Fedor signs with StrikeForce

[BlackSwordsMan]

http://mmajunkie.com/news/15713/brea...co-promote.mma

[Evan]

World's No. 1 MMA Heavyweight To Fight

In STRIKEFORCE / M-1 Global Co-Promoted Events

First Fight To Air This Fall, Live on SHOWTIME®

NEW YORK (August 3, 2009)--After a week of intense negotiations and speculation, the hottest topic of discussion in the professional fight world has come to a head as the world's number one heavyweight and most sought after mixed martial arts (MMA) champion Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko has signed a historic, multi-fight agreement that will see him headline mega-events co-promoted by world championship promotions STRIKEFORCE and M-1 Global.

Emelianenko, known globally as Fedor, will make his premium television debut this Fall when his first fight under the new agreement airs live on SHOWTIME®. Up until now, Emelianenko's live fights have aired exclusively on pay-per-view in the United States.

"I am looking forward to going back to work and fighting at the highest level," said the 33-year-old Emelianenko. During his nine year professional fight career, which included a four and a half year stay with the world's former top MMA promotion, the now defunct PRIDE Fighting Championship, the Russian native has faced and defeated all comers.

In his last effort, the 6-foot, 235-pound Emelianenko decimated the number two ranked heavyweight at the time Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski with a single punch in the first round (3:14) of the main event of Affliction: "Day of Reckoning" at Anaheim, California's Honda Center on January 24.

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

"We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with M-1 Global and Fedor," said STRIKEFORCE Founder and CEO Scott Coker, a martial arts fight promoter of over 25 years. "Fedor has been the reigning king of MMA's heavyweight division for quite some time now so being able to work with M-1 and Fedor will substantially increase the level of compe ion amongst the athletes in this weight class."

[djohn14]

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

So thats why hes not with the UFC.

[Rip-Hamilton32]

what HWs does strikeforce have?

[robbie380]

Certainly disappointing to see....can't wait to see dana's commentary on this lol

[Evan]

what HWs does strikeforce have?

Under exclusive contract I think one and thats Brett Rogers.

[BlackSwordsMan]

fedor is such a head
I hope he gets subbed in every fight

[Rip-Hamilton32]

i believe Fedor is afraid of Brock

[dbreiden83080]

So M1 is seriously gonna make more money with Strikeforce than with the UFC when Striekforce is bleeding money already and he has nobody to fight there..

[dbreiden83080]

i believe Fedor is afraid of Brock

He might be, this makes no sense why he took this deal

fedor is such a head
I hope he gets subbed in every fight

head for sure..

[dbreiden83080]

"We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with M-1 Global and Fedor," said STRIKEFORCE Founder and CEO Scott Coker, a martial arts fight promoter of over 25 years. "Fedor has been the reigning king of MMA's heavyweight division for quite some time now so being able to work with M-1 and Fedor will substantially increase the level of compe ion amongst the athletes in this weight class."

Translation, M1 sucks 50% of the money dry made off the Fefor fights and since he has never made anyone money, they'll be out of business maybe in 2 years..

A look at Fedor's stellar compe on..

Emelianenko, a longtime PRIDE champion who's widely regarded as the sport's No. 1 ranked heavyweight, currently owns a 24-fight win streak. He becomes an immediate challenger in Strikeforce's heavyweight division, which currently boasts Alistair Overeem as its champion. However, Overeem hasn't fought since winning the le in November 2007 and was recently scratched from an Aug. 15 le with Fabricio Werdum because of a hand injury.

[BlackSwordsMan]

evan always changes my les

[dbreiden83080]

Good read here..


http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/...74451&name=mma


Wait, wait -- what? Fedor signs with Strikeforce

Monday, August 3, 2009


Posted by Jake Rossen/Sherdog.com

According to a press release just detonated by Strikeforce public relations, consensus No. 1 heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko has signed a multi-fight deal with the San Jose-based company: his first fight is scheduled to air in the fall, live on Showtime.

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

Of course he is. What else would he say?

The release takes care to point out that these "mega-events" will be "co-promoted" by both Strikeforce and M-1 Global, satisfying M-1 chief Vadim Finkelstein's need for taking a percentage stake in the event financials.

The first question: a percentage of what? Emelianenko's first bout will air on the cable network, and it's fairly obvious they have an eye on getting him network television exposure. (Showtime is owned by CBS.) Neither approach requires a NASA calculator to balance the books: Strikeforce has traditionally kept their spending manageable and their profits modest relative to the UFC monolith. Is the plan to "build" the 33-year-old athlete into a pay-per-view attraction, or hope they can manipulate his cult-status stateside profile into big ratings and ad dollars?



The second: does Emelianenko's reputation take a hit among casual fans who heard faint "Lesnar vs. Fedor" noise and now wonder why that's not happening? Strikeforce has a few talented heavyweights who could keep Emelianenko busy for the next two years -- but whether they're perceived as quality compe ion or consolations is another matter.



Brett Rogers, a Strikeforce regular, is a tough guy. Brock Lesnar, who weighs 50 pounds more than Emelianenko and helped invite at least 1.7 million pay-per-view customers in July, is probably a tougher guy; Alistair Overeem could potentially present more problems for Fedor than anyone -- but he has never beaten a ranked heavyweight fighter beyond a lone bout with Sergei Kharitonov in 2006; Fabricio Werdum is reminiscent of Antonio Nogueira, a fighter whose life span was probably shortened by Emelianenko bruising his brain on three separate occasions.



The UFC currently holds five of the nine ranked heavyweights outside of Emelianenko in the sport; Strikeforce holds two.



Finkelstein got what he wanted. Did fans?

[Stringer_Bell]

So, basically, Strikeforce is going out of business in 2010?

M-1 won't be able to generate the hype they need, not from the MMA fan base after what happened with the UFC. Brock vs Fedor would have brought more people into the sport, this Strikeforce stuff is only about Fedor's management milking every last cent from him until they let him get whooped back to back in the UFC (in the best case scenario that Dana even lets him sign). M-1 is , feel sorry for the companies that got hooked in by Fedor (amazing abilities and crappy marketing).

[dbreiden83080]

Dana


"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!"

[benefactor]

Werdum? Overeem?

Just come out and say you are scared Fedor.

[djohn14]

I kind of feel bad for him. He had a chance to really cement his name as the best fighter in the history of the sport, and he blew that. Its his own fault though. So in my openion for the best fighter in the history of the sport...its Anderson Silvas le to lose.

[dbreiden83080]

So in my openion for the best fighter in the history of the sport...its Anderson Silvas le to lose.

Anderson or GSP..

[djohn14]

Anderson or GSP..

All in time my friend.

[jason1301]

Werdum? Overeem?

Just come out and say you are scared Fedor.

You forgot Brett Rogers and Barnett.

[jason1301]

I kind of feel bad for him. He had a chance to really cement his name as the best fighter in the history of the sport, and he blew that. Its his own fault though. So in my openion for the best fighter in the history of the sport...its Anderson Silvas le to lose.

Not really, he is fighting top compe ion.

[jason1301]

Dana


"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!"

does anyone really care what Dana has to say?

[dbreiden83080]

does anyone really care what Dana has to say?

Normally i don't but in this case he is dead on. Fedor has become irrelevant in the sport with this deal. He let his mgt wheel and deal their way right into obscurity..

[BlackSwordsMan]

does anyone really care what Dana has to say?

no but when's right he's right

[djohn14]

Not really, he is fighting top compe ion.

Meh...While Strikeforces compe ion is better then other promotions, are you telling me Brett Rogers, Wilson Gouveia, and Alistair Overeem are better than Cain Velasquez, Shane Carwin, Randy Couture, Frank Mir, Minotauro Nogueira, Brock Lesnar and a massive group of mid carders and developing talent?