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that would be a kick in the nuts to Cuban. I don't care where it happens, I just want it to happen.
Don't consider a UFC fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Randy Couture dead just yet.
With Couture embroiled in a nasty legal dispute with the UFC and Emelianenko tied to M-1 Global's MMA franchise, the heavyweight dream matchup has long seemed to be the world's best bout that would never happen.
Now it could. Apy Echteld, one of Emelianenko's agents, confirmed what a source close to the situation previously told The Magazine: M-1 Global and Emelianenko will part ways some time in the next week, making the Russian a free agent. Divorce negotiations are ongoing right now, with a formal announcement likely for in the next few days. "Officially, yes, Fedor will be a free agent," Echteld says.
Of course, the UFC would have to be willing to re-open negotiations with Emelianenko's management. Previous talks dragged on for almost a year before falling apart amid plenty of name-calling and finger-pointing from both sides. UFC president Dana White was vocal in pinning the blame on Emelianenko's team, saying he never once spoke or met with the fighter. Would the head of the UFC be willing to enter the Fedor fray again? "Absolutely, 100 percent, in a heartbeat," says White. "People think he's the best—I don't, not even close. But if it's somehow possible, I would make it happen."
Reached on Thursday, Echteld was caught off-guard when told that White would be willing to revisit last year's stalemate. But he echoed the UFC's willingness to talk and vowed to speak with White as soon as possible. "We're open to a discussion," says Echteld. "If everybody is willing to put a little wine in the water, then we have something to work with. There is space for this to happen."
A fight involving Emelianenko and Couture would also require considerable fence-mending between Couture and the UFC. Couture has cited the UFC's inability to sign Emelianenko as a key reason for his sudden retirement. And now the two sides are locked in a bitter, months-long battle about the duration and terms of Couture's UFC deal. Over the past month, the situation has seemed to only be deteriorating. That could change if Emelianenko becomes available.
"I like Randy, I genuinely like to think he's a good guy," White says. "As much as we've gone back and forth on this, I would sign Fedor and do everything possible to get Randy in the octagon with
him. I'd do anything, because a., it's a great fight and b., I think Randy would smash Fedor."
Through his spokesman, Couture declined to comment.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3280383
that would be a kick in the nuts to Cuban. I don't care where it happens, I just want it to happen.
Jeez hopefully it's true that Fiodor will be a free agent.
Damn about time to get something going in emelianenko's career
On Thursday, new cracks appeared in M-1 Global’s façade. Apy Echteld, a co-manager of Fedor Emelianenko and development executive in the upstart promotion, confirmed to ESPN’s Ryan Hockensmith that the top-ranked fighter and M-1 would be separating next week.
Emelianenko was M-1’s first talent acquisition when the consortium of Russian and American promoters came together in October of 2007.
The report on ESPN.com also stated that both Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White and Echteld would be open to discussions concerning the possibility of having Emelianenko face UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture in the Octagon.
M-1 President and CEO Monte Cox, however, was adamant that the Russian superstar is still a part of his promotion. “As of right now, M-1 Global and Fedor are still working together,” he told MMAWeekly.com.
Cox declined to comment about the ESPN article, but said M-1’s plans were still underway for its first event on American soil, a June 14 card at the Sears Center in the Chicago area, still expected to feature Emelianenko. The show has been rescheduled from a May 3 date at the Allstate Arena, also in the Chicago area.
M-1’s first venture with Emelianenko, a co-promotion with Fight Entertainment Group and other Japanese promoters on New Year’s Eve, was a success according to Cox. Since then, rumors of difficulties between the American and Russian factions of the partnership have persisted.
“But as of now, Fedor still belongs to M-1 Global,” stated Cox
Well...Fedor's people are obviously a nightmare to deal with. PRIDE, Bodog, M-1 and UFC have all had issues. Now Fedor has to refund 1.5 million dollars so hopefully they cool it down a bit.
Not that the UFC and Dana are pleasant folks...
I am pretty confident we will see Fedor and Randy in the UFC this year.
EliteXC will not happen...no IFL...I can't see HDNet spending that much....
If he signs with Dream........ugh.........
Last edited by Evan; 03-07-2008 at 09:02 AM.
Dreams or WVR seem most likely...
why do you think so?
by Josh Gross ([email protected])
Confirmation Thursday of a rumor that circulated for weeks has made Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) the most sought-after free agent in mixed martial arts … again.
The move by Emelianenko, first reported by ESPN, immediately rekindled talk of the Russian heavyweight fighting in the UFC, perhaps even against Randy Couture (Pictures).
Apy Echteld, who was hired as part of the European branch of M-1 Global and is a longtime manager of the 31-year-old Russian, told ESPN's Ryan Hockensmith that Emelianenko would be willing to restart contract negotiations with the UFC once the "divorce" is finalized.
M-1 CEO Monte Cox declined to comment on Thursday's news report, however he told Sherdog.com that M-1 and Emelianenko continue to share a "working relationship."
The question, then, is for how long?
According to one source that asked not to be identified, M-1 will likely expect Emelianenko to return a $1.5 million signing bonus he was paid last September. Negotiations should be finalized by Tuesday of next week, the same source said.
A free-agent Emelianenko could benefit from a deeper, more compe ive bidding pool.
Newly minted with a historic TV deal from CBS, EliteXC would be "absolutely interested in Fedor if he was a free agent," Jeremy Lappen, the company's head of fighter operations, told Sherdog.com. "Of course, we're very friendly with Monte and have a close relationship with M-1 and would never step on their toes."
Mark Cuban, who has quickly turned HDNet into a desired premium-television destination for MMA fans, tempered expectations, telling Sherdog.com he doesn't plan on simply outspending compe ors in an effort to sign the heavyweight.
"We always want to work with the best in the world," Cuban responded via e-mail. "That said, we aren't in the business of bidding wars. We are in the business of developing, promoting and supporting fighters and their careers and partnering with any and all who can help us accomplish that."
World Victory Road and Dream -- Japanese promoters attempting to establish themselves in Pride's wake -- could be Emelianenko suitors, though the MMA industry in that part of the world is not as strong as it was during the Russian's heyday.
Wildcard groups, such as the one apparently comprised of Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions and clothing apparel company Affliction, which sponsors Emelianenko and Couture, could enter the fray. An Affliction photo shoot featuring the heavyweight pair created quite a stir when shots and video of the fighters standing nose to nose hit the Internet.
Last October the newly formed M-1 Global, led by investor Mitc Maxwell and Cox, announced at a New York news conference that they had won the war for the wandering Pride heavyweight king.
Emelianenko was expected to fight six times for $12 million over a two-year period for M-1. He fought just once since October, a co-promoted bout on New Year's Eve in Japan against an unranked opponent. Meanwhile M-1 has yet to produce its first event.
The Russian explained the decision against signing with the UFC came down largely to his opinion of the company's president.
"You cannot start a relationship with someone using those phrases," he said in New York, alluding to White's repeated description of Emelianenko's management as "crazy Russians."
Asked if he remained interested in signing Emelianenko (27-1-0, 1 NC) following a year of failed negotiations and a war of words that resulted in the promoter calling the No. 1-ranked heavyweight a "farce," White told ESPN: "Absolutely, 100 percent, in a heartbeat. People think he's the best -- I don't, not even close. But if it's somehow possible, I would make it happen."
"We're open to a discussion," Echteld responded to ESPN after learning of the UFC's potentially malleable position. "If everybody is willing to put a little wine in the water, then we have something to work with. There is space for this to happen."
Though Emelianenko's management, led by Vadim Finkelchtein and Echteld, expressed in late July that the UFC offer was extremely lucrative, it was also the most restrictive in terms of likeness rights, exclusivity and other points they did not want their fighter to concede.
The UFC chose not to budge either, leading to the creation of M-1 Global and what was thought to be the new home for Emelianenko.
A renegotiation for White would focus on getting Emelianenko in the Octagon across from Couture. While the UFC boss heavily favors "The Natural" in that matchup, the possibility of it taking place -- in the UFC or anywhere else -- is unknown while both sides battle in court over the status of Couture's contract.
After announcing his ill-fated deal with M-1 last fall, Emelianenko called Couture's challenge of the UFC "positive" and said he was "very proud that Couture made such a great decision."
It would be ironic if in the end the Russian signed with the UFC as a courtroom-tested Couture somehow freed himself from the most successful organization in MMA.
Wherever Fedor settles, fans will demand he fights the best challengers, starting with the 44-year-old former UFC champ.
Sherdog.com's Greg Savage contributed to this report
part of me wants him to sign with the UFC just so Josh Gross will cry and whine
On Thursday, new cracks appeared in M-1 Global’s façade. Apy Echteld, a co-manager of Fedor Emelianenko and development executive in the upstart promotion, confirmed to ESPN’s Ryan Hockensmith that the top-ranked fighter and M-1 would be separating next week.
Emelianenko was M-1’s first talent acquisition when the consortium of Russian and American promoters came together in October of 2007.
The report on ESPN.com also stated that both Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White and Echteld would be open to discussions concerning the possibility of having Emelianenko face UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture in the Octagon.
M-1 President and CEO Monte Cox, however, was adamant that the Russian superstar is still a part of his promotion. “As of right now, M-1 Global and Fedor are still working together,” he told MMAWeekly.com.
Cox declined to comment about the ESPN article, but said M-1’s plans were still underway for its first event on American soil, a June 14 card at the Sears Center in the Chicago area, still expected to feature Emelianenko. The show has been rescheduled from a May 3 date at the Allstate Arena, also in the Chicago area.
M-1’s first venture with Emelianenko, a co-promotion with Fight Entertainment Group and other Japanese promoters on New Year’s Eve, was a success according to Cox. Since then, rumors of difficulties between the American and Russian factions of the partnership have persisted.
“But as of now, Fedor still belongs to M-1 Global,” stated Cox.
I really want him to sign with the UFC, but I don't see it happening...he seems to love fighting in Japan...
I hadn't thought about the new Affliction thing though. That's where Lindland is going apparently. That makes sense if Couture can get cleared to fight outside the UFC, which is unlikely right now of course...
Where are thery going to get the money though?
I don't see why the UFC wouldn't be willing to hold their first event in Japan NYE. Let him fight whoever he wants within his weight class...the UFC will have to bend a little to get Fedor and that's one area they could could be willing to bend.
I can also see him being allowed to do Sambo but Fedor's team is going to have to forget about him co-promoting and holding an event in St Petesrburg.
Affliction t-shirts cost $50
Affliction t-shirts cost $50
so crazy....lol
But seriously...they can't afford him or Randy.
Dreams? Who knows. But another unstable new org.
following Fedor news over the next month is going to be insane back and forth misinformation.
I understand. Part of me wants Fedor to ignore the UFC completely for the rest of his life just because Dana White is such an uncooperative, unreasonable ass sometimes.
There is no way the UFC can screw this up by Dana's mouth getting out of control...that can't be the reason.
If is truly goes south because of that...
Couture would get pwned in this fight.
yea Dana lackof diplomacy is sometimes cousing him troubles.
I must say that I would love Fiodor to sign with UFC, I can't see other place he can go. In Japan he will get funny fights like the one with Choi.
I knew that Fedor was mad (well not satisfied) with the contract rules, and Dana's big mouth but damn he is a fighter. All in all they could negotiate. Dana said he haven't spoke to Fedor because of crazy russians as he said. That could be a reason they got lost in translation and lost an opurtunity for a nice matchups in 2008.
PS. dana speaks what he thinks and I'm fine with that.
There is no way the UFC can screw this up by Dana's mouth getting out of control...that can't be the reason.
If is truly goes south because of that...
I hope they both go to UFC, The HW div needs a boost IMO. Im tired of seeing that scrub Silvia.
Yeah except half the time the crap coming out of his mouth is bad for business. He slams o every chance he gets by saying he is a fighter, yet he is one of the biggest draws in MMA history. He was all over Fedor for months about how great he was and then when he didn't sign he has routinely said he is overrated as a fighter. This asshole even said once that "GSP" has no heart after he lost to Serra. These are not comments that help sell tickets and fights, they are pointless, childish remarks. White is an arrogant clown, drunk on his power who thinks he can do and say whatever he wants without consequences.
I agree but just remember part of Dana's job is to be a carnival barker.
That's the exception I can't argue with.
What about the co-owners?
They don't have a 'voice' in UFC matters?
I am sure the Fer as have far more to do with the UFC than we know. They were after all the ones who decided to do TUF against Dana's wishes.
Lorenzo seems to be the only who ever is seen speaking in public.
I am telling you guys..Dana is mainly doing a bit. Anytime something goes wrong everyone will blame him and not the UFC or the sport in general. Dana has taken more heat over Sean Sherk than Sherk or the UFC has. It's designed that way and works out rather well.
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