Bellator MMA President Scott Coker said that Emelianenko’s next three bouts would serve as an unofficial retirement tour, but Emelianenko isn’t so sure his career will end when the next three fights do.
“That’s what we discussed, and that’s what we agreed on, but let’s see how I feel,” Emelianenko said through an interpreter at the Bellator 237 media day (via Farah Hannoun & John Morgan of MMA Junkie). “Right now, the plan is just like Scott laid out. There’s going to be three fights, and it’s kind of a retirement tour, but when the tour is over, he said let’s see how I feel. We’ll go from there.”
Emelianenko did sign a three fight contract extension with Bellator MMA this past summer, having previously gone 2-2-0 in the promotion.
The fighter says that Bellator 237 may be the final time he competes in front of the Japanese fans and Emelianenko plans on giving them a show.
“I think I’ve already shown the fans everything there is for me to show them,” Emelianenko said. “This will be more like a farewell fight. I would like to entertain them. I want them to be happy watching me fight, and I would like to come back to Japan as a guest.”
Bellator 237 takes place on Saturday, December 28 from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan with Fedor Emelianenko and Rampage Jackson headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on the Paramount Network.
