Fedor Emelianenko Blitzes Pedro Rizzo for Third Straight Win in M-1 Global

Former Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight titleholder Fedor Emelianenko was in vintage form, as he wiped out Pedro Rizzo in less than 90 seconds on Thursday in the M-1 Global “Fedor vs. Rizzo” main event at the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. Afterward, the 35-year-old announced his intention to retire from the sport, according to multiple news outlets.

Rizzo (19-10), who had not competed in nearly two years, lay unconscious 1:24 into round one, the latest in a long line of men victimized by Emelianenko’s power and speed.

The Russian icon set the tone from the start, as he put Rizzo on his heels with a crisp left hook roughly 40 seconds after the fight began. Later, he followed a quick kick to the Brazilian’s left leg with a thudding overhand right behind the ear that sent Rizzo crashing to the canvas. Dazed and vulnerable, the former UFC heavyweight title contender was a sitting duck. Emelianenko followed him to the canvas and flipped the off switch with a series of vicious haymakers.

Emelianenko, who turns 36 in September, has pieced together a nifty three-fight winning streak, albeit against less-than-stellar opposition. His latest run of success comes on the heels of back-to-back-to-back losses to two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships gold medalist Fabricio Werdum, onetime EliteXC heavyweight champion Antonio Silva and former two-division Pride titleholder Dan Henderson that resulted in his unceremonious release from Strikeforce.