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**Bknmax** · 04-20-2012, 01:34 PM

M-1 EXECUTIVE KOGAN: FEDOR EMELIANENKO FACES PEDRO RIZZO ON JUNE 21 IN RUSSIA

Quote:

Fedor Emelianenko will square off with Pedro Rizzo on June 21 at the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Evgeni Kogan, M-1 Global director of operations, announced the news Friday morning on his official Twitter feed. Kogan had previously teased Emelianenko’s return to the ring earlier this month, but an opponent had not been named until today. The June 21 event is expected to be an M-1 Global show and could air on pay-per-view.

Once considered the sport’s top heavyweight, Emelianenko, 35, saw a nine-year unbeaten stretch end when he was submitted by a Fabricio Werdum triangle choke in 2010. Two more defeats would follow for the Russian, who was finished by Antonio Silva and Dan Henderson in the Strikeforce cage last year. Emelianenko rebounded from the trio of defeats by posting a pair of wins to close out 2011, outpointing UFC veteran Jeff Monson in November before knocking out former Olympic judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii on New Year’s Eve.

A former UFC heavyweight title challenger, Rizzo has not competed professionally in nearly two years. “The Rock” returns to the ring riding a three-fight winning streak, having notched victories over Ken Shamrock, Gary Goodridge and Monson before entering hiatus. One of Marco Ruas’ most successful students, Rizzo, 37, owns notable career wins over Ricco Rodriguez, Mark Coleman, Andrei Arlovski, Josh Barnett and Dan Severn, among others.

Oh snap

beardsleybob · 04-20-2012, 02:46 PM

For somebody claiming to want a shot in the UFC, he's not exactly fighting opponents that are even relative to the upper echelons of the sport right now

**K R Y** · 04-20-2012, 03:24 PM

As always, Fedor UFC hype hopes follow with disappointing can crushing fight.

**Sugar-Free_LizaG** · 04-20-2012, 03:58 PM

If this is the kinda fights Fedor is content with taking at this stage of his career, he's kissing any P4P status goodbye.

rabakill · 04-20-2012, 04:55 PM

Rizzo's last fight was against Ken Shamrock in 2010.... wtf Fedor, wtf

rul3z · 04-20-2012, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LizaG

If this is the kinda fights Fedor is content with taking at this stage of his career, he's kissing any P4P status goodbye.

Why don't we say he's climbing the ladder but OUTSIDE the UFC? Can't we see it like that?

After the three consecutive losses, he needs to get things right again, and I think he's on the right track.

I really wished he gets an invitation to the UFC, but this is life, and we have to accept it

**Sugar-Free_LizaG** · 04-20-2012, 05:43 PM

Losing to a 205lb fighter won't get someone a UFC invitation, but Pedr Rizzo? 7 years ago I would've benn all over that fight, now it's another name in a recently unimpressive win column.

...if you ask me