The legendary MMA fighter Fedor Emelianenko plans to put an end to his professional career in February with a fight against Ryan Bader. The favorite of this fight is an athlete from the United States, but the Russian should not be underestimated. Over the years of his career, the Last Emperor had to fight with strong Americans more than once, among whom was the huge Brett Rogers.

Fedor gave a hard lesson to the two-meter thug.

“He hasn’t fought with them yet.”

In November 2009, Fedor Emelianenko had to defend the WAMMA heavyweight title in a duel with American Brett Rogers, nicknamed Merciless. The opponent was distinguished by impressive dimensions (height – 196 cm), great ambitions and the absence of defeats in the record. Of the 10 victories, the US representative had nine knockouts.

By the way, in the previous fight, Rogers managed to knock out Andrei Orlovsky in just 23 seconds. Perhaps, a relatively easy victory over a status opponent allowed the impudent American to believe in himself so much that on the eve of the battle with the Last Emperor he became too carried away with trash talk.

– He will meet with a new, improved heavyweight: with the likes of me, he has not yet fought. I see it this way: the way I’m going to test it, no one has tested it yet. I have never been a fan of Fedor: many of those with whom he fought, succumbed too much to the hype around him. People who say negative things about me just don’t know me. Their jaws will drop when I fight Fedor Emelianenko,” Rogers was quoted by mma.fanhouse.com before the fight.

Brett Rogers / Photo: © Henry S. Dziekan III / Contributor / Getty Images Entertainment / Gettyimages.ru

“This is not my victory”

Although the fight took place in the United States, the audience enthusiastically greeted the appearance of Fedor. The Last Emperor unhurriedly entered the battle under the “Dream of Stepan Razin”, traditionally looked away from the opponent and, on the whole, looked concentrated. The younger and taller American stared at Emelianenko without any hesitation, but was he so confident in his abilities when he faced the great champion?

Judging by the first seconds of the fight, Rogers’ confidence diminished. However, he did not lie about his skills in percussion technique – and already with the first blow he managed to break Fedor’s nose. But in the stalls, the fighter from the USA was not very convincing. Once on the floor for the first time, he hurried back to the standing position, clearly not wanting to start a fight with Emelianenko.

In the first round, the Last Emperor did not succeed in everything he planned – the cut interfered. The opponent periodically pressed Fedor to the net, struck with his knees, and even ended up in the stalls from above for a short time. The American failed to develop an advantage – after local victories, he again found himself at a disadvantage. From time to time, he even had to move along the floor at the fifth point in order to dodge Emelianenko’s attacks. And yet, by the end of the round, the opponent believed in himself, deciding that the not-so-great champion was scary.

Photo: © Bellator MMA

At the beginning of the second round, Brett behaved as if it was Fedor who had to prove something in the octagon, and not him. Emelianenko pressed the opponent to the net and delivered a series of blows, most of which fell on defense. Rogers’ confidence has increased even more. It seemed that the Russian really could not find the key to solving a difficult problem. “Improved heavyweight” did not make obvious mistakes. For the time being…

Expecting a pass to the legs, Rogers missed a right straight shot to the head. With one move, the Last Emperor knocked the pretender off his feet, chastising him for his excessive insolence. The merciless was immediately surrounded by a team and doctors, he obviously did not understand in the first seconds what had happened and where he was. And Fedor modestly stepped aside and waited for the final summing up of the battle.

“In Russia, millions of my Orthodox compatriots prayed for me, this is their victory, not mine,” Emelianenko said after the fight.

It is curious that the American public also perceived the victory of the Last Emperor as their own. The audience rejoiced loudly and sincerely at the bright knockout of the Russian.