Fedor Emelianenko (Fyodor Yemelyanenko) is rumored to be an opponent of former UFC Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar in a UFC bout.
The website MiddleEasy said that UFC President Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta, one of the owners of Zuffa LLC--which oversees the UFC--were meeting about a potential fight between the two during UFC 168.
“Dana and Lorenzo are having a presser in the middle of prelims. Rumor is Fedor vs. Brock is being announced,” it wrote, citing reporter Ariel Helwani.
On the Emelianenko Facebook fan page, a smiley face was posted on Saturday evening amid the speculation, leading many on page and on MMA forums believe that there will be an announcement.
Lesnar, Emelianenko, and the UFC have not confirmed a fight between the two.
Earlier this week, White told USA Today that he “honestly” does not know if Lesnar wants to return to the UFC.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” he responded after he was asked by a reporter.
Emelianenko has been retired from fighting for several years.
Emelianenko, 37, was considered one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, winning the PRIDE heavyweight belt in 2004, but he never competed in the UFC.
Lesnar, 36, is a former WWE wrestler who competed in the UFC for several years before he retired after Alistair Overeem TKO'ed him in December 2011. Lesnar had underwent surgery for diverticulitis prior to the bout.
