McGregor Teases Major Move
On February 16, Conor McGregor took the stage for a press conference promoting BKFC’s upcoming card in Italy. His trademark charisma was on full display, and as expected, he made a series of bold, enthusiastic statements. He likened Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship to the gladiator games of old, playing to his Italian audience. He gave the compulsory assurance that we would see him end a four-year layoff and fight again. However, one series of comments stood out as a bit of a surprise amidst the script we have come to expect. McGregor heavily implied that BKFC is actively pursuing MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko as an addition to the roster.
When a reporter mentioned Fedor on a short list of fighters who changed MMA, McGregor responded:
“Fedor Emelianenko? Stay tuned; we might have an announcement with Fedor Emelianenko. Hey Fedor, we’re waiting!”
He then continued, saying, “Some news might be coming with Fedor Emelianenko. BKFC is signing and acquiring the best fighters of all time, past, present, and future.”
Fedor Emelianenko’s Undeniable Star Power
Emelianenko would constitute a massive signing for BKFC. Fans and critics almost unanimously regard him as one of the greatest heavyweights in MMA history. Some have even credited him as the overall GOAT. During his prime, he had an undefeated streak spanning nearly 10 years, going 27-0-1 after losing to Tsuyoshi Kohsaka in December of 2000. His next loss did not come until June of 2010 when he was submitted by future UFC Champion Fabricio Werdum.
Fedor’s hit list during that run included many former or future champions of Pride, UFC, and Strikeforce, such as Renato Sobral, Minotauro Nogueira, Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Mirko Cro Cop, Tim Sylvia, and Andrei Arlovski. While “The Last Emperor” would hit a rougher patch moving forward, culminating in a loss to Ryan Bader in February 2023, his legacy was eternally cemented by his otherworldly run at the highest levels of the sport. He never competed in UFC due to contract disagreements, but his resume speaks for itself.
A Massive Coup for BKFC
If Conor McGregor is being truthful, the signing would be monumental should it come to fruition. BKFC has hosted many former UFC fighters, such as Mike Perry, Eddie Alvarez, and Luke Rockhold, to name a few. However, none have possessed the international recognition or sheer legacy of a fighter like Fedor Emelianenko. Fedor is surely past his prime, and there are legitimate questions as to how his style holds up in a bare-knuckle boxing context. He has dynamite punching power, with 16 wins by knockout on his MMA record. This was most recently on display with a KO win over Timothy Johnson a few years ago. However, he was also a Combat Sambo world champion, and that was an integral part of his MMA game. Many opponents that he rocked with a punch were put away in the aftermath by submission.
Regardless, many fans would gladly take the opportunity to see one of the greatest of all time go to war again. If he lands a huge punch, it is going to be a problem for any man on the planet. Here’s hoping that McGregor isn’t just blowing smoke and we can see The Last Emperor return to the ring soon.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
