
Emelianenko last fought in 2019 when he finished former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson by first round TKO.
With an illustrious career that has seen him earn 30 stoppages in his 39 victories over legendary opposition, the former Pride FC Heavyweight World Champion will be fighting in his home country of Russia for the first time in five years.
A four-time combat sambo world champion, “The Last Emperor” put together an insane eight-year unbeaten streak on his way to becoming an international MMA icon. Emelianenko has established Team Fedor, which features several top Russian fighters including Bellator’s light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov and Valentin Moldavsky, who is fighting for the interim heavyweight title tonight.