Scott Coker och Bellator bjöds på en klassisk Fedor Emelianenko insats i Ryssland där denne knockade Timothy Johnson på hemmaplan.
Scott Coker imponerad av Fedor Emelianenkos knockout
Efter den häftiga förstarondens knockouten vid Bellator 269 talade organisationens VD med media och kunde inte hålla tillbaka sin beundran för veteranen:
That was really special. I’ve been in the fight game a long time and for him to really deliver in his hometown in front of all of his fans, it was really fun to watch. It was a real special night and like I said, being a promoter for so long there’s a few times that just capture that moment in time and really this was that night.
I was like, wow, at 45 he can still bring it. He threw combinations at Tim that I haven’t seen for a little while, honestly. I think the pressure of him being at home really helped him. When I saw him yesterday he seemed so focused and I think a lot of it was riding on the line for him. He’s here and he’s proud to be here, all his people here, it was just an amazing night. Wow. Unbelievable.
Ni kan se knockouten nedan:
🐐The Last Emperor scores the KO in Moscow!
What a moment for Fedor, in Bellator’s historic first Russian event.#Bellator269 pic.twitter.com/gZq4pH5bMa
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) October 23, 2021
Coker hade sällskap av bland andra AKA-tränaren Javier Menddez och tidigare UFC-lättviktsmästaren Khabib Nurmagomedov när han bevittnande knockouten. Coker berättade att det för honom verkar som att 45-årige Emelianenko fortfarande har kvar en del tanken:
I can’t remember the last time Tim was knocked out or if he’s ever been knocked out like that. Fedor, he threw some combinations at Tim that I was like, man, his hand speed is still there. His twitch speed is still there. He proved it. He proved to me he’s still the greatest of all time.
I was sitting around David Green, and Javier Mendez, and Khabib, and we were just talking about how, ‘Jesus. Unbelievable at 45 he can still bring it like that.’ It’s unbelievable, it’s like time just stopped for him.
Oklart när Emelianenko återvänder
Ryssens 40:e seger och 47:e professionella match var den näst sista på hans kontrakt och möjligtvis i karriären. Varken han eller Bellator har dock gjort några konkreta uttalanden om när Emelianenko kommer att fightas igen. Coker sade att det kommer dröja några veckor innan han kan svara på frågan:
I’ll tell you, I haven’t talked to Fedor about it. I just want to enjoy this moment and I think he just wants to enjoy this moment. So talk to us in maybe two or three weeks and we’ll have an answer for you.
