"I rushed to declare my retirement. I will fight more. Possibly, I will return to the Heavyweight Grand-Prix.
I am capable of having a few more fights. I didn't make any analysis yet on why I lost. I need to recover, I can't see very well yet." - Fedor Emelianenko, after returning to Russia
Fedor's trainers believe he will be back to training very soon:
"It's very nice that Fedor still has his fighting spirit, he is ready to rip everyone apart right now. Yes, his eye is swallowed, but it will heal. Most importantly for him not to have any psychological pressure. After this, he will train with a triple effort." - Vladimir Voronov, SAMBO coach.
Fedor is capable to return to the tournament. Everybody stumbles, this is not the end of the world" - Alexander Michkov, striking coach
-Giving the fact that Fedor has lost two of his last fight, do you things something needs to be changed in the way he trains? maybe add something new or remove something form the training?
- We haven't given this a thought yet, but its obvious that something needs to be changed. This question is open right now.
-Right afetr the fight, Fedor declared that he is thinking about retiring. Did you talk to him about it, what's his opinion now?
- He is ready to continue fighting. The lost has broken him at all, it was emotions speaking.
-Whose initiative it was to stop the fight, was is the doctor or Fedor himself?
-It was doctor's decision. He asked Fedor is he wants to continue the fight, and Fedor said: "Yes, I want to continue" At first, doctor agreed, but then he moved a little, came back and said that he can't allow Fedor to return for a third round, because his eye completely shut and he (doctor) couldn't take that responsibility to let him fight.
-How is Fedor now? How is his eye?
- Everything is OK. It was just a regular haematoma, when one of the vein is popped. Already yesterday, he could see everything. The eye is not damaged at all.
-What are the plans for the near future?
-Fedor expressed his desire to participate in Russian National Sambo tournament, so in the end of the month (tournament will be held in February 25 and 26), we are going to St Petersburg. We are not taking any pauses and are ready to train and be involved in the various competitions