Kharitonov: Fedor Needs A Few Wins Before A Fight

Russian heavyweights Sergei Kharitonov and Fedor Emelianenko have yet to face off against one another. Even though they have been in PRIDE, Strikeforce and Bellator at the same time, the two have not fought yet.

While this could be a potential fight in the future, Kharitonov feels that Fedor’s not in position to fight him yet.

“Right now, with him coming off a loss, no,” Kharitonov told MMA Fighting about where Fedor stands after his loss to Ryan Bader in January. “But if he continues to fight and gets a few wins, and that’s what Bellator wants and the fans want, sure, why not?”

“Mirko is 44 and he’s about to fight Roy Nelson,” Kharitonov said of fellow PRIDE notable Mirko Cro Cop.

“Fedor’s only 42. He has at least two or three years left in him. Two years ago I lost in 16 seconds. That’s what everybody said, ‘Oh you should retire, you should go away.’ But I’m on a five-fight win streak and fighting Matt Mitrione. Fighters are respected not for losing or getting knocked out, it’s for how they get up and continue to go.”

Transcribed by MMA Mania