Rumor: Fedor Emelianenko,UFC finalizing contract

[Rampage]

Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal

2:24 PM, July 28, 2009
A long-awaited agreement between the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the man considered the world's best mixed martial arts fighter, Fedor Emelianenko, is expected to be announced by UFC President Dana White on Friday, a source with information about the negotiations told The Times today.
The source, who asked not to be identified because he's not authorized to speak publicly about the dealings, called negotiations between the UFC and Fedor "very civil" just days after Fedor's scheduled Affliction Trilogy fight Saturday against Josh Barnett was canceled.
Affliction wound up folding its MMA promotion activities and announced an apparel deal to sponsor UFC.
Now, Fedor, who has previously fought in organizations including PRIDE Fighting Championships in Japan, Bodog Fight and Affliction, is crossing over to the world's most successful MMA fighting organization, as well.
With a 30-1 record that includes victories over former UFC heavyweight champions Tim Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Emelianenko would likely get an immediate shot at reigning UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar.
The source, who is not affiliated with the UFC, said officials were discussing details on the public announcement of the deal, which in the past has been complicated by Emelianenko's resistance to accept UFC's standard six-fight contract and his unwillingness to surrender some merchandising and marketing revenues.
But this month White said he was optimistic he could bring Emelianenko aboard, and his confidence was well-placed. The UFC declined to elaborate on Friday's scheduled announcement.
-- Lance Pugmire


http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/07/fedor-emelianenko-ufc-finalizing-deal.html

 

[Hoofbite]

Wow, that would be unreal.

Probably have to break down and pay for that. It'd have to be one of the biggest and most highly anticipated fights ever.

 

[CATCH17]

I buy just about every big pay per view anyways.

For the small ones they just get streamed onto a TV with ok quality.

50 bucks is to much though.

I usually split it but I think a pay per view should be no more than 25 dollars.

 

[Hoofbite]

I buy just about every big pay per view anyways.

For the small ones they just get streamed onto a TV with ok quality.

50 bucks is to much though.

I usually split it but I think a pay per view should be no more than 25 dollars.

Pay Per View is ridiculous.

Should call it "Rape Per View"

I'm not too big on spending 50 bones when I can just watch the fight online a couple hours later.

But, if they made that fight I would consider throwing money at it.

 

[Ren]

Pleas make this happen Dana

ray:

 

[Jon88]

I think he would kick the crap out of Brock Lesnar.

 

[Rampage]

Josh Gross reports:

"I can give you a guarantee it's not accurate," said Apy Echteld of M-1 Global, a St. Petersburg, Russia-based promotion and management company of which Emelianenko is an equity stakeholder.
...
Echteld declined to comment on negotiations between M-1 Global and the UFC, which are rumored to be taking place Tuesday in Los Angeles. He pointed to a press conference Wednesday in Anaheim, Calif., for "important" news on Emelianenko's fate.
​

From an earlier post by Josh Gross discussing Zuffa's sour history of working with other promotions:

...I found a quote offered by UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta prior to UFC 31 in May of 2001 when he described Zuffa's vision for the growth of MMA:
"We believe that there is certainly enough room for everybody to be successful in this sport, and for this sport to grow and evolve, you need to have organizations work with each other as opposed to trying to break each other down."
For a time, the UFC operated with this mindset. It lent Chuck Liddell to Pride three weeks after he knocked out Kevin Randleman at UFC 31. Liddell also participated in Pride's historic light heavyweight grand prix in 2003. His presence, made possible by cooperation between promoters, helped contribute to an amazing tournament.
But the UFC's eagerness and willingness to co-promote deteriorated after it felt burned by Pride, which never returned the favor by sending any of its fighters -- Kazayuki Fujita, Kazushi Sakuraba, Wanderlei Silva were all discussed -- into the Octagon. As simple as co-promotion sounds, we're talking about jumping through enough hoops to force a Border Collie into a nap.
​

You really can't blame Dana and the Fertittas for not having much of an appetite for partnering with foreign fight promoters. Not only did PRIDE burn them -- repeatedly -- with empty promises to loan fighters like Wanderlei and Sakuraba, but Zuffa's infamous 'less than' $70 million purchase of PRIDE turned out to be the biggest burn of all.
There is one silver lining. Gross also reports that Vitor Belfort had an exclusive world-wide contract with Affliction and his contract will transfer directly to the UFC. Vitor vs Wanderlei II isn't quite Fedor vs Lesnar, but it's certainly something to look forward to

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/

 

[Ren]

Oh well, it was a good dream while it lasted

 

[Rampage]

Oh well, it was a good dream while it lasted

Fedors management are scumbags.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

This is why I didnt hold my breath on this. I knew his management was probably never going to let this happen. They're not interested in him fighting in the UFC, or fighting any of the really top competition of today. They're interested in him continuing to stay undefeated, fighting second tier contenders, in order to live and breath off his name value.

It's a shame. There are some great fights to be seen for Fedor in UFC if they could just get it done.

 

[Ren]

This is why I didnt hold my breath on this. I knew his management was probably never going to let this happen. They're not interested in him fighting in the UFC, or fighting any of the really top competition of today. They're interested in him continuing to stay undefeated, fighting second tier contenders, in order to live and breath off his name value.

It's a shame. There are some great fights to be seen for Fedor in UFC if they could just get it done.

If all they where interested in was 2nd tier opponents they would have never scheduled the Barnett fight.

I'm fairly sure they'd let him fight just about anyone as long as it's under the M-1 banner and that's the problem.
The UFC doesn't need or want to partner up with M-1.

 

[Rampage]

This is why I didnt hold my breath on this. I knew his management was probably never going to let this happen. They're not interested in him fighting in the UFC, or fighting any of the really top competition of today. They're interested in him continuing to stay undefeated, fighting second tier contenders, in order to live and breath off his name value.

It's a shame. There are some great fights to be seen for Fedor in UFC if they could just get it done.

what top competition is in the UFC hw division?

 

[Jon88]

So the UFC got burned for purchasing Pride for $70 million? I would imagine so since it was going out of business.

To be honest I liked Pride better than the UFC and Dream is almost exactly like Pride. It's better too. The UFC is just too bland, and now from what I hear they're making it like the WWE with fake stuff going on.

I hope Dream becomes as big as Pride was. I don't understand what happened to Pride.

Edit: Now I know. They were connected to the Japanese mob and their main television provider dropped them upon finding out.

 

[Jon88]

what top competition is in the UFC hw division?

None. It's full of crap fighters. Its almost as bad as boxing. Lesnar would get his *** kicked by Fedor, along with all the other bums.

 

[Ren]

So the UFC got burned for purchasing Pride for $70 million? I would imagine so since it was going out of business.

To be honest I liked Pride better than the UFC and Dream is almost exactly like Pride. It's better too. The UFC is just too bland, and now from what I hear they're making it like the WWE with fake stuff going on.

I hope Dream becomes as big as Pride was. I don't understand what happened to Pride.

Dream is a lot like Pride but they lack the big name fighters right now, it's kinda like a Pride reboot. Given enough time i'm sure they'll be able to get it to the level Pride was.

 

[TheCount]

I'm no expert, but how much exchanging does Brock do standing up in general? Seemed like the one clean standup exchange in the last match with Mir, he didn't look all that great. And how is Fedor on the ground, cause I have a feeling Brock will just try to wrestle him to the ground and use his weight and strength.

 

[Monster Heel]

Until Fedor breaks away from his management, he's not fighting in the UFC. And I don't think he's ever getting away from his management for obvious reasons.

 

[Jon88]

I'm no expert, but how much exchanging does Brock do standing up in general? Seemed like the one clean standup exchange in the last match with Mir, he didn't look all that great. And how is Fedor on the ground, cause I have a feeling Brock will just try to wrestle him to the ground and use his weight and strength.

Fedor really has no weakness. He's great on the ground. Look up "Fedor vs Hong Man Choi" on YouTube. He fights this 7'6 350 lb giant.

 

[Jon88]

Until Fedor breaks away from his management, he's not fighting in the UFC. And I don't think he's ever getting away from his management for obvious reasons.

What are the reasons? He could make a ton of money in the UFC.

 

[Monster Heel]

What are the reasons? He could make a ton of money in the UFC.

They're into some seedy business.