Morning Report: 'Recovered from injuries,' Fedor Emelianenko says he won't disappoint at RIZIN
Fedor Emelianenko hasn't fought since 2012, but the former PRIDE great says the break has done his body some good.
Emelianenko makes his return to fighting as the headliner of RIZIN's debut event set to air New Year's Eve from the famed Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
"Compared with what it was like three years ago, I recovered from all injuries," Emelianenko told Rizinff.com (via Bloody Elbow). "I was able to receive medical treatment for injuries that bothered me. You can decide after my fight [if I am better now].
"I think that you will not be disappointed."
Emelianenko was famously submitted by now UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum under the Strikeforce banner in 2010 before suffering back-to-back TKO losses to Antonio Silva and Dan Henderson in 2011.
"The Last Emperor" rebounded later in 2011 with a unanimous decision win over Jeff Monson in Moscow before scoring a KO against Satoshi Ishii that New Year's Eve in Japan. In 2012, Emelianenko blasted MMA great Pedro Rizzo in St. Petersburg, Russia, ending the Brazilian's night in less than 90 seconds.
Emelianenko returns against relative unknown Jaideep Singh, an opponent booked just weeks prior to the event. A -1500 favorite, Emelianenko insists he isn't taking Singh lightly.
"I think he is quite a serious contender," said Emelianenko. "Under the rules of K-1, he defeated Sergei Kharitonov. He is tall and heavy."
Never really one to call his shot, Emelianenko says he'll go with the flow against Singh.
"I do not make predictions. I will act according to the situation."
RIZIN airs Dec. 31 at 10:00 AM EST on SPIKE TV.
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MEDIA STEW
UFC 195 embedded episode 2.
Lawler thinks he'd KO Georges St-Pierre and that Jose Aldo will make a comeback.
Ben Askren talks being better than Condit and Lawler, free agency in MMA and more.
Bas Rutten quickly breaks down Andrei Arlovski vs. Stipe Miocic.
Weigh-in highlights from RIZIN. (full video here)
Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Shinya Aoki and King Mo vs. Brett McDermott at RIZIN.
Long watches.
TWEETS
He's ready.
It's not all fun and games... But God damn it, I love my job #UFC195
— Carlos Condit (@CarlosCondit) December 30, 2015
Buds.
w/ Fedor in Rizin weight in Back stage @Rizin pic.twitter.com/fplz5BuM39
— Bob Sapp (@BobSappMMA) December 30, 2015
All you hardcore mma fans, Who remembers this Giant? Bu dev adami hatirlayan var mi? #pride #japan #mma pic.twitter.com/Z6TfkKyfX0
— Alptekin Ozkilic (@alpozkilicmma) December 29, 2015
No break
Looking to dust off the saddle and get back in there. Announcement coming... https://t.co/uqFCaQwaVt
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) December 30, 2015
Beef.
Eu com 19 anos quando fui campeão mundial pela 1ª vez no campeonato dos peso pesados. Isso foi antes da Zuffa comprar o...
Posted by Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort on Tuesday, December 29, 2015
@TWooodley @UFCONFOX @ufc @CarlosCondit @Ruthless_RL ur name wasn't even mentioned but if you wanna stick your nose in I'll gladly punch it
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) December 29, 2015
@TWooodley wants to diminish my record all the time but won't whisper my name to @danawhite u want a fight u got it... Or u just wanna talk?
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) December 29, 2015
@IamTheImmortal @UFCONFOX @ufc @CarlosCondit @Ruthless_RL where was this talk when I asked to fight u a year ago? I'm next Bruh #Shhhh
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) December 29, 2015
@IamTheImmortal @danawhite oh now u wanna fight cause u know I'm next. #Please I ask 2 fight u after I finished Kim in 60sec. He beat You
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) December 29, 2015
@IamTheImmortal @danawhite didn't read the article, but entertaining none the less. We will scrap when I'm champ. I welcome the war 4 Gold!
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) December 29, 2015
@TWooodley @UFCONFOX @ufc @CarlosCondit @Ruthless_RL unlike you I've never turned a fight down in my life. You like to talk I like to fight
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) December 29, 2015
@IamTheImmortal @UFCONFOX @ufc @CarlosCondit @Ruthless_RL thats a problem. Turnin down a fight or preferrin 2 fight #1fighters is good biz
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) December 29, 2015
The biz-man can keep running and tweeting I'ma go train with my one hand like a real fucking fighter #bitchestalk https://t.co/aaLHd8prYm
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) December 29, 2015
@IamTheImmortal @ufc The Fact talk bruh. U have NEVER beat a Top10 WW. I wont bust that cherry 4U. You lose every #1Contendership Fight!
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) December 29, 2015
Get well soon.
Another day in gym. I have to keep going, I have to keep going. #khkmmateam #Reebok #ufc pic.twitter.com/YuO9Pvui31
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) December 29, 2015
Getting my Rehab on. Not going into huge detail, but obviously hurt my knee last fight. Have a... https://t.co/XIWrchWvYv
— Nik Lentz (@NikLentz) December 29, 2015
It was nice to simply be on the mats again today. Even though I couldn't train, being in a gi is... https://t.co/l0tmAvw3rP
— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) December 30, 2015
Wrasslin'
Feeling young again getting in work with the college wrestlers at #OSU @CowboyWrestling https://t.co/bSYg4xE8eI @dethrone
— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) December 30, 2015
Saku reactions.
Sak must have gotten a decent pay check because he does not look in to this at all
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) December 29, 2015
Ioki finally after six hundred unanswered strikes, hard to watch a legend go out like that #RIZIN
— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) December 29, 2015
Kazushi Sakuraba is a legend. He has nothing left to prove or do. #CatchWrestling #prowrestling
— Shayna Baszler (@QoSBaszler) December 29, 2015
#Sakuraba is probably my favorite fighter of all time. That was a brutal fight to watch actually made me sad @rizin_PR #Aoki #Saku #RIZIN
— Mike Ciesnolevicz (@MikeCies) December 29, 2015
I don't know if Aoki is the most hated man in MMA, but if he isn't, he should be after this. #RIZIN https://t.co/UBWugajkCb
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) December 29, 2015
Big congrats to @a_ok_i on his win at Rizin!
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) December 29, 2015
FIGHTERS: If you're looking for an org where you don't need to train or game-plan and are willing to risk your life,Rizin FC is the place 4u
— Tom Lawlor (@FilthyTomLawlor) December 29, 2015
What a piece of shit. Grapple him scumbag https://t.co/M9cdwfU2J6
— phil baroni (@philbaroni) December 29, 2015
Still got it.
Training with my son
Posted by Mirko Filipovic on Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Dang.
They caught me ufc's video https://t.co/kUzJOOuPkt
— Justine Kish (@JustineKish1) December 30, 2015
The rumors were true all along.
Defending my belt @ufc @UFCFightPass pic.twitter.com/thEyyBPGEj
— TBB (@Thebeast_ufc) December 29, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Dec. 29 2015)
Jiri Prochazka vs. Vadim Nemkov at Rizin Fighting Federation 2
Muhammed Lawal vs. Teodoras Aukstuolis at Rizin Fighting Federation 2
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