"Yes, maybe it's the last time," the 34-year-old said moments after the fight. "Maybe it's high time. Thank God for everything. I spent a great, beautiful long sporting life. Maybe it's God's will."
If it is the end, Emelianenko (32-3, 1 no contest) will retire as the most decorated heavyweight of all time.
Some, however, seemed to think that calling it the end was a little premature.
Both Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker and M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelstein said they believe Emelianenko would reconsider his words after he had time to get over the loss. Emelianenko didn't attend the post-fight press conference in order to visit the hospital for a possible orbital bone fracture.
Fedor vs.Silva Photos
Fedor Emelianenko, of Russia, is pushed against the cage by Antonio Silva, of Brazil, during a UFC Heavyweight Grand Prix fight on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. Silva won after the end of the second round when the doctor said Emelianenko could no longer see out of his eye. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Fedor vs.Silva Photos
Fedor Emelianenko, right, of Russia, is taken down by Antonio Silva, of Brazil, during a UFC Heavyweight Grand Prix fight on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. Silva won after the end of the second round when the doctor said Emelianenko could no longer see out of his eye. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Fedor vs.Silva Photos
Antonio Silva, top, of Brazil, punches Fedor Emalianenko, of Russia, during a UFC Heavyweight Grand Prix fight on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. Silva won after the end of the second round when the doctor said Emelianenko could no longer see out of his eye. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Fedor vs.Silva Photos
Antonio Silva, top, of Brazil, punches Fedor Emalianenko, of Russia, during a UFC Heavyweight Grand Prix fight on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. Silva won after the end of the second round when the doctor said Emelianenko could no longer see out of his eye. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Fedor vs.Silva Photos
Fedor Emelianenko, of Russia, is seen with the eye that forced a stoppage of his bout against Antonio Silva, of Brazil, during a UFC Heavyweight Grand Prix fight on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. Silva won after the end of the second round when the doctor said Emelianenko could no longer see out of his eye. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Fedor vs.Silva Photos
Antonio Silva, of Brazil, third from right, celebrates with members of his camp after beating Fedor Emelianenko, of Russia, in a UFC Heavyweight Grand Prix fight on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. Silva won after the end of the second round when the doctor said Emelianenko could no longer see out of his eye. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Fedor vs.Silva Photos
Fedor Emelianenko (230) and Antonio Silva (264) are ready to do battle after weighing-in on Friday, Feb. 11, 2011 for the Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva event at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
Fedor vs.Silva Photos
Fedor Emelianenko (230) and Antonio Silva (264) are ready to do battle after weighing-in on Friday, Feb. 11, 2011 for the Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva event at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
Fedor vs.Silva Photos
Fedor Emelianenko (230) made weight on Friday, Feb. 11, 2011 for the Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva event at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
Fedor vs.Silva Photos
Antonio Silva (264) made weight on Friday, Feb. 11, 2011 for the Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva event at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
Fedor vs.Silva Photos
"The decision is up to Fedor but I think I know him quite well, and he's full of strength," Finkelstein said. "He will continue, but the decision is up to him. I will encourage him. He still has a lot to show his fans, and he will show them." "As far as retirement, he talked about it, but you know how that goes," Coker said. "People get very emotional during the fight. We'll see. But my position is we have many more fights with Fedor and I think he'll honor his contract."
Emelianenko got off to a good start in the first round against the massive Brazilian who outweighed him by around 55 pounds in the cage. Emelianenko landed power strikes early and seemed to get the better of the exchanges, though Silva did land a few hard shots of his own. In a close round, Emelianenko out-landed Silva 28-25, according to Compustrike.
But the second was as one-sided as one-sided gets. Silva ducked under an Emelianenko overhand right and took him down seconds into the round, and kept him their for the duration. Silva eventually moved into full mount and found his target repeatedly, landing 47 ground strikes while Emelianenko struggled to get out from beneath him. He never did. Silva kept the position the entire round, and Emelianenko only threatened in the final seconds with a leglock.
By then, it was too late, as Emelianenko returned to his corner with an eye that was completely shut. The doctors said he was unable to see, and the fight was called.
"I always said Superman and Robocop don't exist," said Silva (16-2). "[Fabricio] Werdum started it and i just proved Superman doesn't exist."
In the tournament opener early in the evening, Sergei Kharitonov became the first man to advance to the semifinals with a first-round knockout over former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski.
Arlovski, who was aiming to snap a three-fight losing streak, looked strong in the early going with good footwork and hand speed as he found Kharitonov's chin repeatedly. But after Arlovski controlled most of the early half of the round, the momentum shifted dramatically when Kharitonov landed a hard overhand right. Arlovski backpedaled against the fence, and Kharitonov followed him there. Working against the cage, Kharitonov drilled Arlovski with an uppercut, then floored him with a right hook. Arlvoski was in big trouble, and Kharitonov wasted no time going for the finish, putting Arlovski out with a left and then a right for good measure.
Kharitonov improved to 18-4 with the win while Arlovski fell to 15-9.
Shane Del Rosario continued his unbeaten run, improving to 11-0 with a first-round arm bar submission win over Lavar Johnson.
To win, Del Rosario was forced to weather an early storm, as Johnson landed several hard strikes and took him down in the early part of the round before Del Rosario returned to his feet and found his range. He landed a straight left and then took Johnson down off a scramble, quickly moving to full mount before locking in the arm bar.
"I knew he'd pressure me," Del Rosario said. "It's my first fight in seven months. I took some shots and he took me down. He's very strong. I kept my composure, looked for the sub and got it."
With the win, Del Rosario becomes the first alternate to replace any fighter forced out of the Grand Prix for any reason.
In other fights, Valentijn Overeem defeated Ray Sefo in just 97 seconds with a neck crank submission, while Chad Griggs scored a first-round technical knockout win over Gian Villante.
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