Fedor (left) and Couture (right) during a video game promotion, in 2010. Photo: Susan Goldman/FcFighter
In 2009, when he was president of Strikeforce, Scott Coker was responsible for one of the most hyped signings in the history of MMA, when he signed the legendary Russian Fedor Emelianenko and frustrated the UFC's plans, putting an end to a soap opera that had dragged on for months. Five years later, now at the helm of Bellator, Coker has similar plans for Ultimate's main rival event today. This time, however, in addition to revealing the negotiation with the former PRIDE champion, the director also envisions a superfight between Fedor and Randy Couture.
“This (Emelianenko x Couture) is a fight that I, personally, would love to see, but I don't know if it will happen. All I can say is that we are talking to M-1 (the Russian company that manages Fedor's career and of which he is a partner), but that's all I have to say at the moment about it,” said Coker during the chat. chat with journalists after Bellator 123, last Friday (05), in Uncasville (USA).
If negotiations are already underway with Fedor, the situation with Couture is quite different. Retired since 2011, when he was knocked out by Lyoto Machida at UFC 129, the former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion is part of the cast of the 19th season of the program “Dancing with the stars” (original version of “Dança dos Famosos”, in the USA) and has not yet reunited with Bellator.
“Randy? He’s dancing with the stars now,” Scott said with a laugh, in a relaxed tone. “I don't think he'll want to fight Fedor now that he's dancing every night with beautiful girls. But we'll see him soon. Let’s talk to him and see what he has to say”, he pondered.
At 51 years old, Randy Couture retired from MMA with a professional record of 19 wins and 11 losses. Already Fedor Emelianenko, 37 years old, ended his career with a record of 34 wins, four losses and one fight without result. Recently, Couture made a statement in which he expressed his desire to face Fedor, but the suggestion was for the duel to take place in a fight of submission in the “Metamoris” event.
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