THE LAW AFTER FEDOR?
By Loretta Hunt
With its second live event recently pushed back to April 6, BodogFIGHT reps said today they are still contemplating just who will face the world's number one fighter Fedor Emelianenko (25-1) in St. Petersburg, Russia. Previously announced opponent Jeff Monson is not locked up contractually, and word is Matt Lindland (19-4) has been approached to face the feared heavyweight on his home turf for the promotion's second pay-per-view offering.
"If that fight is being offered to me, that's a fight I'd be interested in taking," the 1996 Olympic Greco-Roman silver medalist said, choosing his words carefully.
Fighting the majority of his MMA career at middleweight (185 lbs), Lindland tested the light heavyweight (205 lbs) waters two times in 2006, with a victory over Mike Van Arsdale and a close split decision loss to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson last July.
"Van Arsdale and Jackson are two of the heavier guys for their division," said Lindland, noting the probability the pair weigh more than what the scales read the day before come fight day.
"I think I could come in over 205," Lindland volunteered when asked where he thought he'd fall in the potential bout. Sambo practitioner Emelianenko weighs in around the 230-pound mark for his bouts ands hasn't lost in some 20 fights since Dec. 2000. In Russia, the proposed bout would not be under a regulatory body's eye.
The second season of BodogFIGHT's reality series, entitled "St. Petersburg" and shot exclusively amidst the below-freezing temperatures and striking architecture of the historic city, has likely found a home with the ION Media Network, a network television broadcasting company that reaches 91 million homes, according to its Web site. BodogFight plans to launch its sophomore season beginning Feb. 6.