Fedor Open to UFC Talks

Sunday, July 26, 2009
by Brian Knapp (bknapp@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.”


http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/fedor- ... alks-18734

Intresting news!

You think there will ever be a "UFC and M-1 Global presents..." event?

Would be cool but doesnt sound like UFC´s style. But then again everybody must evolve and this is something positive so I hope they reach a deal

No, that would be incredibly silly. The UFC doesn't need M-1, but M-1 clearly needs someone to piggyback and leech off of.

Fedor and his management are the ones who need to evolve, and quit being bitches with the exclusivity stuff; there's close to 300 fighters in the UFC, and few of them whine about it. They're glad to be there.

From the M-1 Global web site:

"We are now with Fedor in the U.S. and we hope to make a decision about his next fight within the next few days," Finkelchtein stated. "There are many business meetings and negotiations planned with all the major promotions. We will explore the possibility of Fedor fighting Barnett and will even look into whether the fight can take place as soon as August (since Barnett has not been suspended)."

Finkelchtein also believes that the cancellation of "Trilogy" could be used as an opportunity to jump start stagnant negotiations to bring Fedor to the UFC.

"This is the moment of truth that the UFC has talked about. 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."

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/7/26/96 ... ager-vadim

Dana would never hold a co promotion id think

We really need ONE thread for all this.

It's more likely they hold separate events with the same fighters. It's all what-if's and maybe's right now.

Im just hoping Fedor signs, hes still got some good fights ahead of him IMO

This quote says it all:
"All these talks about "strict" contract terms with signing with UFC, come ONLY from Vadim Finkelstein, who wants to push his own business projects through Fedor's fights"

The author? Aleksander Emelianenko.

Fedor ain't coming to the UFC, unless Finkelstein shitcans the co-promotion bullshit. No businessman in their right mind would play ball with Finkelstein and accept the co-promotion terms. BoDog and Affliction are perfect illustrations of this, and you know M-1 lost absolutely nothing on those deals.

Russians are Russians and do business differently. Nothing new or wrong with that... Its like, why make someone else rich when you can make yourself rich?
He he Dunkelstein could well get off hiss ass and let fedor fight in UFC and make the world a better place imo!
Just for the good of it and the exitement it would create. the world would thank him forever.