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Fedor, UFC finalizing deal (press conference pg 3)
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:04 pm
by Posey H8er
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_ ... -deal.htmlA 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 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.
I'll believe it when I see it.
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:11 pm
by damo[23]
Yeah this is the sort of deal that you see the rug pulled out at any stage before its completed.
However, I don't think he'll fight Brock straight away if he does enter the UFC, there was talk a while ago that if he did go to the UFC he'd want a "warm up" match since he's not fought in the octagon.
But I really hope it happens, just for the sake of unanswered questions.
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:33 pm
by CapeCrusader
When's that press conference Dana said he was hosting??...I figure he would possibly announce the return of Tito and possibly Fedor. But yeah I don't see him getting Brock right away, I agree with damo that he'll prob get a warm up fight first.
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:59 pm
by Posey H8er
Dana's conference is on Friday. Fedor is having a press conference tomorrow at 1pm PT in Anaheim, California, probably unrelated to the UFC.
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:19 pm
by CPT
I haz boner.
I think Dana White has been quoted saying he would get a title shot right away, but maybe it makes more sense to do the Couture fight right off the bat if Fedor wants a warm up.
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:22 pm
by Posey H8er
It would be good to give Fedor a warm up fight for two reasons; get name exposure to the mainstream UFC fans who don't know much about MMA outside of the UFC, and Fedor is ready to fight right now, not 5 months from now with Brock.
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:08 am
by jTF2
someone post a gif of that black kid on his birthday getting his gifts
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:14 am
by Cammo101
This is nowhere to be found on Sherdog, ESPN, or MMAWeekly. Color me skeptical.
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:24 am
by CPT
Cammo101 wrote:This is nowhere to be found on Sherdog, ESPN, or MMAWeekly. Color me skeptical.
Yeah, after seeing it here and posting, I went looking for more info and couldn't find any.
Now I think this is probably just the LA Times taking old news (UFC/Fedor in negotiations) and running with it.
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 1:09 am
by SpReEfOrAlL
I want it to be true. Badly. But im not buying it.
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 1:39 am
by Cammo101
Denying a published report Tuesday by the Los Angeles Times, M-1 Global officials told SI.com that Fedor Emelianenko and the Ultimate Fighting Championship are not close to finalizing a deal that would bring mixed martial arts' top heavyweight in the Octagon.
"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.
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 2:44 am
by High 5
It's in my head that Fedor will never fight in the UFC and that's not going to change until I see him actually fight.
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 3:15 am
by SpReEfOrAlL
Cammo101 wrote:Denying a published report Tuesday by the Los Angeles Times, M-1 Global officials told SI.com that Fedor Emelianenko and the Ultimate Fighting Championship are not close to finalizing a deal that would bring mixed martial arts' top heavyweight in the Octagon.
"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.
Mmmhmmm. And you know why they arent close? Because M-1 is run by greedy idiots. Who could care less about what is best for their client. They will turn Fedor back into a can crusher in Japan. mark my words.
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:16 am
by Cammo101
SpReEfOrAlL wrote:Cammo101 wrote:Denying a published report Tuesday by the Los Angeles Times, M-1 Global officials told SI.com that Fedor Emelianenko and the Ultimate Fighting Championship are not close to finalizing a deal that would bring mixed martial arts' top heavyweight in the Octagon.
"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.
Mmmhmmm. And you know why they arent close? Because M-1 is run by greedy idiots. Who could care less about what is best for their client. They will turn Fedor back into a can crusher in Japan. mark my words.
Prolly...and I will continue to think he would struggle mightily with Lesnar.
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:51 am
by The Flying Gent
No idea how legit this blog is, but they're independently reporting Fedor to the UFC as well. I have no real reasoning here i guess, but i do have a good feeling about this.
http://www.fiveknuckles.com/mma-news/Re ... nenko.htmlAnd personally, i wouldn't take that SI article too seriously. It seems to me it's just M1 doing what it usually does; acting like greasy dirty swine and attempting to pilfer as much money as they possibly can out of the situation.
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:56 am
by SportsWorld
I'll believe it when I see it. Hope this is true though
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:08 pm
by KNICKS1970
I'm with everyone who's skeptical, but I'm hopeful they get something done. I also agree with the thinking that Fedor should fight Randy first, then Brock.
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:14 pm
by Headliner
Would they be able to pull the Nog/Randy fight at 102 and replace it with Randy/Fedor?
Since Fedor is already in training and Randy is.
What would that leave for Nog?
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:27 pm
by SpReEfOrAlL
Fedor's press conference pretty much confirms that he isnt any where close to a UFC deal. Unless they are lying of course.
I really hope no organization bends to M-1's demands. Co-promotion isnt worth one fighter. Maybe for a smaller organization. But definitely not for the UFC. M-1 is run by sleazy morons who have a false sense of entitlement. The UFC offered Fedor a 2 mil per fight deal. And it wasn't enough? They feel they are entitled to more than that? Based on what? the 200k combined ppv buys they pulled in for his affliction shows?
I doubt Fedor makes any more money for himself or M-1 outside of the UFC. So what are they trying to pull? These guys could **** up a wet dream.
Re: LA Times: Fedor Emelianenko, UFC finalizing deal
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:08 pm
by KNICKS1970
Headliner wrote:Would they be able to pull the Nog/Randy fight at 102 and replace it with Randy/Fedor?
Since Fedor is already in training and Randy is.
What would that leave for Nog?
Knowing Dana White, if he signed Fedor this week he'd scrap the Nogueira fight at 102 and do Fedor-Randy at 103 to go up against Mayweather-Marquez.