“Stay tuned, we might have an announcement with Fedor Emelianenko. Hey Fedor, we’re waiting…” Conor McGregor teased earlier this month, extending an offer to one of the greatest fighters of his era, Fedor Emelianenko, in hopes of getting him on board for his co-owned Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). Under the Irishman’s leadership, BKFC has reached new heights, leveraging his immense charm and connection to fans. However, as of now, there’s still no word from ‘The Last Emperor’ about whether he plans to sign with BKFC.

Although the former PRIDE heavyweight champion hasn’t fought since his knockout loss to Ryan Bader at Bellator 290 in February 2023, a defeat that seemingly marked the end of his career, rumors circulating in Russian media circles suggest that the MMA legend might be in talks with the boxing promoters. This has led to speculation that something significant could be on the horizon. Thanks to McGregor, the legend of ‘The Last Emperor’ is once again in the spotlight. On episode #2278 of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Rogan and renowned author and behavioral expert Chase Hughes discussed this resurgence.

Reflecting on the Russian native’s legendary career, Joe Rogan emphasized how “terrifying” he was in his prime. Despite Dana White’s best efforts, Fedor Emelianenko never fought in the UFC, preferring to do things on his own terms. Rogan recalled, “There’s a guy that was one of the greatest heavyweights out of Russia. His name is Fedor Emelianenko. He fought in PRIDE which was this enormous organization in Japan in the early 2000s. And he was famous for having a completely stoic expression no matter what happened. He was the most terrifying. And because he was so skillful as well. But I wonder, like, what they taught him in terms of how to keep your mind in check in the middle of chaos. Because, I mean, he’d be in these fu—-g wars, and just his facial expression never changed.”

To illustrate his point, Rogan recalled one of Emelianenko’s most famous fights. “There’s this famous fight with him [Fedor] and Kevin Randleman. Kevin Randleman was this elite American wrestler and he suplexes Fedor on his head, like on his neck and on his head and his expression never changed. In the middle of getting thrown through the air, slammed onto the ground then moments later he caught Kevin in an armbar.” Talk about a Terminator! Talk about Fedor Emelianenko!

Now 48 years old, Emelianenko has accumulated 23 years of professional fighting experience. Throughout his legendary career, the Russian powerhouse has fought in prominent MMA promotions such as PRIDE, RINGS, Strikeforce, M-1 Global, and Rizin, ultimately concluding his journey in Bellator.

In his prime, Fedor was universally recognized as the best fighter in the world, playing a pivotal role in the global growth of MMA. Over the years, he faced top-tier opponents like Frank Mir, Dan Henderson, Mark Hunt, Mark Coleman, and many other legends of the sport. His remarkable legacy continues to inspire the new generation, with fighters like Khamzat Chimaev eager to train alongside the MMA icon.

Before being eyed by Conor McGregor: Khamzat Chimaev’s interest in training with Fedor Emelianenko

Fedor Emelianenko’s accomplishments extend far beyond his legendary MMA career. A decorated Sambo competitor, he is a four-time Combat Sambo World Champion and a seven-time national champion. Additionally, he holds accolades in judo and served as an army veteran—achievements that further solidified his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats. Now retired from competition, ‘The Last Emperor’ has shifted his focus to training the next generation of fighters in regional circuits around the Mount Elbrus region.

In a recent appearance on the Adam Zubayraev YouTube channel, Khamzat Chimaev briefly joined the discussion. When asked about the possibility of training with Fedor and his team, Chimaev expressed admiration, saying, “Yes, of course, I’d like to train with Fedor. Such a great person who competed during a time when there were very few guys from CIS [former Soviet countries] like him, and it would be good to learn from someone like him.”

However, at that point, ‘Borz’ had already established his own training camp and ultimately decided against joining Team Fedor. He explained, “I have my own team, and everyone helps me. Everything’s working out well, and to change something, to go somewhere else and train with someone else… maybe they wouldn’t want to train with us. I don’t know their attitude towards us.”

What are your thoughts on Fedor Emelianenko’s legendary journey? Should he make a comeback by signing with Conor McGregor’s promotion, or has he earned the right to enjoy his retirement? Share your opinion below!