Fedor Emelianenko to Face Fabio Maldonado at Fight Nights Global in Russia

Fedor Emelianenko to Face Fabio Maldonado at Fight Nights Global in Russia

Former Pride FC heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko will face UFC veteran Fabio Maldonado at Fight Nights Global in Russia.

Apr 20, 2016 by Duane Finley
Fedor Emelianenko to Face Fabio Maldonado at Fight Nights Global in Russia
Fedor Emelianenko’s comeback is officially in full swing.

The former Pride FC heavyweight king will face former UFC veteran Fabio Maldonado at Fight Nights Global in St. Petersburg, Russia, on June 17. The bout was initially reported by Brazilian outlet Combate, and marks Emelianenko’s second fight since emerging from retirement in late 2015.

The Russian heavyweight stamped his return to action with a first-round knockout of Singh Jaideep under the RIZIN FF banner back in December. The win marked Emelianenko’s fourth consecutive victory and has further served to repair damage caused by a rough stretch under the now defunct Strikeforce banner.

Although going toe-to-toe with “The Last Emperor” will present a dangerous matchup for Maldonado, it is also one that could pay huge dividends for the Brazilian brawler. The 37-year-old was cut from the UFC following back-to-back losses, and a high-profile scrap against Emelianenko will be the biggest showcase of his career.