Bellator NYC co-headliner Fedor Emelianenko: 'I don't separate fighting and the faith'

Fedor Emelianenko said he primarily fights for two things: his faith and Russia.

Famed heavyweight Emelianenko (36-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) returns to action on Saturday when he meets Matt Mitrione (11-5 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) in the Bellator NYC pay-per-view co-headliner at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

It marks Emelianenko’s Bellator debut and his first fight in the U.S. since 2011.

“My faith comes first,” the former Strikeforce and Affliction fighter said in the above Bellator promotional video. “Everything else is secondary. I don’t separate fighting and the faith.

“They are one in the same.”

However, it’s not all about faith, he said. The 40-year-old MMA great is also Russia’s most famed mixed martial artist. Although his best days, which included a legendary run as PRIDE FC heavyweight champion, are arguably behind him, Emelianenko said he still feels pressure to fight for his home country.

“I think I’ve had a great career, and this fight is something I look forward to,” he said. “When I fight, I represent my country and my people, and in a small way, I am a window into the Russian culture.”

Check it out above.

And for complete coverage of Bellator NYC, check out the MMA Events section of the site.