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[Warchief]

Aleksander Emelianenko (12-3), a highly ranked heavyweight (and the younger brother of famed fighter Fedor Emelianenko), will next fight April 11 for the upstart M-1 Global organization, and the Russian expects his opponent to be Josh Barnett (20-5).

News of the potential bout was posted on Emelianenko’s official website at Îôèöèàëüíûé ñàéò Àëåêñàíäðà Åìåëüÿíåíêî.

The as-of-yet-unannounced M-1 Global event is expected to take place in Chicago.

The Emelianko brothers’ manager, Vadim Finkelstein, recently sold the M-1 organization to a group of American investors who restructured the fight promotion. As its first order of business, the organization signed Fedor to a long-term deal. The organization’s CEO, longtime MMA agent and promoter Monte Cox, recently stated that the organization had planned for a February debut date but instead pushed it back a few months to allow more time for signing talent.

If the organization does sign Barnett for the fight, it could signal another loss for the UFC.

UFC President Dana White has been continually asked about the possibilty of Barnett returning to the UFC. To say he isn’t overwhelmed by the idea would be understatement. Barnett and White have been on the outs since Barnett lost his heavyweight title after failing a UFC 36 drug test due to steroids.

Still, Barnett remains one of the heavyweight’s division’s top-ranked fighters, though he hasn’t fought since PRIDE Shockwave 2006 — more than a year ago. Barnett fought exclusively in the organization from October 2004 until its eventual demise last year when Zuffa LLC (the UFC’s parent company) purchased the organization.

In addition to the likely Emelianenko vs. Barnett bout, another major bout is in the works.

Fedor Emelianenko (27-1), who most recently defeated Hong Man Choi at a New Year’s Eve show in Japan, is expected to take on Semmy Schilt (25-14-1) on the same card. The fight would headline the event.

The M-1 Global show could take place at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., which is located just outside Chicago.

Source

[TeddyDaBear]

sweet fight but why not Fedor-Barnett?

[Warchief]

Originally Posted by TeddyDaBear

sweet fight but why not Fedor-Barnett?

Exactly what i was thinking, they should give Barnett to Fedor insted to Aleksander...i think they are protecting their champion (Fedor) to avoid possible losing record, but it's also a good match thou.

[J-diggler]

if they can sign barnett for that fight they coudl have got the barnett fedor fight done. No other reason other than to protect fedor. Everyone also blames dana for not signing barnett any chance Barnett doesn't want to fight in the USA where the steriod testing is more stringent?

[Tyler4870]

Barnett is going to expose Alexsander and hopefully knocks him out of the top 10. The guy has yet to beat anyone yet hovers around the the rankings like a groupie at a free clinic.

[jcmichaels42]

No Fedor can't be fighting Barnett.....He's gotta get ready to fight Gan McGee, or some other 7 ft. tall stiff that he's been rumored to be fighting in the last few weeks.

[Warchief]

Originally Posted by jcmichaels42

No Fedor can't be fighting Barnett.....He's gotta get ready to fight Gan McGee, or some other 7 ft. tall stiff that he's been rumored to be fighting in the last few weeks.

Easy! i'm just wondering why they (M-1) don't give this fight to Fedor, so at least he has something to prove again...and i think they really protecting Fedor, b/c Fedor is one of their top commodity.

[BigBanda]

Well not that I wouldnt mind seeing this fight but I would much rather see a Fedor vs Barnett fight. Not sure what the logic is behind this.

[whitey64]

As long as Fedor is the poster boy for M1 he will not fight a fight he might lose.

[baba]

Protecting their poster boy. Funny how I would hear dozens of people on here constantly whine that Dana was protecting his poster boy Chuck by "feeding him wrestlers" -- like Randy, yet none of those people have chimed in to call out M1 for feeding Fedor nothing short of tomato soup.