During a Tuesday press conference in Moscow, Fedor Emelianenko announced that he will return to Russia to compete under the Fight Nights Global banner against UFC veteran Fabio Maldonado.
The news was first reported by Brazilian outlet Combate.
"I have no words to express my admiration for the scale of the event, the tournament and the opportunity to fight in June with the biggest name of modernity," Maldonado said at the presser. "This sport is the most unpredictable, but we have witnessed how the biggest names of the sport have lost battles."
Fedor, who will split his training between his home base of Stary Oskol and the Netherlands, added that he believes Maldonado is a talented fighter with a well-rounded game.