Last week, Russian website LifeSports.ru (via MMAMania.com) quoted Fedor Emelianenko's SAMBO coach Vladimir Voronov saying that "The Last Emperor" was defeated by Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva because he was hypnotized by someone sitting in the crowd at the IZOD Center. However, speaking via MixFight.ru, Voronov declared he never gave the controversial interview:

"I was really surprised by these reports. First of all, I never gave any interviews after the fight. We were on our way out of the airport, when a boy approached me asking about Fedor's health. I answered that Fedor feels alright, and will continue to compete in MMA. So he said that it seemed like Fedor didn't feel so good. I answered that maybe it only seems so, and maybe Fedor doesn't feel so well (laughing). Then, by these two phrases this lad, who even didn't say who he was, came to a conclusion that I was talking about some sort of hypnosis. It's a total bullshit."

Voronov also stated that Fedor wants to participate in the upcoming Russian National SAMBO Tournament, which will take place this week, on February 25th in St. Petersburg. Thirty-four year old Fedor Emelianenko still has two fights left on his Strikeforce/Showtime contract, currently rumored to make his return against the loser of April 9th Overeem vs. Werdum match-up.

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