Barring any last-minute hangups, Fedor Emelianenko will fight in the United States for the first time in nearly six years on June 24, when he meets Matt Mitrione on the main card of Bellator NYC at Madison Square Garden.
The 40-year-old heavyweight, who put the city of Stary Oskol, Russia on the world sporting map, is fondly remembered for his lengthy reign as PRIDE heavyweight champion. But while his place among the sport’s all-time greats is secure, the time he spent competing stateside is an under-examined aspect of his legacy.