Many mixed martial artists run through entire careers without getting the opportunity to test themselves against an all-time great. That will not be the case for Bellator MMA’s Timothy Johnson.
The Xtreme Couture representative will confront former Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight titleholder Fedor Emelianenko in the Bellator 269 headliner on Saturday at the VTB Arena in Moscow. Johnson, 36, has rattled off three wins across his past four appearances. However, he finds himself on the rebound following a unanimous decision defeat to Valentin Moldavsky at Bellator 261, where he failed in his attempt to capture the promotion’s interim heavyweight crown on June 25.