Russian UFC fighter Yana Kunitskaya commented on the outcome of Fedor Emelianenko's fight with Ryan Bader and expressed her opinion that Fedor should have fought an opponent his own age.
We watched this fight. Fedor is Thiago's [Santos] favorite fighter. Of course, everything happened as expected. I think he retired late. Of course I understand his desire to fight, but 46 years is very, very late. Obviously, I wish Bellator would have given him a chance to fight a legend like himself in his final bout, someone his own age, but that fight was non-competitive. I'm not sure what purpose it served. They could have arranged a fight with a popular fighter like Fedor, who is on the verge of retirement, so that Fedor would leave on a higher note. It certainly left me with mixed feelings.
Yana Kunitskaya exclusively for Telecom Asia Sport
“I guess he thought he could still compete, but at this age you have to get real. Besides, it was their second fight and Fedor lost the first one as well. I think every athlete wants to make a statement for themselves, to make up for their defeats. I understand him in that respect. It's his personal decision, but it doesn't change the fact that he's a legend. I don't think anybody doubts that. This fight hasn't affected his status at all," Kunitskaya said in an interview with Telecomasia.net.
On February 5 in Los Angeles at the Bellator 290 tournament, Fedor Emelianenko lost by first-round TKO to Ryan Bader, after which he announced the end of his career.