[bamboo]

FEDOR COMMITS TO M-1

PRIDE Heavyweight Champion To Headline First Show Under New Ownership

By Loretta Hunt (loretta@thefightnetwork.com)

PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko has committed exclusively to the new ownership of M-1 Mix-Fight Championship, which has been purchased outright by an undisclosed American entertainment-related company, according to a source close to the deal who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Established in 1997, the St. Petersburg-based M-1 held over 30 events under the ownership of Russian businessman Vadim Finkelstein, also the long-time manager of the much-sought-after Emelianenko. Finkelstein is also the proprietor of the Red Devil Sports Club, a facility and team that houses numerous Russian fighters, including PRIDE veteran Roman Zentsov and former UFC middleweight Andrei Semenov.

The source confirmed the new ownership has infused a substantial amount of capital into the organization. Finkelstein and others will stay on to assist in running the company, which will continue to promote under a variation of the M-1 name. The new M-1 will take more of a global stance, and Emelianenko (26-1) will headline its inaugural event as early as January or February, possibly in the U.S., the source said.
On March 27, Ultimate Fighting Championship majority owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta bought the assets of PRIDE, only to discover Emelianenko had previously signed a non-exclusive, non-transferable contract with its former owners, Dream Stage Entertainment.

As late as September, UFC president Dana White had insisted a deal with Emelianenko was imminent, though repeated negotiations between Finkelstein, colleague Apy Echteld and the Las Vegas outlet could not produce an agreement to bring the Stary Oskol resident to the famed Octagon. A major point of contention was White’s insistence Emelianenko sign an exclusive contract with the American promotion, which would exclude Emelianenko’s participation in Sambo competitions. Emelianenko is a three-time World Combat Sambo champion and ambassador for the sport in his homeland.

Undefeated in 24 fights (including one no contest), Emelianenko is widely received as the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter. The 31-year-old former Army firefighter rose to the top of PRIDE’s ranks by besting standouts like Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (30-4-1) and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (22-6-2). Emelianenko submitted 2000 Olympic Greco-Roman silver medallist Matt Lindland (20-5) at Bodog Fight “Clash of the Nations” on April 14 in St. Petersburg, Russia. He has not competed since.

A formal announcement of the purchase, as well as plans for the new organization’s first event, is expected by the end of this month.

http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=5076

[dscott]

I wonder what got him to sign there and not with a bigger company like UFC, WEC, EliteXC, HDnet or even Bodog. At least his reign as heavyweight champ won't likely be tested much, right?

[zefff]

Dunno, sounds strange but maybe they are looking to increase its appeal then offload the whole thing to another outfit. Thats what the article seemed to allude to as far as I am concerned.

[zefff]

"The Ultimate Fighting Championship appears to have lost its ultimate fighter.

Randy Couture, UFC's reigning heavyweight champ, has resigned the promotion, according to a report from The Fight Network.
Couture leaves UFC with two fights already contracted, the report said, abandoning his on-air analyst job, as well.

According to the report, Couture notified UFC president Dana White with a letter written from the South Africa set of the movie "The Scorpion King — Rise of the Akkadian," which will feature Couture.

The Fight Network reported one of the major factors in Couture's decision was the fact that UFC was unable to sign PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko.

"I appreciate this opportunity the sport of MMA and the UFC has given me," Couture said, according to the report said. "However, I'm tired of swimming upstream at this stage with the management of the UFC. It only makes sense at this point in my career to fight Fedor Emelianenko, and since he's now signed with another organization, I feel like it's time to resign and focus on my other endeavors."

A former All-American wrestler at Oklahoma State, Couture captured the UFC's heavyweight title for the first time in 1998. Over his 10-year career in the UFC, he won the heavyweight belt three times, the light heavyweight belt twice and an interim light heavyweight title. He leaves with a record of 16-8 for his career."

What are the chances of Captain America fighting on M1 now?

[dscott]

WTF???????? So now what?

[bamboo]

I'd love to see Randy go to m-1 for one last fight and frankly, I would not be suprised if he's thinking of doing just that.

[zefff]

Have you read what Dana White has said? Sounds like there may be a clause in Coutures contract but I dont think Randy will go for Fedor...unless this anonymous consortium push loads of cash his way to make the match...maybe the mystery buyers are another Zuffa subsiduary?...hope Randy's checked that out first otherwise he really isnt fighting anywhere else!

Best he goes out ontop anyway.

[dscott]

He has a contract with the UFC for another 9 months, I believe. So he can't fight for another promotion until that contract expires or someone buys out the rest of the contract.

[bamboo]

9 months would make for a fully healed arm and intense training.

[dscott]

Originally Posted by bamboo

9 months would make for a fully healed arm and intense training.

I forgot about his arm. Good point. I have a feeling that Dana White will be the undoing of the UFC. He's too brash and cheap. It's true that the UFC doesn't pay as well as their competitors.