Fedor Emelianenko (R) with Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker (L). (Photo by ProMMAnow.com)

Although MMA great Fedor Emelianenko hinted that his loss tonight to Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva could serve as the last fight of his career, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker and Fedor’s manager Vadim Finkelstein still think the Russian legend has more fight left in him.

“I think that it’s very unfortunate the doctor stopped the fight after the second round,” Finkelstein said through interpreter Evgeni Kogan. Finkelstein added that it appeared Fedor won the first round and Silva took the second, and we don’t know what would’ve happened if the fight had continued into the third.

“Vadim does not think that it was a clear cut loss,” Kogan said. “Because of that Vadim thinks that we will see Fedor return.”

When Kogan was asked to describe Fedor’s locker room after the fight, he responded, “The atmosphere…was actually pretty quiet; basically there wasn’t much said.” Emelianenko had to bypass the post-fight press conference to go to the hospital and ensure he had not suffered a broken orbital bone.

Finkelstein acknowledged that the stoppage was the correct decision to ensure Fedor’s safety.

“I think that he’s so full of strength and that he will continue,” Finkelstein said of Fedor, though he emphasized that it would be Emelianenko’s decision alone to decide whether to keep fighting.

As for Coker, he said that he also suspects Fedor will take a hard look at his next steps.

“I, like Vadim, do not believe his career is over,” Coker said. “I think he needs to go heal up and he’ll be back.”

A longtime PRIDE champion, Fedor hadn’t lost since a cut stoppage in 2000 before being submitted by Fabricio Werdum in his previous bout on June 26.

With the possibility of injuries as the tournament moves forward, Fedor could still be in the mix as an alternate. Strikeforce also held three reserve matches at the Feb. 12 East Rutherford, N.J., show, with Shane del Rosario, Chad Griggs, and Valentijn Overeem coming out victorious. If a replacement is needed, a selection committee would determine who would step in out of the available pool of alternates, including fighters that may have been previously eliminated.

“Fedor would definitely be a possibility,” Coker said, though he pointed out that he is not on the selection committee.

Fighters react

Some of the other heavyweight participants in the Strikeforce tournament also gave their thoughts on Fedor’s setback and his thoughts on possibly stepping out of the sport. Sergei Kharitonov, who defeated Andrei Arlovski by first round knockout, was disappointed that his countryman came up short.

“I have a lot of respect for Fedor,” Kharitonov said. “[I’ve always] looked up to him.”

Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem had mixed feelings, given that Fedor’s loss likely means he will not finally get his shot at Emelianenko.

“Of course I wanted to fight him,” Overeem said. “But on the other hand, he declined to fight me twice … I’m a little beyond that.”

Overeem did that say Fedor’s participation brings an added “glow” and he would’ve been interested to see the fight go to a third round, given Emelianenko’s ability to pull off wins in unlikely circumstances.

“But you have to keep performing to stay in it,” Overeem said.

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