Last Emperor faces stiff test in Mitrione

Widely recognized as one of the greatest heavyweight MMA fighters, Fedor Emelianenko realizes there is little he can do to burnish his resume.

Not even a loss to Matt Mitrione in Bellator 172 on Saturday is likely tarnish the legacy the 40-year-old Russian has crafted over a 17-year career that included a winning streak of nearly a decade.

So what is Emelianenko’s mo- tivation as he prepares to fight in the United States for the first time in more than five years?

“First of all, the motivation is that I’m the representative of my country,” he said through an interpreter. “I represent my faith and certainly my team, my young fighters who also want to fight. I feel I’m in good shape and working with the young fighters, I understand pretty well that I’m pretty good.”

That’s a point few will debate, although the Last Emperor — Emelianenko’s long-time nickname — certainly isn’t the force he once was.

Emelianenko has won all five of his fights since ending a threeyear retirement in 2015 but none of those opponents was of the caliber of Mitrione, a former UFC contender who insists he has the style and skills to beat the Russian heavyweight.

The key for Mitrione is to not get caught up in the hype surrounding Emelianenko.

“I don’t really care about the myth,” Mitrione said. “I care about what I’ve seen him do. My mobility, my length, my power . makes me a different animal.”

The three-round bout with Mitrione marks Emelianenko’s Bellator debut and is the main event on a card that also features former UFC welterweight contender Josh Koscheck.

Emelianenko (36-4) is looking to bounce back after a sub-par performance against Fabio Maldonado on June 17, 2016. The 38-year-old Mitrione (11-5) is also trying to get back on track after uneven performances in his first two Bellator bouts, both wins.

“This could come down to who lands the first (big) punch,” Bellator President Scott Coker said. /