The last man to hold the Pride FC heavyweight title, Fedor Emelianenko, will return to fight in the United States for the second time ever on April 11 in Illinois, according to a recent interview with Complex.com.
No opponent was named in the write up. And no, it will more than likely not be embattled UFC Heavyweight Champion, Randy Couture. The picture for this post was taken during a recent photo shoot in Los Angeles, Calif., for the Affliction clothing line.
Of course, it's the dream fight that everyone wants to see and both Emelianenko and Couture want ... and it's perhaps for the same reason (or because it may never happen).
Here's a snip from Emelianenko:
"If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. That's it. But I think it's going to take place because I think that everyone wants it.... If I win, I would be considered one of the strongest fighters ever."
With a win over Couture it would certainly begin to help repair the image that Emelianenko has padded his almost perfect record with a significant number of questionable opponents.
In the meantime, however, it's not going to help matters that apparently Dutch kickboxer Semmy Schilt -- who Emelianenko defeated once already in 2002 -- is now the front runner to challenge the Russian, according to Sherdog.com. It's certainly better than Hong Man Choi, but there are much better (and deserving) fighters out there such as Josh Barnett, Pedro Rizzo and Jeff Monson.
Oh wait ... Chicago's own, Andrei Arlovski, might be available around that time, too. His UFC contract expires with his next fight, which is rumored to take place in March.
Hmm ... a man can dream, can't he?
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