Even if Fedor Emelianenko ends up winning a seat in the Russian Parliament, his country's politics will not take away from the top heavyweight's fight career, says M-1 Global Director of Operations Evgeni Kogan.

"I don't think it would be particularly strenuous," Kogan tells MMAFighting.com. "We're talking about a particular region in Russia that he's in. We're not talking about federal politics as far as Russia is concerned ... It's not necessarily a strenuous task for him to deal with that and fight at the same time."

Of course, Fedor would have to win the election first before he would have to factor in his political obligations to his schedule.

Kogan added: "All the talk of his potential political career influencing his fighting came from one article on one website, who basically were stirring the pot and put that he was going to announce his retirement shortly after winning the political elections for that region."

He's referring to MiddleEasy.com, who was first to pass along the news but also added a grand rumor that in the scenario where Fedor were to win, the final PRIDE heavyweight champion would retire from MMA.

Kogan says that's not the case at all and Fedor is one of 58 candidates in a primary election for a "small number of positions" in the region of Belgorod. There was no campaigning involved and Fedor was basically offered a nomination in the United Russia Party.

"He was basically, I think, volunteered," Kogan said. "His name was put forward. He's someone who is pretty much a role model in the community in Stary Oskol and it was almost a natural step for someone to put him forward as a candidate for the Belgorod region. I think it was the kind of thing that he wasn't going to refuse."