Defeat an end to legend’s career?

Emelianenko (31-4), who took on fellow legend Dan Henderson (28-8), dazed his opponent with a vicious barrage of blows but was countered and knocked out with a right uppercut late in the first round.

While the loss could very well mark the end of his career, Emelianenko was his usually stoic self in the event’s post-fight news conference. He talked about his life priorities — including his family and his religion — and how his fighting career must now take a backseat to them.

While most of his career was spent overseas, Emelianenko signed with Strikeforce in 2009 after he rebuffed offers from the UFC. But the UFC now owns Strikeforce. And given UFC president Dana White’s frosty relationship with Emelianenko’s manager, Vadim Finkelstein, it’ll be tough to finalize a new deal, which the 34-year-old needs since he fulfilled the terms of his previous one.

“Right now, what I’d like to do is return home to Russia to see my newborn daughter,” Emelianenko said. “She was just born, and I’m very fortunate for this gift in my life. With respect to MMA, I just have to think about it and decide what I’m going to do in the future.

“But life goes on. Thank God for that.”

Franklin’s story goes Hollywood: Rich Franklin’s MMA career is headed to the silver screen.

Double E Pictures announced this past week it’s optioned the West Chester Twp. resident’s life rights to produce a film entitled “American Fighter.” Eric Eisner is directing, Mathew Cullen of Motion Theory is executive producing, and screenwriter David Hollander has been tasked with creating the script.

The film will follow Franklin’s rise from a high school math teacher to a self-taught fighter who became a UFC champion just as MMA exploded in popularity.

Finney meets boxing champ:Springfield native Jan Finney (8-9) has been booked for an upcoming MMA bout with boxing notable Holly Hamm (1-0 MMA and 30-1-3 boxing).

The fight headlines “Fresquez Productions: Clash In The Cage” on Sept. 9 in Albuquerque, N.M.

Finney, a Springfield native and former Urbana University softball player who now fights out of Beavercreek, competes for the first time since a two-fight stint in Strikeforce, which included a title loss to champ Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos.