Alexander Emelianenko Facing Jail Time on Sexual Assault Charges

MMA veteran Alexander Emelianenko is facing some very serious charges as, according to MMABoxing.RU (h/t BloodyElbow.com), the Pride veteran is currently facing four to six years of prison time stemming from sexual assault allegations. The victim's lawyer released the following statement:

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First, the court should extend Emelianenko's arrest which ends June 30, and we will defend our position that he is really dangerous to society. Most likely, Alexander Emelianenko get imprisonment from four to six years. Any way we will insist on that.

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His relationship with the victim is currently unknown, as is the date of any forthcoming trial.

Alexander Emelianenko, of course, is the brother of mixed martial arts legend Fedor Emelianenko. He competed alongside his brother in the now-defunct Pride FC, taking on elite heavyweights like Josh Barnett and Mirko Cro Cop, compiling a 6-2 record with the promotion. Following Pride's dissolution, he became a journeyman of Russia's regional heavyweight, fighting predominantly in M-1 but also appearing in numerous smaller promotions.

Controversy swirled around Emelianenko in 2008, when he was scheduled to face Paul Buentello at Affliction: Banned. The matchup was scrapped when he was denied a license to compete by the California State Athletic Commission.

Rumors swirled, via MMA News (h/t Bloody Elbow), that this was because Emelianenko was infected with Hepatitis B, a viral ailment that can be transmitted by bodily fluids. While the CSAC is not allowed to comment on medical issues with its fighters on the grounds of doctor-patient confidentiality, commissioner Bill Douglas went so far as to say that he will never fight in California, or anywhere else in the United States. Since then, Emelianenko has fought exclusively in Russia and its neighboring countries.

Details are still breaking on this story, so stick with Bleacher Report for more updates as they become available.