Rumor: Rolles Gracie will be Fedor Emelianenko’s next opponent

Earlier today news broke that Fedor Emelianenko may fight Rolles Gracie this summer at his previously announced fight at the ice palace, St. Petersburg, Russia, on June 21st. Gracie, the son of the legendary BJJ pioneer Rolls Gracie, had this to say about the fight today:

“Where there is smoke there is fire. My manager is under negotiation with M1. We’re really close to make this fight against Fedor to happen.”– Courtesy of: fightline.com

While his words online may show great enthusiasm for the proposed bout, Gracie will find himself with a tough task in front of him should he face “The Last Emperor.” Gracie currently sports a 6-1 MMA record, having most recently bested Bob Sapp in February. However, Rolles Gracie was noticeably gassed in his single UFC bout in 2010, a TKO loss to Joey Beltran. It will be interesting to see how he can respond to the noticeable step-up in competition that Fedor Emelianenko presents. Gracie was the American National No-Gi Super heavyweight champion in 2010, a testament to his family’s prowess. His vast BJJ background would be put to the complete test against submission whiz Emelianenko.

What Gracie also brings to the table as a potential opponent of Emelianenko is instant name recognition. The Gracie family is the single most famous last name in fighting to this day, and this fact will provide a good amount of interest to this bout. If Fedor Emelianenko does not find himself fighting in the UFC as was previously rumored, fighting opponents with some recognition will be key to remain relevant. Emelianenko has responded well to a small slide last year by beating Jeff Monson via decision and knocking out Satoshi Ishii on New Year’s Eve in Japan. Stayed tuned to Lowkick.com for more information.

Further Reading: Fedor Emelianenko to return on June 21st in Russia

Photo: Francis Specker