Fedor has signed with M1

[Guest False Alarm!]

Fight Network Is reporting it, Here's a link

 

PRIDE Heavyweight Champion To Headline First Show Under New Ownership

 

By Loretta Hunt ([email protected])

 

PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko has committed exclusively to the new ownership of M-1 Mix-Fight Championship, which has been purchased outright by an undisclosed America entertainment-related company, according to a source close to the deal who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

 

Established in 1997, the St. Petersburg-based M-1 held over 30 events under the ownership of Russian businessman Vadim Finkelstein, also the long-time manager of the much-sought-after Emelianenko. Finkelstein is also the proprietor of the Red Devil Sports Club, a facility and team that houses numerous Russian fighters, including PRIDE veteran Roman Zentsov and former UFC middleweight Andrei Semenov.

 

The source confirmed the new ownership has infused a substantial amount of capital into the organization. Finkelstein and others will stay on to assist in running the company, which will continue to promote under a variation of the M-1 name. The new M-1 will take more of a global stance, and Emelianenko (26-1) will headline its inaugural event as early as January or February, possibly in the U.S., the source said.

On March 27, Ultimate Fighting Championship majority owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta bought the assets of PRIDE, only to discover Emelianenko had previously signed a non-exclusive, non-transferable contract with its former owners, Dream Stage Entertainment.

 

As late as September, UFC president Dana White had insisted a deal with Emelianenko was imminent, though repeated negotiations between Finkelstein, colleague Apy Echteld and the Las Vegas outlet could not produce an agreement to bring the Stary Oskol resident to the famed Octagon. A major point of contention was White’s insistence Emelianenko sign an exclusive contract with the American promotion, which would exclude Emelianenko’s participation in Sambo competitions. Emelianenko is a three-time World Combat Sambo champion and ambassador for the sport in his homeland.

 

Undefeated in 24 fights (including one no contest), Emelianenko is widely received as the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter. The 31-year-old former Army firefighter rose to the top of PRIDE’s ranks by besting standouts like Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (30-4-1) and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (22-6-2). Emelianenko submitted 2000 Olympic Greco-Roman silver medallist Matt Lindland (20-5) at Bodog Fight “Clash of the Nations” on April 14 in St. Petersburg, Russia. He has not competed since.

 

A formal announcement of the purchase, as well as plans for the new organization’s first event, is expected by the end of this month.

 

I'm disappointed I won't be seeing him fight in the UFC. If Dana seriously wants too get Fedor in too the Octagon, he's going to have to relax that "Exclusivity" clause that’s in the contract imo.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Word's coming out that Fedor will fight Hong Man Choi on NYE.

 

Alright Fedor, you know I love you and all but you're pissin' me the fuck off. In the past two years you've fought Mark Coleman, Mark Hunt and a blown-up Matt Lindland. Step your game up or step off.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

Isn't that the same chump who Lesnar destroyed? Wow, beating up on Brock Lesnar leftovers. Fedor is starting to lose his god like status among MMA fans alike. This is a joke.

[Lei Tong 0]

Fedor was supposed to fight Choi (ridiculously tall Korean who got his faced knocked off by Mighty Mo), but instead fought Kim Min Soo (ridiculously fat Korean who enjoys doing the Harlem Shake).

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Lesnar was supposed to fight.

[Lei Tong 0]

Eh, whatever. A big Korean got embarassed. Fin.

[The Niggardly King 0]

Fedor didn't wanna sign because he was afraid of BIG TIMMY.

 

Seriously, is he destined to just to a few tournaments and beat down cans for the rest of his career? I know he also wants to put the sport on the map in his country, so maybe it'll work that way.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

So it's now confirmed that Fedor will be fighting on NYE, along with a roster that's rumored to feature........

 

Aleksander E

Ricardo Arona

Kazayuki Fujita

Shinya Aoki

Mitsuhiro Ishida

Gilbert Melendez

Tatsuya Kawijiri

Joachim Hansen

Hayato Mach Sakurai

 

If even half that list (prefereably the bottom half) proves out........yowza.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Shinya Aoki vs JZ Cavalcanti on NYE.

 

Uh.......holy shit.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Gilbert Melendez vs Mitsuhiro Ishida is a GO. I luv that they're trying to recapture the awesomeness of BUSHIDO. In terms of K1 vs "PRIDE" style matchups there 's supposedly deals in the works for Kazuo Misaki vs Yoshihiro Akiyama and Tatsuya Kawijiri vs Andre Dida.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

 

Classic.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Kawijiri vs Luiz Azeredo is ON. Sweet merciful crap they have three awesome fights so far on this card. Good to see Azeredo back in the mix, sucks that 'Jiri is likely going to pound him into dust.

[The Niggardly King 0]

 

Fedor's greatest test is on the way

[Mik 0]

Fedor a free agent again?

 

http://mmamania.com/2008/03/06/report-fedo...tiate-with-ufc/

 

ESPN “The Magazine” of all places is running a report that Fedor Emelianenko — considered among many as the top heavyweight fighter in mixed martial arts — will be a free agent again within the next week and will entertain offers from the UFC.

 

Here’s a snip from the Russian’s long-time manager, Apy Echteld:

 

“Officially, yes, Fedor will be a free agent…. We’re open to a discussion [with UFC]. 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.”

 

Emelianenko opted to sign with the newly-formed M-1 promotion in late 2007 instead of competing inside the Octagon. That decision prompted UFC Heavyweight Champion, Randy Couture, to fax in his resignation from a South African movie set.

 

“The Natural” indicated — and still does — that the only fighter left to prove himself against is the Pride FC heavyweight champion. He’s currently in the midst of an intense legal battle with the UFC about his decision and actions ever since.

 

Here’s a snip from UFC President Dana White:

 

“People think he’s the best — I don’t, not even close. But if it’s somehow possible, I would make it happen…. I like Randy, I genuinely like to think he’s a good guy. 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.”

 

M-1 has yet to stage a show and there’s talk that infighting between the Russian side of the operation and the American side has hindered its progress. Emelianenko, however, was loaned out to fight Hong Man Choi at the Yarennoka! Japan event this past New Year’s Eve, winning via submission (armbar) in round one.

 

This is the latest bizarre development in perhaps the most bizarre MMA storyline of all time. The storybook ending, after all that has transpired, would be a showdown between Couture and Emelianenko under the UFC banner.

 

But can the fight, if it ever happens, even come close to living up to the lofty expectations?

 

We may never know … or will we? There’s apparently no end in sight for this rollercoaster ride. Or is there?

 

Anything seems possible at this point.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

In other news, there's word that Dana White is rockin' a sidepipe the size of Texas in his RVCA jeans.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

"That's crazy. This sidepipe that I'm rocking isn't even in the top 5 of my sidepipes."

 

- Dana White downplaying.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

"Randy Couture would kick the sidepipe I get from thinking of Fedor's ass."

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

"Fedor's ass, really trying to impose its will on Dana Whites sidepipe"

 

- Randy Couture, commentating.

[Mik 0]

Wouldn't Randy have to fight Nog first if Fedor signs with the UFC?

[Bruiser_Brody_ 0]

I love the fact that it seems the UFC will win this whole mess at the end.

[The Niggardly King 0]

Please, don't send Dana White to negotiate again. Please don't.