Cover Up Your Open Wounds… Alexander Emelianenko is Being Linked With a Move to Bareknuckle FC… Could Fedor’s Little Brother Really Fight for the Controversial Promotion…
Alexander Emelianenko and his brother Fedor have taken very different paths in life. The latter is one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, and the best fighter never to sign for the UFC. A former PRIDE and RIZIN champion, he’s taken on the very best in the world and was unbeaten for almost ten years.
His little brother is a solid fighter in his own right. For a few years, he was a gatekeeper in PRIDE’s heavyweight division but then things got very messy in his life. His rape trial was well publicised and recently he’s been in trouble with the police for a hit-and-run and public intoxication.
Now the crazy Russian is being linked with a move to Bareknuckle FC. The controversial bare-knuckle boxing organization has gained notoriety in recent months for bloody fights between washed up MMA fighters and boxers. Could Emelianenko really be their next signing?
Next Step?
Bareknuckle FC is fresh off of its biggest ever event. BKFC 6 went down in Tampa, Florida and had Conor McGregor’s sparring dummy Artem Lobov fight Paulie Malignaggi in a bonafide grudge match. That event sold over 200,000 pay-per-views, but now the promotion is in a strange place because not many people were that impressed.
Now, according to TheBodyLockMMA.com, David Feldman, the company president, has confirmed they are in negotiations with one of the most divisive figures in combat sports. If you want to improve the image of your promotion then signing a convicted rapist probably isn’t the smartest move.
Unlikely
We have our doubts about this one, simply because there’s next to no chance of Alexander Emelianenko getting a US visa. Unless BKFC are planning on having some fights in Russia it’s just not going to be logistically possible. So far BKFC events have been held in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida and Cancun, Mexico.
The other glaring problem is the fact that Emelianenko is reported to have a strain of hepatitis. This caused KSW to cancel a contract with him in the past. Now he’s fought for several major promotions in Russia since then, including Akhmat Fight Club, but it’s not good press.
Radical
The divisive fighter has also been accused in the past of being an extremist. His tattoos and links to controversial figures involved with Russian nationalism have caused these rumours to prosper.
“I am a sportsman,” Emelianenko said in a public statement. “I am not and will not be a supporter of any political extremist movements. I do not endorse their views and do not want to be a means to promote them. I want to play sports, act for the country and (win) medals and titles,” Emelianenko said. “I do not want to be involved in political games. I do not want to be a bargaining chip in such dispute. I have kids. I want them to grow up in a democratic country, devoid of national, religious and other prejudices.”
Yeah, we wouldn’t bet on this just yet folks.
