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[Gurry]

Fedor Emelianenko Pens Open Letter to Dana White
Posted by MMA Junkie on February 8, 2008 at 5:19 pm ET
Saying he will no longer permit Dana White to disparage him, former PRIDE heavyweight champion and famed Russian fighter Fedor Emelianenko has fired back and penned an open letter to the UFC’s head president and challenged him to allow a fight with UFC heavyweight champ Randy Couture or interim champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

The letter was today sent to MMAjunkie.com (UFC News & Rumors - MMA News - UFC Fighters - UFC Event Recaps and Previews - MMAjunkie.com) and posted on m1mixfight.com, the website of Emelianenko’s management team.

Ever since the UFC tried — and failed — to sign Emelianenko, White has continually blasted Emelianenko, questioning his fighting ability, world ranking and his quality of opponents. In an October 2007 press conference, White even went as far as saying that Emelianenko “sucks” and that “Fedor isn’t even a top-five heavyweight let alone (ranked) top pound-for-pound (fighter).“

The 31-year-old Emelianenko, who held the PRIDE Fighting Championships’ heavyweight belt for more than four years before the organization’s eventual demise this past summer, is a career 27-1. Although he’s defeated some of the most notable fighters in the sport — including current UFC fighters Nogueira, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic and Heath Herring — he’s fought few (if any) top-tier guys in recent years.

Emelianenko recently turned down an offer to fight exclusively for the UFC, saying the contract was too restrictive, and instead signed with the recently restructured M-1 Global organization.

However, he still wants to challenge the UFC’s best, including Couture, who resigned from the organization in October for what he perceived to be a lack of respect from UFC executives, as well as the UFC’s inability to sign Emelianenko, whom he wants to fight before retiring.

As Emelianenko wrote (keep in mind it’s been translated by a third party):

Numerous times have I read mister White’s statements on Internet concerning myself. In my opinion, allowing yourself to say those things is not a sign of a gentleman or a grown man at all! If he candidly wants to prove himself right then let my fight with Randy happen or let me face the reigning UFC champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. In the future I wouldn’t want to hear those statements in my address ever again and I won’t tolerate that.

My last fight in Japan proved that I’m ready to fight anybody with any height advantage, skillset or experience. I have fought and still wish to fight the best athletes. The Randy fight is my goal number one right now, he’s a great fighter and this is a very unfortunate situation when too strict and one-sided UFC contracts don’t let this fight happen.

The whole world is eager to see me fight your champions, people don’t want to listen to your press-conferences. I’m signed with M-1 Global and this promotion is ready to organize such fights under our banner or in co-promoted events.

For more information on the war of words, check out the Fedor Emelianenko archives here on MMAjunkie.com.

UFC News & Rumors - MMA News - UFC Fighters - UFC Event Recaps and Previews - MMAjunkie.com

[domination]

remember how bad dana talked about wand. its the same deal. HYPE. thats all it is. all this fedor, randy, dana bullshit, is just to create a buzz. to have people anxiously wait for this mega fight. so dana can say ive been trying to put this fight together for so many years and now its finally going to happen. duh duh duuh. trust me people its going to happen. but its all about timing. if this fight happened next pay per view whats other mega fight will us mma fans have to look for. what fight can come close to randy and fedor. other big fights have to be fought just to set up for this fight. because other well deserving fighters have to shine until the spot light is fully on randy and fedor. patience is a virtue.

[The Natural994]

Fedor is a joke. He knows Zuffa's policy on exclusivity in contracts. They are just trying to pimp M1 and feed off the UFC's success so people might actually watch him destroy tomato can kick boxers who never fought MMA.

[Clint]

Originally Posted by valheruking

I don't think Fedor should have responded, just lets Dana know he's getting to him, cause we all know theres not going to be any cross promotion or 1 fight deals.

Yeah the letter exudes that feeling that Dana is starting to get under Fedor's skin. This all could be bad for M1, because I think it is going to push Fedor to demand tougher opponents. Which could be really bad for M1 both financially and if he loses.

Originally Posted by jesusatemyhotdog

I personally believe that M1 has no intention to hold events ever and was simply created by Finklestein and co. as a front organization to further leverage Fedor's position in the market. Their intention was to force UFC to pay Fedor more than he would have gotten otherwise with the added coup of avoiding the UFC's contract structure. M1 has delayed their start date multiple times (I am hearing May now). Yarennoka fell into their lap due to interested parties in Japan already setting up the event.

I am sure Fink thinks that at some point Dana White is going to come groveling to them, tail between his legs, begging to get a shot at the great Fedor.

Two years from now, we will all look back and realize what a colossal fucking idiot Vadim Finkelstein truly is.

That does sound right. Look at how often Bas Boon mentions Fedor being used as leverage and not even knowing it in the story about Pride's downfall.

[ChuckBooty]

Call me a cynical...but I think this is Fedor trying to keep in the spotlight. I think this M1 contract is backfiring on him. He was hoping to sign to M1 and still fight in the UFC (and other orgs) but without all the "restrictions"....it'll NEVER happen. And since he's no longer in the spotlight and becoming more and more irrelevant he wants to post this letter to Dana White in hopes of stirring up the pot and getting negotiations going again.

[scottsec]

Originally Posted by Clint

Yeah the letter exudes that feeling that Dana is starting to get under Fedor's skin. This all could be bad for M1, because I think it is going to push Fedor to demand tougher opponents. Which could be really bad for M1 both financially and if he loses.



That does sound right. Look at how often Bas Boon mentions Fedor being used as leverage and not even knowing it in the story about Pride's downfall.

Yeah if Fedor loses at any point( unless its someone decent) M1 is phucked. Truth is the UFC may want Fedor but they dont need him...

[foundstarr]

Originally Posted by rivethead

He's actually got a case with the "not even top 5" comment.



No, you're forgetting that this is the land of the almighty dollar. When speech impacts someone's marketability, it can cost big money.




rh

Glad you could take time out rivethead to attack me for a joke... LOL

[shamrock23]

Fedor and Randy will never fight. If they do, Randy will be to old. They should have fought this past year when Randy was on a roll!!!

[sdgandp]

Fedor should stop bitching and so ahould everybody on this site about Dana. Dana and the UFC are the NFL of MMA. Rampage, Chuck, Anderson, Hendo, BJ, St. Pierre, etc. are Manning, Brady, LT, Adrian Peterson, Hester, T.O., Moss etc. Fedor is in the XFL of MMA. If he wants the best fights and/or respect, he's going to have to go to the NFL. This version of the XFL will fold soon enough. It's very simple. Dana rules.

[MONSONBYCHOKE]

This Just In..... Fedor Vs Dana At Ufc 90