In the pantheon of all-time greats of mixed martial arts, very few competitors can compare to Fedor Emelianenko. Emelianenko rose to prominence as a trailblazer and legend in the highly volatile world of professional MMA, enthralling fans of the sport for over two decades.Needless to say, it was a heartbreaking sight to witness 'The Last Emperor' depart from the sport following his first-round TKO loss to Ryan Bader at the recently concluded Bellator 290. Fedor Emelianenko has inspired an entire generation of mixed martial artists and has left an indelible mark on the sport. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostAt Bellator 214 in January 2019, Emelianenko was defeated by Bader in his attempt to win the heavyweight championship. The Russian was awarded a rematch with Bader after winning his next two fights. Unfortunately, the second fight ended in a similar TKO defeat, and he announced the end of his stellar career.Several fighters and combat sports fans flocked to Twitter to respond to Fedor Emelianenko's retirement and pay tribute to the great legend. UFC bantamweight contender Rob Font wrote:"Sad way to go #Bellator290"RobFont@RobSFontSad way to go #Bellator29032Sad way to go #Bellator290Several MMA veterans, including Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, and Mark Hughes, joined Emelianenko inside the cage following the announcement of his retirement. Seeing all the MMA greats together touched Dan Ige's heart, who wrote:"Damn that was sad but cool to see all the legends get in there and support Fedor."Dan Ige@Dynamitedan808Damn that was sad but cool to see all the legends get in there and support Fedor 653Damn that was sad but cool to see all the legends get in there and support Fedor 🐐Whereas fellow MMA icon B.J. Penn simply thanked Fedor Emelianenko for his contribution to the sport:"Thank you Fedor 🙏 #PRIDENeverDie"bjpenndotcom@bjpenndotcomThank you Fedor #PRIDENeverDie20128Thank you Fedor 🙏 #PRIDENeverDieCheck out some of the best fighter reactions below:Tim Sylvia@timsylviammaHate seeing fedor going out like that. It was a honor to share the ring with him. And he was a truly nice guy. Much respect to the GOAT of heavyweights.253Hate seeing fedor going out like that. It was a honor to share the ring with him. And he was a truly nice guy. Much respect to the GOAT of heavyweights.Matt Brown@IamTheImmortalStill love you fedor! Hope he has a great life in retirement. Brutal sport. twitter.com/mmafighting/st…MMAFighting.com@MMAFightingFedor Emelianenko suffers first-round loss to Ryan Bader in retirement fight in Bellator 290 main event (@DamonMartin) mmafighting.com/2023/2/4/23586…493Fedor Emelianenko suffers first-round loss to Ryan Bader in retirement fight in Bellator 290 main event (@DamonMartin) mmafighting.com/2023/2/4/23586… https://t.co/iFhmKGFlCsStill love you fedor! Hope he has a great life in retirement. Brutal sport. twitter.com/mmafighting/st…Sean BRADY@seanbradymmaDam this scene at bellator for fedor is awesome to see all these legends985Dam this scene at bellator for fedor is awesome to see all these legendsTerrance McKinney@twrecks155Another legend down fedor you was a dawg thank you 1954Another legend down fedor you was a dawg thank you 🙏Check out some of the best fan reactions below:Brenda V Sorto@Cigana3@BellatorMMA 🥺🥹🥊🥋Such a legend, The Last Emperor, Fedor Emelianenko🤌🏼🫶🏼🥊🥋We will miss you Fedor #PrideNeverDies@BellatorMMA 🥺🥹🥊🥋Such a legend, The Last Emperor, Fedor Emelianenko🤌🏼🫶🏼🥊🥋We will miss you Fedor 🐐 #PrideNeverDiesAdam@atlcanadiangmr@MMAFighting Man all those legends coming into the ring was something special. More moments are needed like that in MMA.11@MMAFighting Man all those legends coming into the ring was something special. More moments are needed like that in MMA.Thomson@Thomson0070@SHOsports @CBS @paramountplus @BellatorMMA @CBSSports This should be how the ufc retires fighters, giving them a standing ovation23@SHOsports @CBS @paramountplus @BellatorMMA @CBSSports This should be how the ufc retires fighters, giving them a standing ovationMaverick Man@RGaleater@SHOsports @CBS @paramountplus @BellatorMMA @CBSSports Fedor is a hero and legend, eternal icon of mma we all love him forever.10@SHOsports @CBS @paramountplus @BellatorMMA @CBSSports Fedor is a hero and legend, eternal icon of mma we all love him forever.❤🇷🇺💙Epoch@0vermars1@SHOsports @CBS @paramountplus @BellatorMMA @CBSSports Surrounded by legends in the game. What an exit to an illustrious career2@SHOsports @CBS @paramountplus @BellatorMMA @CBSSports Surrounded by legends in the game. What an exit to an illustrious careereseennayr@lookoutbelow60@SHOsports @BellatorMMA @CBS @paramountplus @CBSSports Thank you Fedor for all the great fights!! End of an era. #Bellator290 #FedorEmelianenko@SHOsports @BellatorMMA @CBS @paramountplus @CBSSports Thank you Fedor for all the great fights!! End of an era. #Bellator290 #FedorEmelianenkoDerek McCarthy@DROCK9998@BellatorMMA Again, thank you Fedor !! & it was an honor to see you Live !! a true legend in the sport #MMA9@BellatorMMA Again, thank you Fedor !! & it was an honor to see you Live !! 🐐 🔥🔥🔥 a true legend in the sport #MMA https://t.co/VU38N8T6EtViktor Reyes@brendamuerta@BellatorMMA thanks for everything 🤜🏻🤛🏻 the last Emperor@BellatorMMA thanks for everything 🤜🏻🤛🏻 the last EmperorFedor Emelianenko's MMA retirement : The end of an eraFedor Emelianenko made the last walk to the octagon at the recently concluded Bellator 290 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, United States.BellatorMMA@BellatorMMA𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 begins NOW! #Bellator290 | 𝑪𝑩𝑺 & 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕+ | LIVE NOW21774𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 begins NOW! 👏📺 #Bellator290 | 𝑪𝑩𝑺 & 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕+ | LIVE NOW https://t.co/oPx3NvQZYcOn May 21, 2000, Emelianenko made his MMA debut and promptly won his first four bouts. After tasting defeat in his fifth fight, Emelianenko went undefeated in his next 28 bouts from December 2000 to June 2010, during which time he defeated the likes of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Kevin Randleman, and Mark Coleman.Emelianenko is beyond question a luminary in the sport and a number of MMA awards have been bestowed upon him. Multiple outlets, including Sports Illustrated, ranked him as the decade's best mixed-martial-arts competitor.Fedor Emelianenko was the best MMA fighter who never fought for the UFC, and he will never be replicated. Even before a fight, his charisma has always been enough to terrorize his opponents. 'The Last Emperor' maintained his composure under the brightest of lights in the biggest of venues. As combat sports enthusiasts, we consider ourselves lucky that we got to witness the career of a true legend who will never be forgotten.