MMA News Forums » MMA Forums » General MMA Forum

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Fedor Emelianenko and M-1 Global Are Putting Strikeforce Over a Barrel by Kid Nate on Feb 27, 2010

It's no secret that the world's USAT/SBN Consensus MMA Rankings' #1 heavyweight and his management team M-1 Global can be a handful to deal with. Yesterday we heard Fedor might not would not be on Strikeforce's April CBS card. Then we heard that he might be fighting Alistair Overeem in Japan's DREAM won't fight Overeem unless Overeem passes a pre-fight drug test.

Now we're hearing that Fedor might not fight on either Strikeforce's April CBS card or its May Showtime card.

Fedor and his management team clearly believe they didn't get paid enough for Fedor's first CBS event for Strikeforce. They also have utter confidence that Fedor's value in the market place is rising. They're missing a huge bird in the hand payday -- and more importantly missing out on the incredible US market exposure that CBS can provide.

Then there's the question of how long will Fedor's fighting prime last? He coasted through his last couple of years in PRIDE fighting freak show fights like Zuluzinho and Hong Man Choi, a past his prime Mark Coleman, and an undersized Matt Lindland. In 2008 and 2009 he was unusually productive, fighting and dispatching two former UFC champs in Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski and a fast-rising Brett Rogers. Now it appears as if he's going to be slowing his pace of fighting again.

Strikeforce is now forced to headline a CBS card with proven ratings disaster Jake Shields and a hot Dan Henderson who's coming off the most dramatic KO win of 2009. Henderson would be a solid headliner against a more compelling opponent, but even coming off his UFC 100 glory and coaching TUF, he's not enough to carry a network card. And if "Decision Dan" shows up instead of "Hollywood" Henderson, look out, we may see a headliner that loses viewers as it drags on for five rounds of lay and pray.

But not having Fedor to headline the card really hurts Strikeforce. That promotion is desperate for headliners with Gina Carano, Cung Le and Frank Shamrock all having been damaged by recent losses.

Fedor and M-1 may be killing their "promotional partner" by leaving them with no ratings draw for the April CBS card. They must be thinking that there will be another CBS card or equally well-paying opportunity.

Or maybe they're negotiating with someone else. And there's really only one other entity that can put together a bigger fight than DREAM in March, CBS in April or Showtime in May. And that's an entity that could offer a title fight on PPV in June or July against the biggest draw in the sport.

Fedor Emelianenko and M-1 Global Are Putting Strikeforce Over a Barrel - Bloody Elbow

Argh.

[lwbrewer]

And we woundered why the UFC had trouble trying to sign Fedor. Seems like M1 is showing it's ugly side. Time will tell

[The Sensational One]

I wish he would go to the UFC but i will never buy into any of the rumors until i see a countdown featuring him.

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Fedor'll turn up in the UFC around the same time Overeem passes his piss test to defend his Stirkeforce title against a rejuvinated Tim Sylvia.....

[lwbrewer]

Originally Posted by Fedorlei Gomipierre

Fedor'll turn up in the UFC around the same time Overeem passes his piss test to defend his Stirkeforce title against a rejuvinated Tim Sylvia.....

Thats too funny but probely true

[KevoOnTheRadio]

If he's not going to sign with the UFC, wont fight AO without him pissing clean first, and he's unhappy with SF, he really doesn't have many options does he?

[Pasha K]

I dont understand, he has a contract with Strikeforce yes or not? Because if he has a contract, if M-1 made a deal with Strikeforce I think they should do exactly what was written in the contract.

And they are doing whatever they want, they dont want Fedor to fight in April, then they dont want Fedor to fight in Dream, now they dont want Fedor to fight either on May, then WTF they want?

How is that he fought in November, got paid and now they are complaining that Fedor did not received enough money. Why are they saying it now? Why they didnt say it months ago?
BTW I think that the amount of money was agreed even before the match with Rogers, so then what is the problem?

This is turning to be a circus, I wanted to believe that M-1 are not that bad as many people think they are, but seriosly they are doing bullshit. Why the fans have to wait everytime 8/9 months to see Fedor fight?

[noahm]

Where did he say he wasn't getting paid enough? Just curious.

[PaulDenton]

Hey.


How dont you guys get it??? Its easy!!! UFC is definately really close to signing Fedor now both m1 and ufc are probably doing the best to make StrikeForce give up. Have you seen the latest Questions and answers session from Dana white. You could tell he was sure he'll get Fedor soon, and he did'nt make any bad comments about Fedor actually he was saying stuff like, Fedor defended the sport of mma and I am sports fan and i want to find out who is the best HW and so on, plus he had that smiley face on him. I dont know how but they are going to sign Fedor soon- soon than we expect.

[KevoOnTheRadio]

Yea, cuz Dana White has never said he was close to signing Fedor in the past....