How long before Fedor comes to the UFC?

millerman 3732

With recent collapse of Affliction how long will it be before Fedor Emelianenko enters the UFC, I feel he'll be fighting in the octagon with in 6 months, hell where else could he go?...Strikeforce?

From Sherdog.com

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.”

Matt34

Can't wait until he does. UFC needs a HW champ with some class, not some WWE reject.

Sami

millerman 3732 wrote: »

With recent collapse of Affliction how long will it be before Fedor Emelianenko enters the UFC, I feel he'll be fighting in the octagon with in 6 months, hell where else could he go?...Strikeforce?

Maybe Dream, who knows. I do hope he does UFC at least for a few fights. I have tickets for UFC 103 and it looks like the card just got much better due to Affliction 3 being cancelled. Looks like it's going to be Belfort - Henderson and Tito - Franklin as co main events with CroCop - Santos on HW card.

Disc Jockey

He reportedly has big issues with how the UFC contracts are structured and the control he has to give up. Here's hoping there's a way (enough money) around it and Fedor shows Brock a thing or two. He's already shown he's willing to fight on his own terms out of the limelight rather than give up that control, so we'll see.

MacLeod

I think Fedor is the baddest dude on the planet and I would love to see him fight in UFC! Brock Lesnar is a freaking monster and could easily be the best fight Fedor has ever had. Lesnar, like Fedor, is just a natural badass and has the size to handle Fedor. I think in the end tho that Fedor is the better fighter but gawdamighty that would be the fight of the century!

zarrdoss

I would like to see Bill Goldberg get into that action. but don't think his wife would allow it.

millerman 3732

Well shows what I know, From Sherdog.com

Fedor Emelianenko has signed a multi-fight agreement that will see the world’s No. 1-ranked heavyweight compete for Strikeforce, the promotion announced Monday.

Emelianenko, who became a free agent after Affliction Entertainment canceled its Aug. 1 event two weeks ago, will make his debut on Showtime under a co-promoted Strikeforce/M-1 Global production this fall. Emelianenko was to have faced Josh Barnett at Affliction “Trilogy” on Aug. 1, but Barnett failed a pre-fight test for an anabolic steroid and was refused licensure by the California State Athletic Commission.

"Strikeforce is a top fight promotion that houses some of the greatest fighters in the world," said Emelianenko in a press release. "I am prepared to fight any of them."

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told Sherdog.com last week that he plans to match the stoic Russian against the likes of Brett Rogers, Fabricio Werdum and the promotion’s heavyweight champion, Alistair Overeem.

“I feel pretty confident that we could give him four or five opponents that would make sense for him,” Coker told Sherdog.com in an exclusive video interview.

Emelianenko, along with his promoters and management team at M-1 Global, had negotiated with the UFC last week, but could not come to an agreement over co-promotion.

"Fedor is a f---ing joke," UFC President Dana White responded Monday after learning that Emelianenko had signed with Strikeforce. “He turns down a huge deal and the opportunity to face the best in the world to fight nobodies for no money!"

White also addressed fans: "I feel sorry for the real fight fans. I wanted to make the deal, but it takes two and it is very obvious Fedor doesn't want to fight the best, and doesn't give a sh-t about the fans!"

Sami

If that's how White responded, no wonder Fedor doesn't want to fight in UFC. Dana, you have to face the fact that your HW division isn't that great. Strikeforce arguably has a better champion in Overeem than UFC has in Lesnar, and both orgs have very little depth. Couture and Noguiera are big names but both are over the hill, and would not beat Fedor anyways. Santos is a prospect but there's really not much to get excited about the HW division.

unclepauly

I don't think it's gonna happen. Fedor wants to further his agenda while White wants make his agenda the only one in town. Sucks cause I think Lesnar/Fedor would be one of the greatest fights to ever happen. Even though Lesnar should be at a higher weight class.

Matt34

Hard to say who's to blame but obviously the fans are the ones in the end getting the shaft. Strikeforce doesn't have near the exposure nor promotion as the UFC does and I'm sure Dana's offer was monetarily more than what Strikeforce gave him. Politics getting in the way like usual.

Sami

Matt34 wrote: »

Strikeforce doesn't have near the exposure

No, but they are on Showtime which means I don't have to pay PPV.

I think Rossen hits the nail in the head with his assessment of the HW competition in- and outside of UFC:

http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/three-for-three-evaluating-the-ufcstrikeforce-talent-gap-18893

Toxis

I'm sorry but no matter his size or how fast he's learning the sport, Lesner doesn't hold a chance in hell against Fedor. Lesner's a big and bad man but Fedor has fought guys bigger and taller and more experienced... and he won them all. His only NC came from a cut that the doctor called. He's won every other fight. I personally would pay $150 for a PPV to watch Fedor knock out Lesner. I really can't stand that guy. He's the reason WWE fighters get no respect from me in real fighting... they're brought up to talk ****, not fight well. Lesner's doing better than I gave him credit for but he's a POS and has no class. There's more professionalism in MMA than Boxing these days, and Boxing used to be known as the Gentleman's sport. I say MMA now.

Sami

It's actually a loss since it was a tournament, otherwise it would have been a NC. The NC is against Noguiera for accidental head butt.