Maldonado suffers back injury, but still plans to face Fedor

Maldonado (photo) x Fedor takes place in June. Photo: Disclosure

Scheduled to face the legendary Russian Fedor Emelianenko on June 17th, in São Petersburgo (Russia), Brazilian Fábio Maldonado is not expected to arrive at the fight in his best physical condition, if the “Steel Hillbilly” is able to get into the ring.

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In an interview with the North American website “MMA Fighting”, Maldonado revealed that he suffered an injury to his cervical spine and, at the moment, is prohibited from carrying out any type of training that includes sparring or fighting movements. Still according to the fighter, however, he hopes to return to boxing training in the coming days.

The duel between Fábio Maldonado and Fedor Emelianenko it will be the Brazilian's first MMA fight after leaving the UFC and the Russian's second fight since he returned from retirement at the end of last year. The pair will face each other in a fight promoted by the Russian event “Fight Nights”, which has not yet revealed whether it will leave Maldonado in the fight or remove him from the schedule.