Strikeforce CEO addresses Fedor Emelianenko’s ‘holdout’

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Describing Fedor Emelianenko‘s absence from fighting since a November victory in his debut for the mixed-martial arts organization Strikeforce, the company’s chief executive described it as a ‘holdout’ Friday, and an attorney for the fighter’s promotional company made it clear the hangup is over money.

‘What do you think?’ M-1 attorney Steve Bash told The Times in a telephone interview.

Emelianenko, a heavyweight arguably considered the world’s top MMA fighter, did suffer a dislocated left thumb in his Nov. 7 victory over Brett Rogers, but the eight-week healing period has come and gone, and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said he wants to pit Emelianenko against Fabricio Werdum on a June 26 card in San Jose.

Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White has reportedly implied this week in advance of UFC 112 Saturday in Abu Dhabi that Emelianenko may no longer be contractually bound to Strikeforce. Reached by The Times on Friday, White declined to comment about the Russian fighter.

Coker said plainly that Fedor ‘has two more fights with us. M-1 [his promotional company] wanted to make some changes after our first fight together. There’s an ongoing dialog. They’d like to change the terms of our agreement.’

Added Bash: ‘I don’t think it should be called a holdout. There’s a couple things that need to be worked out. You try to fix whatever you can after the first time. I can’t say whether it will get fixed or not, but I’m optimistic.’

There is some speculation the scare that Rogers gave Emelianenko has forced his advisors to maximize the dollars they can earn now for the 33-year-old.

Bash said he hopes the situation is resolved ‘fairly soon if he’s going to fight. Everything needs to be worked out for the relationship to continue.’

-- Lance Pugmire