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[lilp86]

Of all his suitors, the UFC has offered PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko (26-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) the most lucrative fight deal, but the contract’s numerous restrictions and the organization’s lack of communication could keep the MMA legend from joining the UFC, said Emelianenko’s manager, Vadim Finkelstein.

Finkelstein, the manager of the Red Devil Sport Club fight team and owner of the M1 Mixfight organization, talked about the contract negotiations with Evgeni Kogan of Sherdog.com.

Emelianenko, 30, has been PRIDE’s heavyweight champion since March 2003. During his reign, he’s beaten some of the sport’s top fighters, including Mirko “Crop Cop” Filipovic, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Matt Lindland and Renato “Babalu” Sobral.

Ever since the UFC purchase PRIDE earlier this year, fans have wondered when — if ever — the famed Russian fighter and PRIDE 2004 Grand Prix winner would be signed to a UFC contract. Last month, UFCjunkie.com (www.ufcjunkie.com) quoted a source close to the UFC who said the general consensus within the organization that the deal was “inevitable.“

However, according to Finkelstein, that’s now not necessarily the case.

From Sherdog.com:

Sherdog.com: As Fedor’s manager, can you please fill us in on the current state of his contract negotiations.
VF: At the moment we are in negotiations with a number of organizations who have put offers on the table. I’ll be blunt in saying that the UFC offer is the most financially attractive one. However they are very harsh in their terms and are not very flexible in actually negotiating them.

Fedor has now been the PRIDE heavyweight champion for four years and I think we have earned the right to negotiate a contract that suits both parties. Instead we are faced with a blunt “you are either in or you’re out.” This does not really suit us. If the negotiations continue in a similar manner, we’ll prefer to fight for less money but with an organization which is more flexible.

The problem is that Fedor is the face of Combat Sambo in Russia. His popularity is at a level where he is acquainted with president Putin himself, in part because he is so successful and well known for Combat Sambo here.

Combat Sambo is a Russian sport that’s not at a level of difficulty of MMA, but is hugely popular with our public. Fedor must represent Russia in Combat Sambo and at world championships, specifically the ones coming up in September. All we want him to do is compete something like once a year in Combat Sambo. But the UFC is not happy with that.

Their proposal has all kinds of clauses, all kinds of fines etc. that do not suit us. The UFC is not really that eager to communicate and negotiate. The negotiations are still continuing, and we will try very hard to get our demands met, if not Fedor will simply not compete in the UFC, even though that will be unfortunate as they currently have one of the, if not the, strongest, heavyweight divisions in the world.

Finkelstein went on to state that he thinks the UFC prefers an American champion, and despite his offer to help, the organization has no intentions of putting on an event in Russia. That could be a deal-breaker for Finkelstein and Emelianenko, who stay true to their Russian roots.

The UFC, though, would have a lot to lose if the deal doesn’t go through.

The addition of Emelianenko would not only further bolster the UFC’s impressive roster of heavyweights, but it would make a significant statement: that the UFC and president Dana White get what they want. After all, throughout most of 2007, White has vowed to have Emelianenko fighting for the organization.

Additionally, it could set up what could be the biggest fight — ever — in the history of MMA. In August 2005, Emelianenko defeated Filipovic via unanimous decision, and fans have clamored for the rematch ever since.

God I hope they get this deal done. I think another sticking point other the Sambo is Fedor wants to still fight in Russia so I dont see why Dana dosent try to put on a show in Russia they are doing shows everywhere else nowadays why not there

[Clint]

Originally Posted by lilp86

God I hope they get this deal done. I think another sticking point other the Sambo is Fedor wants to still fight in Russia so I dont see why Dana dosent try to put on a show in Russia they are doing shows everywhere else nowadays why not there

It's not that Dana doesn't want to hold a show there. It's that Fedor's manager wants to have a hand in promoting the show and such.

[Krazikarl]

Yeah, its important to remember that in any type of negotation like this, neither side really tells the whole truth. If you buy everything that Dana and the UFC says about the situation, you are naive and vice versa.

I really dont see the UFC doing much in Russia for a variety of reasons. One of the big ones is that they would want to keep all of the local businesses and whatnot as far away from it as possible because so many of those kind of people have ties to the Russian mob. There is no way Dana will let his product get anywhere close to that kind of stuff. Just think what would happen if there was a controversial decision in Russia. Accusations would start up real fast even if they had no basis in reality. Dana is also never going to give Fedor's manager that big of a hand in promoting things because thats what happens in boxing, and Dana is eager to stay far far away from that.

The part about American champs is nonsense. Dana has given a number of foreign people VERY quick paths to title shots (A Silva, Cro Cop was fast tracked to the title until a Brazilian got the shot etc). It seems to me that Dana is honestly giving the best fighters regardless of nationality the chance at the title.

[methodjg]

dana needs to sack up and let him do his combat sambo. Fedor is the best in the world at combat sambo and nothing will happen to him. Hes more likely to get hurt doing mma.

[baba]

Originally Posted by Krazikarl

I really dont see the UFC doing much in Russia for a variety of reasons. One of the big ones is that they would want to keep all of the local businesses and whatnot as far away from it as possible because so many of those kind of people have ties to the Russian mob. There is no way Dana will let his product get anywhere close to that kind of stuff. Just think what would happen if there was a controversial decision in Russia. Accusations would start up real fast even if they had no basis in reality. Dana is also never going to give Fedor's manager that big of a hand in promoting things because thats what happens in boxing, and Dana is eager to stay far far away from that..

Excellent point. Alota fans might think UFC should get Fedor at all costs -- but in reality he's not worth sacrificing the sanctity of the organization for but getting in bed with the Russian mob.

Originally Posted by Krazikarl

The part about American champs is nonsense. Dana has given a number of foreign people VERY quick paths to title shots (A Silva, Cro Cop was fast tracked to the title until a Brazilian got the shot etc). It seems to me that Dana is honestly giving the best fighters regardless of nationality the chance at the title.

Another excellent point. If you keep structuring logical, well-thought-out arguments like these, the blind UFC/Dana haters on here may scratch you off their Christmas card list. Rep'd.

[Krazikarl]

My suspicion (no proof, but just a gut feeling) is that the deal is that Fedor can do his Sambo, but if he gets hurt and cant fight in the UFC because of it, the UFC gets some of their money back. That would explain the reference to fines.

If Dana spends millions promoting a Fedor fight and he gets hurt and cant fight because of his Sambo, its tough to expect the UFC to just eat the loss. On the other hand, the UFC really shouldnt expect to have total control over their fighters lives (although I should point out that in US sports this kind of control is standard: pro athletes in the US are usually prohibited from high risk activities like riding motercycles, skydiving etc).

[foutch550]

I know we as fans have alot to gain by Fedor joining UFC. All the fantasy matchups we've talked about and drooled over for years. But in all reality, Fedor's fucking himself if he (or his manager) gets too stubborn. I agree that Dana should make some "accomodating" clauses for Fedor, but if Fedor really wants to continue to fight the best, he'll sign with the UFC. Otherwise, he'll more than likely fight alot of 2nd rate fighters in 2nd class promotions.

**edit**
as for having alot of control over fighters lives...as for how much Fedor can make in UFC PER FIGHT, he can give up some shit. Nawmean? Also, I think the "America wants an American champion." I don't know about that. Who thinks that people like Sylvia better as a champion than Arlovski? The newer mma fans would love Fedor's "pound the fuck outta you" style.

[maxp84z]

Not all russians are mobsters. First and foremost, why not host a UFC event in Russia? Especially if it's a one time deal. It seems like Fedors manager just wants MMA to be huge in Russia. M-1 is a small promoter and doesnt pose any threat towards the UFC. Fedor likes performing in his native country of Russia. This is why PRIDE had a special contract for him allowing him to fight for other companies IN Russia. The UFC should just host an event in Moscow and have Fedor and Aleks headline.

[Clint]

Originally Posted by Krazikarl

Yeah, its important to remember that in any type of negotation like this, neither side really tells the whole truth. If you buy everything that Dana and the UFC says about the situation, you are naive and vice versa.

I really dont see the UFC doing much in Russia for a variety of reasons. One of the big ones is that they would want to keep all of the local businesses and whatnot as far away from it as possible because so many of those kind of people have ties to the Russian mob. There is no way Dana will let his product get anywhere close to that kind of stuff. Just think what would happen if there was a controversial decision in Russia. Accusations would start up real fast even if they had no basis in reality. Dana is also never going to give Fedor's manager that big of a hand in promoting things because thats what happens in boxing, and Dana is eager to stay far far away from that.

The part about American champs is nonsense. Dana has given a number of foreign people VERY quick paths to title shots (A Silva, Cro Cop was fast tracked to the title until a Brazilian got the shot etc). It seems to me that Dana is honestly giving the best fighters regardless of nationality the chance at the title.

I agree completely. I think Fedor's manager came off kinda poorly in the interview.

Originally Posted by Krazikarl

My suspicion (no proof, but just a gut feeling) is that the deal is that Fedor can do his Sambo, but if he gets hurt and cant fight in the UFC because of it, the UFC gets some of their money back. That would explain the reference to fines.

If Dana spends millions promoting a Fedor fight and he gets hurt and cant fight because of his Sambo, its tough to expect the UFC to just eat the loss. On the other hand, the UFC really shouldnt expect to have total control over their fighters lives (although I should point out that in US sports this kind of control is standard: pro athletes in the US are usually prohibited from high risk activities like riding motercycles, skydiving etc).

I thought the same thing with Fines, especially since they are more than likely offering Fedor a signing bonus which I imagine would have to be payed back in the event of an injury that prevents him from fighting caused by an outside activity. A Frank Mir clause almost.

[The Iceman]

Ummm I don't know much about contracts and contract negotiations, but I do know that if I was Dana White or the UFC I would also like to sign Fedor to a contract exclusive to the UFC. I wouldn't want my fighters fighting in any organization besides mine. What if he goes to Russia and get's KO'ed? I can't market him the same, What if he goes to Russia and gets injured? I can't use him when I want, so I think there are a lot of things that factor in there. I am on the UFC's side on this particular subject. I don't want my fighter fighting anywhere but my organization while under contract with me. Another thing with me is that I think the UFC is the biggest competetion right now and I would think that Fedor would want to fight the best and the money is there so I don't see the problem. That's like me having contracts for the NFL and the arena football league on my desk and NFL is offering more but I can't play with any other league...fine gimme my damn contract!!! I wanna play with the best and I want to get paid the best for it!! Somebody please help me out on this 1 because I know that there is more to it but I just can't see it.