I guess Rizin has a thing for kickboxers.
The Japanese-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, as reported, was trying its damnedest to find an opponent for Fedor Emelianenko -- one not named Jaideep Singh -- for its New Year's Eve extravaganza. It even reached out to World Series of Fighting (WSOF) President Ray Sefo, who was forced to decline.
The opportunity to fight him was actually offered to me, I think five weeks out from the actual New Year’s Eve fight. I was honored, but I told the guys, "Listen, that fight, I would love to have.