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MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko recently announced his retirement after losing his final bout to Ryan Bader at Bellator 290.
Fight fans have cherished Emelianenko over the years, as he’s regarded as one of the best heavyweight fighters in MMA history. However, Dana White seems to think otherwise.
According to MMA Junkie, the UFC President downplayed Fedor Emelianenko’s entire career. Simply because he didn’t compete in the UFC.
Dana White thinks Fedor Emelianenko's career was incomplete without fighting for UFC.
Full story: https://t.co/x8HBnfEUCr pic.twitter.com/6MlS2M0Pkv
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) February 6, 2023
Considering that the UFC is the face of MMA right now, you’d think Dana White would show some respect to the heavyweight legend.
Instead, he comes off as bitter due to the fact that Emelianenko refused to sign any contracts with the UFC for similar reasons Francis Ngannou walked away from the organization.
Most MMA fans can’t get behind Dana White’s take and promptly blast him on social media.
Dana is just salty he wouldn’t sign with ufc. He’s always hated Fedor with a passion. Certified Fedor hater. We don’t care what his opinion is on this subject cause it’s bias and wrong
— Primetime (@TheAlphaRock1) February 6, 2023
We get White hypes up his organization but it’s not like it’s the only MMA league in existence. A lot of fighters became legends before ever signing with the UFC.
Dana next week: “He never tested himself on Slap so unfortunately we’ll never know if he was the best.”
— Cody Barber (@cbarber357) February 6, 2023
Prime Pride heavyweighters versus prime UFC heavyweighters. Sign us up for that.
During Fedor’s prime in Pride, Pride had a far superior heavyweight division to the UFC
— Brendito Schortiz (@GeorgeGuillaume) February 6, 2023
Well, that’s one theory.
Narcissism
— papi chulo (@JeannCartierr) February 6, 2023
It would have been cool to hear Dana White give Fedor Emelianenko some respect. Instead, we get whatever that take is.