Nyet! Fedor Emelianenko declines Scott Coker's offer to fight in Bellator MMA ... for now

Bellator MMA President Scott Coker, who partnered with M-1 Global a few years back to co-promote mixed martial arts (MMA) events headlined by former PRIDE heavyweight deity Fedor Emelianenko, was back in Japan over the Christmas break to watch some international MMA.

And place a blank check upon the throne of "The Last Emperor," though his efforts were fruitless.

"He's made it very clear he doesn't want to fight right now," Coker told MMA Fighting. "He didn't say he never wants to fight. He just said right now."

So Coker went with Plan K.

Emelianenko (34-4, 1 NC) hung up the gloves in mid-2012 after stringing together three straight wins. It was a refreshing turnaround after a disastrous three-fight skid that saw him finished in all three defeats. The longtime Sambo champ was flirting with a shot at UFC superstardom in 2013, but it never materialized (because of this).

And at age 38, the clock is rapidly ticking.