Fedor Emelianenko camp wants one-fight deal vs. top UFC heavyweight

 

Fedor Emelianenko (above right) stopped by Hollywood on Thursday to promote his Aug. 1 fight at Anaheim's Honda Center against Seattle's Josh Barnett (above left) in the third -- and perhaps final --Affliction show, titled Trilogy.

Emelianenko, widely considered the world's top mixed-martial arts heavyweight fighter, is seeking his third consecutive victory in Anaheim over a former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champ after previously disposing of Tim Sylvia (rear naked chokehold) and Andrei Arlovski (knockout) less than one minute into the first round.

The intrigue with the Barnett bout is that it's Emelianenko's final fight in his contract with Seal Beach-based Affliction, and company Vice President Tom Atencio was very noncommittal about the clothing firm's future in the fight game.

"We'll take one fight at a time," Atencio said.

Meanwhile, Joost Raimond, the operations manager of Emelianenko's global promotion company M-1, invited the winner of the July 11 UFC heavyweight championship fight between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir to attend the Emelianenko-Barnett bout, and pushed for the UFC to allow Emelianenko to fight that man as part of a one-fight contract on a card that could be fully promoted by UFC.

That's not the way the UFC operates, however.

"The fans can come out and push for this, and make it happen," Raimond said.

In my video interview with Fedor, he said the UFC needs to treat its fighters "like a human being," with Raimond urging the organization to make an exception to its typical contractual demands.

"They want the fighter's mind, soul, body, heritage and his two cats and dog if they can get it," Raimond said. "Let's not do this with Fedor. Let's try to figure out how to do this, because Fedor is willing to fight anyone, anytime, anywhere. We have an exceptional fighter here. People are saying, 'Let's see him fight the best.' "

UFC President Dana White said he has "never, ever talked to Fedor."

Certainly, a free-agent Fedor should prompt the UFC to attempt to strike a deal. MMA fans are smart enough to see how Fedor has crushed his recent foes, and understand he's superior to the UFC's top heavyweights.

What if UFC comes with a substantial cash offer, superior to the one it extended to Fedor in 2007?

"We'll look at it," Raimond said. "Under the present [contractual] conditions, nothing will be considered for any amount of money. That last contract they offered us doesn't work out."

-- Lance Pugmire

Photo credit: Emmanuel Dunand / AFP / Getty Images

Comments

[philip hoffman]

The u.f.c. will have to offer Fedor a mukti fight contract. They can not have their champion walk away after one fight.

[masterbetty]

TSUH! PARE TANGINA TSONG!

[RAEMIX]

Can anyone tell me was Fedor Emelianenko at the NBA finals "Game 1" on Thursday between the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic? I posted a link of to a photo of him (or someone that looks just like him).

http://thinayre.com/fedor/Fedor_Emelianenko.jpg

[luke]

There is no way the UFC would go for this. Trust me as a massive Fedor fan I would love to see him take on the current HW holder in the UFC, but the UFC would never go for a one night fight.

As philip hoffman say there new champion would walk away + whoever was left (Lesnar or Mir) would be a champion just beat. It would leave the UFC HW division with its reputation in tatters.

I think this is no more then marketing guys goading each other.

[Pieman]

Fedor is the best. No matter if he fights ufc or not. But it wud cement his place in history even more by dominating UFC. Fans want it.

[Red Cloud]

Fedor beat Tim Sylvia in the first minute, but not Arlovski. As a matter of fact, Arlovski was doing quite well, some will even say that he was dominating Fedor with his stand-up, until he suddenly went retarded and tried a flying knee. All in all, i think Fedor is great, but it's really hard to call any one fighter the "Best". I think it should be more like the top 3 and don't put them in any particular order. My top 3 would be, Fedor Barnett and Mir, and i think that Lesnar should take number 4 with ease. I also think both Lesnar and Mir pose some problems for Fedor, being that they have a size advantage over the last emperor and one is a great submission artist, with decent stand-up and great gameplanning, and the other is just a beast of a man with great wrestling and what he lacks in stand-up skill, he more than makes up for with speed and power.

Personally, I want them to start painting Lesnar green before every fight and when he wins he should look into the camera and scream;"Hulk Smash"

[Dana sux]

I ( with all the other MMA fans) want to see the BEST fighters fighting. And in my view looks like thats what Fedro wants to do. If the best oppent is in the UFC I will go fight there. Next Fight go where the next best oppent is. Dana put some great fights together.

[MR.BOLTON]

if fedor wants to be considered the absolute best in the world he will have to move from the pond to the ocean ,the ufc is the biggest mma brand the power horse of mma has the deepiest talent pool in any weight div. in mma .well except under 155 because there isnt one. if hes the man why wouldnt he fight in the ufc does the cage ,bother him is there a phobia, or is he contempt to stay the big fish in a small pond?

[Aziat]

You american ufc fans are idiots. Everybody around the world knows who is the best mma fighter not at the moment but of all time in the world. And it is Fedor. Just go to youtube and make your own judgement.

[D]

Neither Lesnar nor Mir would have a chance versus Fedor. There is no way UFC would accept one fight deal.

[alex]

Fedor is not a big fish in a small pond. Currently he is a free agent, who has (to date) the best record of any heavyweight mma fighter. It's not how he wins, it's the fact that he is consistent in his winning.

The fact that he does not go to UFC is something to be proud of given the fact that he has defeated quite a few UFC champions already and has done it consistently over the last few years.

Each fight is unique and unpredictable - we'll see what happens with Barnett, but for now my heart and mind is with Fedor.

Good luck to him!

[craço]

fedor is not crazy, with dana this is not the best fighter who's win it's only the show ...

why cro cop loose at the ufc ? because dana want
why barnett its banned from the ufc ? because dana want

why fedor want only one fight?
fedor is not crazy he know that's the most important fight in the ufc its a fake, whith no contract with fertita he can do a real fight ;-)

give me the PRIDE

[Woody]

Here's the real reason Fedor has yet to agree to any of Dana White's offers:

Every contract that has been offered by Dana did not allow Fedor to leave the UFC undefeated.

It's mostly about marketing/market share. If Fedor comes into the UFC, does his usual thing (beats all comers) then goes back to another company, he'd bring masses of fans with him, and the UFC will lose some/a lot of it's image (that it's "the best" MMA company, hands down). Dana won't have that.

There have been other sticking points, too (such as Fedor wouldn't be allowed to participate in Sambo competitions) but it's the whole "I own you until you lose" mentality that has prevented this so far.

Mind you, I'm not so sure Fedor's idea of 1 fight only is a whole lot better; they should find some middle ground. A 3 to 5 fight contract might be perfect. I can see Fedor going for that, but Dana White? No way - his ego wouldn't allow that potentiality, IMO.

BTW Fedor is 7-0 against UFC champs. Everything else aside, that makes him much better than anyone else currently in the UFC, at worst.

(PS: GSP fanboy here)

[roger]

There is no competition for fedor outside of the UFC. Why not sign a deal to stay until defeated.

[fan of MMA]

Fedor with his combat sambo (don't mistake for sambo which is softer variant) rules the day. Which is no wonder as combat sambo was created by soviet military with only mathematical efficiency in mind. Even UFC rules are restrictive compared to combat sambo in which hits to groin, with elbow and head are allowed. Even tho in cometitions usually combat sambo sportsmen wear protection. Some competitions are done without any protection (wihout any gloves). That is why Fedor is living avatar of MMA as being four times world champion of combat sambo he finds MMA a softer sport.

[Bob]

Dana white is scared that Fedor will prove the UFC heavyweight division is worthless by defeating a UFC heavyweight champion for the 7th time. He avoids Fedor at all costs. Coward.

[Kyle]

There is no way they would sign him for a one-fight deal to fight the champion. It doesn't make any sense from a business perspective. That stunt Cro Cop pulled probably doesn't help Fedor's case either.

I agree with Craco that Fedor and the UFC should find some middle ground, because there must be a way for them to reach an agreement.

[bakerplays]

Heres what we do. Any fan that wants to see Fedor in the octogon, lets all BOMBARD Dana Whites twitter page with those exact words: Fedor at all costs!!! Maybe then he will see he is missing out on the biggest world wide draw in the sport. And whoever said they wouldn't call him the best, but top 3 with Mir and Brock, whata retard. Brock has 4 fights, that hardly puts him anywhere NEAR Fedor. And Mir is doing good, but I still think he sucks. HIs boxing is decent, but slow. He has no head movement at all. He is good at jits, but in NO WAY is he top 3 material. Fedor is king, and he OWNS the sport of MMA.

[brian]

I think they should do a fight with money on the table u win u get the money .That way the belt aint at stake and if fedor wins he gets money and respect still no belt. I bet he cares nothing about the belt he knows its better just knowing u can whoop that a**

[J R]

I would push for a contract against the belt holder. It would be 1 fight if he loses and 2 extra fights if wins. I don't know the best way to state it. Perhaps this:
3 fight contract with an option to Fedor to get out free of penalty if he loses at any point.

Simply because they cant have him do 1 fight and then walk with the belt.

[Wayne Altman]

It is laughable that Dana White needs lessons on how to build a successful MMA organization from some of you Fedor fans. I will remind you that the UFC is a Billion dollar (from less than zero) in less than six years. It has reached more people than Pride ever did even in it's heyday.
Now that the UFC is a GLOBAL BRAND, it only gets better from here. Fedor is ONE fighter, in a half-wit organization. Affliction has one foot in the grave, pray-tell where Fedor will go fight (Hong Man Choi) next? Who does Fedor think is calling the shots should he wish to continue his MMA "career"?
He WAS the greatest fighter in MMA, and maybe he is still. I enjoy watching him perform if it is with quality opponents.. Ah but here is the rub... Where will Fedor get his next, opponent if not in the UFC? Will he risk truly becoming irrelevant?

[Nick]

"bakerplays"

i agree with your post. that other guy is a retard. also, if fight fans want to see Fedor fight in UFC. we need to make it happen. WE are the ones that keep the UFC alive! without us they are nothing so with that in mind, lets get Fedor in a spot where he can fulfill his career as the undisputed champ in all top fight leagues as well as Sambo world champ!

i think that lesnar has a huge size advantage BUT, Fedor is sooooooo much better and will win bloddy or not. if Mir can beat lesnar with ankle lock then for sure, without a doubt, Fedor can either tko or submit lesnar!

by the way, who would win aside. Lesnar's class is non existent! his second fight with Mir was a sad sad display of mma capability as well as sportsmanship. that guy should go back wwe or whatever the hell. he makes mma look bad. he just sits on opponents and cant even get a knockout with those frying pan hands.

[Pat]

I'm as big a ufc fan as there gets but there is no doubt that fedor is the best heavyweight fighter there has ever been. the ufc has never had a heavyweight that has perfected both the technically fighting and power that Fedor has. Ufc is so popular that most casual fans don't even know that Fedor exists. Dana White might as well give Fedor one fight with the ufc champ or give him a contract of his liking because not having Fedor in with the ufc heavyweights hurts the legitimacy of the organization

[amos walker]

Fedor is he the real deal? I think not. Anyone who thinks he could beat a real champion is a retard. I have seen Fedor fight and it looks like a low budget fight seen. The guy really doesn't have any skills. Every fight he is just throwing hay makers hell anyone could do that.amos walker