Fedor in talks with UFC

[organized_konfusion]

The cancellation of Affliction “Trilogy” and resulting collapse of Affliction Entertainment as a mixed martial arts promotion, leaves the UFC with perhaps its best chance to date to land former Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight titleholder Fedor Emelianenko.

Still, Vadim Finkelchtein, Emelianenko’s manager and M-1 Global president, clings to the idea that the Russian’s involvement with the UFC will only come through co-promotional efforts.

“This is the moment of truth that the UFC has talked about,” Finkelchtein said in a statement on the M-1 Global Web site. “Fedor and I are here in the states. If they want to come out and fly here, we are ready to conduct negotiations. Of course, it still doesn’t imply we are ready to accept any conditions they’ll throw at us. We want to talk to the UFC about having Fedor compete against some of their fighters, but only within the framework of co-promotional efforts with M-1 Global.”

Unbeaten in his 27 fights, Emelianenko (30-1, 1 NC) flattened former UFC champions Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia in his most recent outings in the ring. The 32-year-old Russian knocked out Arlovski with one punch 3:14 into their match at Affliction “Day of Reckoning,” as he posted his 10th consecutive victory since a no contest in 2004.

Hard to handle on his feet and on the ground, Emelianenko has finished his last five opponents inside one round and holds victories against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, 2006 Pride Open Weight Grand Prix winner Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic and former UFC heavyweight champions Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman. He has delivered 23 of his 30 career wins by knockout, technical knockout or submission.

Emelianenko was booked to face Josh Barnett in the Affliction “Trilogy” main event on Aug. 1 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. However, the bout fell through when Barnett tested positive for a banned anabolic agent, causing the entire event to collapse. What move Emelianenko, the world’s top heavyweight, makes from here remains to be seen.

“We are now with Fedor in the US, and we hope to make a decision about his next fight within the next few days,” Finkelchtein said. “There are many business meetings and negotiations planned with all the major promotions.”

---Hopefully this will happen

[Hunter]

My point made a co event with fedor fighting ufc fighters but not under contract with the ufc. All becouse dana is a control freak who loves his clauses.

[quarry206]

I so hope that they make this happen

[organized_konfusion]

I'm sure Dana has something up his sleeve, but I honestly do not see him letting M-1 share the same floor with the UFC......But if he scoops up Fedor it would be sick!

[BgMc31]

I think Dana will make this happen. Fedor v Lesnar could be MMA's 1st $20million fight. This would be huge and IMO, it will happen!! Dana may be a control freak, but he loves money even more.

[organized_konfusion]

agreed, if he had that match up they would make a ridiculous amount of cash and make UFC even bigger than what it is now

[icepick27]

i think dana is a genius ,and i hope it happens but ,the ufc dont need m1 global or fedor they are doing just fine without him ,so i dont see dana really giving in to fedors mangers anytime soon ..it would be great then we can see if fedor actully get tested although

[southmadejd]

^^I hate to say it, but I agree with you Icepick. The UFC doesn't neccassarily need Fedor and I can't honestly see them hosting an event with another promotion.

Personally, I would first want to see Fedor fight Randy Couture, then Lesnar. Just because I have always wanted to see Fedor fight Randy. I just got a slight hard on talking about those two fights. Then I want to see Machida challenge Fedor to a fight at 220. Now I am fully erect.

[J-Dogg]

My point made a co event with fedor fighting ufc fighters but not under contract with the ufc. All becouse dana is a control freak who loves his clauses.

A control freak? Or a smart business move?

I think Dana is doing the right thing for the UFC to be the dominate MMA organization in the world, and it is and has been since just prior to the demise of pride.

Why is Dana the control freak anyway? Every other decorated fighter in the world, is signed with the UFC, but Fedor.

Dana should not compromise his contracts or business style with Fedor, or other fighters will try the same thing.

Personally, If I were Dana, I don't need Fedor, he needs me. Sign with the UFC, or go down as the guy that ran from the top fighters for the last 5 years of his career, and the most important 5 years for mainstream MMA.

[Hunter]

A control freak? Or a smart business move?

I think Dana is doing the right thing for the UFC to be the dominate MMA organization in the world, and it is and has been since just prior to the demise of pride.

Why is Dana the control freak anyway? Every other decorated fighter in the world, is signed with the UFC, but Fedor.

Dana should not compromise his contracts or business style with Fedor, or other fighters will try the same thing.

Personally, If I were Dana, I don't need Fedor, he needs me. Sign with the UFC, or go down as the guy that ran from the top fighters for the last 5 years of his career, and the most important 5 years for mainstream MMA.

Champion clause I understand. Most of the ufc fighters did not get payed for the ufc game they just put out even tho it used there likeness, if they would not sign to allow that dana fired them i.e jon fitch.

[BgMc31]

Dana does need Fedor to legitimize the heavyweight division. Having Fedor in the folds shuts up all questions about the dominance of the UFC and all the fights, all the fights, can be made.

Dana is a genius, IMO. He's an asshole, but still a genius!! LOL!!!

[organized_konfusion]

Dana talking about Fedor:

“Regardless of what I think of Fedor or where I think he sits in the heavyweight division, it doesn’t mean anything. What matters is that the fans want to see it. I’ve been trying to get this guy in the UFC. We’re still trying now.”

It has been a tough go however. There are sticking points between Fedor’s management and the UFC that neither party has been able to set aside. One of the key issues appears to be the UFC not wanting to co-brand its events, and M-1 Global, Fedor’s management company, refusing to do a fight without its brand attached. But even that isn’t abundantly clear.

"I have no idea what they want. Everything makes no sense to me,” said a frustrated White earlier this year. “I think they thought, 'You know, we'll partner up with these guys and we'll own a piece of this thing.' It's all mixed signals.

"When I first met with these guys, (Fedor's) manager is like, 'Here's what we want to do. My brother is the biggest rock concert promoter (in Russia). So here's what we want. We want you to build an arena in Russia.'"

That was obviously not high on the UFC’s list of acceptable concessions.

However, if the two sides are eventually able to come to an agreement, Fedor’s first challenge in the Octagon will be to vie for the UFC heavyweight championship currently held by Brock Lesnar.

“He’ll fight for the title (in his first UFC fight),” said White on Friday.

But if it actually does come to fruition, the brash UFC leader wavered on the outcome of that fight. “Here’s the thing, Fedor has a ton of experience. The guy’s been around forever, but you can’t take anything away from Brock Lesnar. What this guy has accomplished in a short amount of time is phenomenal.

“It’s a very interesting fight.”

Indeed. It would also be the coup that solidifies the UFC’s heavyweight champion as the No. 1 heavyweight fighter in the world, but only time will tell if it will ever happen.

[organized_konfusion]

So it sounds like Fedor's manager is a GIANT DOUSCHE PUMP

[Hunter]

So it sounds like Fedor's manager is a GIANT DOUSCHE PUMP

two sides to every story.

[organized_konfusion]

I say give Fedor a 1 fight deal, no M-1 in this fight, If he loses M-1 is gone, if he wins then they can work something out and maybe put a little M-1 on the fighter's trunks!

[Brown Ninja]

UFC will not share with M1. It's like Nike catering to Prowings