A couple of notes from Josh Gross’ interview with the Russian fighting god Fedor Emelianenko. Fedor is planning to return to the ring in Japan on New Years Eve, but it won’t be against Mirko Cro Cop or as some have suggested the winner of the Josh Barnett/Andrei Arlovski fight at Affliction: Day of Reckoning. Fedor will reportedly face an opponent tailor made for the Japanese fanbase, specifically a “judo legend or sumo wrestler”. The “judo legend” would almost certainly be Hidehiko Yoshida, who win or lose is a tough SOB that always comes to fight.

Fedor is in SoCal now and along with some PR appearances is negotiating for his Affliction return, which will probably be early next year against the Arlovski/Barnett winner…

Josh Gross on Fedor @ SI.com