MOSCOW, March 30. /TASS/. /TASS/. Russia’s Fedor Emelianenko, who formerly fought as a heavyweight in mixed martial arts (MMA), is eyeing another return to the ring in 2027 - this time in Sambo, he said in an interview with Russia’s Sport Express daily.
"I'm thinking about competing in the Russian Combat Sambo Championship after I turn 50. I want to fight a little bit with our Sambo guys," the fighter, currently 49, said.
Emelianenko added said that he was still in negotiations on holding a boxing match with Croatian Mirko Filipovic.
"I will soon travel to Serbia. We'll talk with the organizers, see how the preparations for our fight are going," the Russian fighter said.
"Right now, there's a letter of intent; everything's going smoothly, just give it time," he continued. "There are concerns [that the bout will be cancelled]. It was different with previous organizations I was with," Emelianenko added.
Sambo wrestling originated in Russia in the 1920s, when soldiers of the then-Soviet Army developed their own hand-to-hand combat technique. The word Sambo is a Russian acronym, which translated means "self-defense without weapons."
In 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Russia-originated wrestling discipline should be included in the Olympic program.
'The Last Emperor' Fedor Emelianenko
Emelianenko, 49, boasts an official MMA record of 40 wins (16 by KO/TKO; 15 by submission; nine by decision) and seven defeats (six by KO/TKO; one by submission). His last career fight was a rematch against American MMA champ Ryan Bader in Los Angeles in February 2023, which resulted in a first-round loss for the Russian fighter, who retired after the bout.
The MMA star previously temporarily retired from 2012 to 2015. During that hiatus, Emelianenko served as president of the Russian MMA Union, also serving as an advisor to then-Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko from November 2012 .
After his 2015 comeback, Emelianenko had eight bouts, defeating India’s Jaideep Singh, then clinching another victory over Brazil’s Fabio Maldonado. In June 2017, he lost by TKO to US fighter Matt Mitrione. In April 2018, he defeated US heavyweight Frank Mir with a KO win in the first round, and in October 2018 he enjoyed a TKO triumph over American fighter Chael Sonnen. In January 2019, he lost by TKO (punches) to Ryan "Darth" Bader of the United States and then knocked out US fighter Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in December 2019.
In September 2022, Emelianenko defeated 35-year-old Timothy Johnson of the United States with a KO win in the opening round of their Bellator 269 tournament fight in Moscow.
Born on September 28, 1976, in Rubezhnoye, Ukraine, Emelianenko fought his way to the top, earning numerous titles throughout his career.
He was the MMA Pride Fighting Championship Heavyweight Champion (2003-2007), FIAS World Combat Sambo Championship Heavyweight Champion (2002, 2005, 2007), and twice earned bronze at the Russian Judo Federation National Championship (1998, 1999).
In 2009, esteemed American sports magazine Sports Illustrated named him "the top MMA fighter of the decade."