It's over; Fedor retires

Quote :

Initial reports following Fedor Emelianenko’s victory over Pedro Rizzo on Thursday left his retirement in doubt, but it appears that the legendary Russian fighter has finally decided to hang up his gloves.

“I think it is time I quit,” Emelianenko said, according to a report by the Russian News & Information Agency RIA Novosti.

“My family influenced my decision. My daughters are growing without me, that’s why it’s time to leave.”

Emelianenko, 35, also apparently said that there are no “fantastic offers” that could tempt him out of retirement, specifically mentioning that even exacting revenge on Fabricio Werdum was not of great importance to him.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/fedor-emelianenko-officially-retires-no-fantastic-offers-to-tempt-him

I was never a fan, but it's still a bit weird to imagine him never fighting again.
While I think the Fedor Era ended a while ago, I acknowledge that there was in fact a Fedor Era.

He made the right decision, IMO, and went out in the best way possible for him at this point.

I will still always consider him one of the best ever no matter how his career ended.

I know a lot of people knock him for not coming to the UFC, but seriously he was already on the decline at that point anyway, what would it have proved?
He fought and beat the best during his time and that was when the UFC had nothing to offer anyways (Tim Sylvia and Arlovski).

But anyways, no need to defend the guy. Thanks for the memories and the excitement Fedor.

I hope he enjoys his family and retirement.

Yeah, no matter what you can't fault a fighter on a decline for wanting to hang em up... especially for his family, hell, family alone is enough to retire a fighter on top.

I'm glad he could end on a high note, it's sad when guys like Cro Cop retire so unceremoniously after a loss.

the one that made me love this sport! I will always be a fan, and he will always be top guy in the history of mma, no matter what anybody says. for a while he was bigger than the sport and only truly great ones can do that.
i will have a shot of vodka for his career