'Emperor' Fedor eyes boxing match with Ngannou, blasts White

'Injuries rule out MMA return, but boxing is possible'

'White keeps changing his story — he doesn't keep his word'

Fedor Emelianenko during a visit to South Korea in 2016. [Newsis]

Fedor Emelianenko (50, Russia), the "Last Emperor" who stood atop the combat sports world in the 2000s, has expressed interest in a boxing match against Francis Ngannou (40, Cameroon) — while also unleashing sharp criticism at UFC CEO Dana White.

MMA Fighting, a US-based MMA outlet, reported Friday that Fedor told Russian media outlet Ushatayка in an interview that he would welcome a boxing bout with Ngannou.

Asked which opponent he most wanted to fight, Fedor named Ngannou. Current injuries make an MMA return unlikely, Fedor said, but left the door open for a boxing match. Fedor denied rumors that negotiations with Ngannou's camp were already underway.

Fedor also assessed Ngannou's boxing credentials, praising a powerful frame, punching power and fast hands, while noting that Ngannou's attack patterns are relatively straightforward and could be countered. Fedor said hand speed remains competitive and called it a fight worth having.

Fedor built a legend dominating the heavyweight division of Japan's Pride FC, which was considered a higher level of competition than the UFC at the time. Fedor retired after suffering a first-round TKO loss to Ryan Bader at Bellator 290 in February 2023. The MMA record stands at 40 wins, 7 losses and 1 no-contest.

Ngannou is a former UFC heavyweight champion in his own right. After leaving the UFC in 2023, Ngannou expanded into boxing, facing Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Ngannou lost a split decision to Fury in a closely contested bout and was stopped by Joshua in the second round.

Should the two meet, it would be a rare clash between legends of MMA heavyweight fighting — this time on a boxing canvas. However, Fedor's age, injury history and the denial of any active negotiations make it difficult to predict whether the fight will actually come together.

Pride FC heavyweight champion Fedor poses with challenger Mirko Cro Cop ahead of their bout. [Herald DB]

Fedor also revisited a long-running friction with the UFC in the interview, particularly criticizing White for what Fedor described as inconsistent behavior over contract talks.

Fedor said the UFC showed little interest when he was a free agent, only to pursue a deal after he had signed with another organization.

Fedor recalled the situation in 2009, when he re-signed with Strikeforce after defeating Brett Rogers. Signing a separate deal with the UFC while already under contract elsewhere would have risked legal disputes that could have kept Fedor out of competition entirely, Fedor explained.

"First he said he wanted me, then he said he didn't," Fedor said of White. "Then he said he regretted not signing me, and now he says he's glad he didn't. He keeps changing his story. He doesn't keep his word."

The question of whether Fedor would ever sign with the UFC has long fascinated combat sports fans. After Pride's collapse, the UFC pursued Fedor but a deal never materialized. White also explored a matchup between Brock Lesnar and Fedor.

Notably, Ngannou — the very fighter Fedor said he wants to face — also had a bitter contract dispute with the UFC. Ngannou departed while still holding the heavyweight title and went on to compete in boxing and other MMA promotions.

yjc@heraldcorp.com