Props: The MMA Hour
Quoteworthy:
"To tell the truth, I certainly, was -- I am thinking about retiring but that's not because of the loss. I used to think about it before [the loss to Fabricio Werdum].... This is just because of my age. Because of my age, because for the heavyweight sportsman my age is considered a very big one. So sometimes I'm thinking about maybe finishing my sports career because also my former injuries started reminding me about themselves. But I hope that I still will have some time to fight.... I think maybe about a year and after it, it's God's will."
Former Pride FC superstar and current Strikeforce heavyweight, Fedor Emelianenko, reveals that the curtain could soon come down on his legendary mixed martial arts career. In fact, "The Last Emperor" toyed with the idea prior to his shocking first round submission loss to Fabricio Werdum in June 2010 -- the first "real" defeat for the Russian cyborg in 34 career contests. The good news is it ain't over yet: Emelianenko drew Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva in the opening round of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, which kicks off this Saturday (Feb. 12, 2011) at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. With a win, Emelianenko would face the winner of Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum in the semifinals later this year. If he can make it to the finals thereafter, he'd be on pace to fight three times in 2011 -- a feat the 34-year-old hasn't pulled off since 2005. It's a tough road to hoe ... especially for a fighter potentially in the twilight of his career. Does Emelianenko have enough gas in the tank to end his fighting days on the highest of notes or are his best days already behind him? Let's hear it, Maniacs.