Your premature "Fedor in the UFC" is a done deal post
by Zak Woods on Jul 28, 2009 6:33 PM EDT
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The L.A. Times is reporting a rumor that Fedor in the UFC is all but a done deal,
Fedor Emelianenko, is expected to be announced by UFC President Dana White on Friday, a source with information about the negotiations told The Times today.
The source, who asked not to be identified because he's not authorized to speak publicly about the dealings, called negotiations between the UFC and Fedor "very civil" just days after Fedor's scheduled Affliction Trilogy fight Saturday against Josh Barnett was canceled.
....
The source said officials were discussing details on the public announcement of the deal, which in the past has been complicated by Emelianenko's resistance to accept UFC's standard six-fight contract and his unwillingness to surrender some merchandising and marketing revenues.
Dana White is out of the country this week and Fedor is in Anaheim but this could allow Lorenzo Fertitta to negotiate free of the occasional "Fedor hasn't beaten anyone" comment.
WKR did our own anonymous reporting with an industry insider who has no knowledge of the situation. Our source commented on the situation saying, "I believe nothing these days until I see Dana and Fedor making out."
[UPDATE: Note by Zak Woods, 07/28/09 10:46 PM EDT ]
Josh Gross of SI.com is saying hold your horses on the L.A. Times report,
Denying a published report Tuesday by the Los Angeles Times, M-1 Global officials told SI.com that Fedor Emelianenko and the Ultimate Fighting Championship are not close to finalizing a deal that would bring mixed martial arts' top heavyweight in the Octagon.
"I can give you a guarantee it's not accurate," said Apy Echteld of M-1 Global, a St. Petersburg, Russia-based promotion and management company of
[UPDATE #2: Note by Zak Woods, 07/29/09 1:33 PM EDT ]
Time for the L.A. Times to back track (courtesy of MMA Fanhouse),
Pugmire tweeted on Wednesday:
"Second source close to Fedor Emelianenko confirms "intense negotiations" between fighter and UFC, declines to say it'll be done by friday."To make sure about the Times' report, another source close to M-1 told FanHouse, "It's more than premature -- it is based on no fact whatsoever."
Seems like Pugmire channeled his inner Chris Mortensen.
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As much as I hate to say it, I’m begining to think this may never happen. These kind of stories/rumors pop up whenever Fedor is out of contract. M1 are just making outrageous demands and Zuffa aren’t the type of company that compromise easily.
I really don’t see Fedor in the UFC unless Dana agrees to have “I Love M1-Global” on his head.
" Man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated "
- Hemingway
I just can't help but be excited...
Correct me if I’m wrong but I can’t remember a previous time when it was even rumored that Fedor and the UFC had a deal worked out.
The UFC just seems to have the golden touch right now where they can do no wrong and all the cards seem to be stacked in their favor.
99% of the time I live in reality, but this time I’m going to mark out in hopes that this really will happen
Who is this Coleko?
Over @ BE they seem to be giving extra credence to the rumor because of this source.
I figured since I didn’t know I should axe somebody
I am demonstrating a healthy dose of skepticism. This reporting reminds me a lot of Chris Mortenson where you report a likely event cite anonymous sources in a way where if it doesn’t happen you are off the hook.
However it is the L.A. Times so it should be well vetted
Coleko is Fedor’s manager I believe
watchkalibrun.com
...
there was a guy named Coleko at BE who wrote an absurd conspiracy theorist articled and then defended it tooth and nail. That’s the only time I’ve ever seen the name used, and the article was worth a read for the sheer hilarity of the comments section.
Well, the UFC did sign a top Affliction heavyweight today…
…but it’s Ben Rothwell! Anyway, he’s fighting the same guy, Chase Gormley he was supposed to fight at Trilogy at UFC 104.
Seriously though, Rothwell’s a really good signing and brings added depth to the heavyweight division.
Why not...
…just have the UFC buy M1-Global altogether and run it as UFC Russia? lol.
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