Fedor has been signed by M-1
Original Poster: bamboo
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 16-10-2007, 08:56
Orginal Post: bamboo: FEDOR COMMITS TO M-1
PRIDE Heavyweight Champion To Headline First Show Under New Ownership
By Loretta Hunt (
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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.
[URL="http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=5076" http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=5076[/URL
Post: 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?>
Post: 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.>
Post: 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?>
Post: dscott:
WTF???????? So now what?>
Post: 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.>
Post: 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! :lol:
Best he goes out ontop anyway.>
Post: 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.>
Post: bamboo:
9 months would make for a fully healed arm and intense training.:wink:>
Post: dscott:
[quote=bamboo;51376 9 months would make for a fully healed arm and intense training.:wink:[/quote
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.>
Post: ...formless...:
This is fucked! I have been WAITING and WAITING for Fedor to come over to the UFC and silence the hoards of shit talkers by beating the bejesus out of Couture and now this shit? I hope Couture mans up to get smacked down at an M-1 event at least. The Malt-liquor-chugging simpletons that suck on Dana White's cock need to have their eyes opened up to the worlds very best heavyweight.
This blows!>
Post: dscott:
So what are you really thinking? Don't hold back.:lol:>
Post: Wilhelm von Wankenstein:
Summary of formless' post: I AM AN ANGEREY!!!
:lol:
For the most part, I agree, too, being a Fedor fan and all that ;). that said, Couture is not to be underrated. His standup skills - both grappling and striking - are formidable, and he always turns up for a match in top condition. I'd say that, assuming all things to be equal, any potential match between the two will come down to how well each fighter has studied his opponent and trained specifically to beat the other man.>
Post: zefff:
I agree, Couture has always known how to spoil the betting odds. Its a shame though because at the moment we are all going to miss out one potentially one of the most technical and glorious displays of infighting, wrestling and takedowns as the best of Sambo and Greco-Roman mix it up...Imagine it!>
Post: Wilhelm von Wankenstein:
zefff: Tell me about it! This will be the biggest fight since Fedor vs CroCop, and probably be less of an overhyped disappointment, too.
All in all, what do you guys reckon Randy's chances of signing on with M-1 will be? I hope he does it eventually, and while Fedor is still in his prime.>
Post: ...formless...:
[quote=Wilhelm von Wankenstein;51387 Summary of formless' post: I AM AN ANGEREY!!!
:lol:
For the most part, I agree, too, being a Fedor fan and all that ;). that said, Couture is not to be underrated. His standup skills - both grappling and striking - are formidable, and he always turns up for a match in top condition. I'd say that, assuming all things to be equal, any potential match between the two will come down to how well each fighter has studied his opponent and trained specifically to beat the other man.[/quote
Serious I haven't been this riled up since Genki Sudo retired without avenging his shitty loss to Yamamoto!:mrgreen:
What I love about Fedor is that he NEVER underestimates anyone and respects his opponents. He always develops strategies specific to each fight and he is just plain better than Randy. I mean, I like Couture but I don't see him beating Fedor. Maybe he could last all 5 rounds but I'm sure Fedor would just take a unanimous decision. Also, Fedor is a good enough striker to watch how Chuck Liddell managed to catch Randy twice and I'm sure he'd either knock Randy out or armbar him the same way he has all kinds of other good wrestlers.
That said, its still an insanely good match-up and one can only hope that Randy will sign up for at least one fight with Fedor. I know he wants to and I'm sure M-1 would be willing to pay him more money to make sure it happens!>
Post: zefff:
Who are M-1 though, that is the question?>
Post: Wilhelm von Wankenstein:
M-1 is a promotion that used to be russian-owned until it was recently bought up by an as-yet unnamed american corporation. They used to be owned by Fedor's old team manager, I think, and he's staying on to manage the organisation as an employee.>
Post: zefff:
I read elsewhere this morning that Arona has signed to M1 and is smiling but saying nowt when asked about Fedor!>
Post: Wilhelm von Wankenstein:
WHOOOOOOOOOO!!! Arona vs Fedor #2! Another fight I want to see! \m/>
Post: dscott:
Could this un-named American corporation be HDnet? I've been hearing a lot that Mark Cuban (owner of Minnesota Timberwolves and HDnet) is making strides to make an impact on the MMA market.>
Post: zefff:
Thats whats going around...only a good thing!
On a related note, from Sherdog:
"The formation of World Victory Road Inc. and the Japanese MMA Association were formally announced Monday in Tokyo at a much-anticipated news conference.
The Japanese MMA Association has been devised to give mixed martial arts in Japan a legitimate, credible sanctioning body that will foster development of the sport.
Japanese Wrestling Association president and International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) vice president Tomiaki Fukuda will serve as president of the new organization.
Hiroshi Hase, a former Olympic wrestler turned puroresu superstar, and Takao Yasuda, chairman of Japanese discount chain Don Quijote, were announced as vice presidents.
Former boxing champion Yoko Gushiken, who reigned as WBA light flyweight champion in the late 1970s will be on the board of directors. The Afro and mustache worn by Shooto star Mamoru Yamaguchi (Pictures) are homage to Gushiken, who remains considerably popular in Japan.
President Fukuda explained that the organization would help move MMA toward being an international sporting event and that a potential relationship with the international amateur wrestling circuit could be forged in the future. He also stressed that the organization wanted to make its business both fair and transparent. As such, former Tokyo chief of police Yukihiko Inoue was announced as the new entity's commissioner.
The 69-year-old Inoue was thrust into the national spotlight in Japan in 1995, when he led the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department in its investigation of the subway sarin gas incident. Inoue resigned from his post in November 1996 after it was revealed the Tokyo police did not release information that a police sergeant had confessed to shooting Japan's national police chief. The sergeant in question was an admitted member of Aum Shinri Kyo, the cult accused of the aforementioned gas attack in the Tokyo subway system.
It was also announced that World Victory Road Inc., a new MMA-focused parent company, would be formally headed by Naoya Kinoshita. Kinoshita is the chairman of the Kinoshita Group, a prominent Japanese company specializing in the construction and maintenance of custom-built houses and apartment complexes.
Since PRIDE has been gone for six months, Kinoshita stated that he and World Victory Road hoped to hold their first MMA event as soon as possible.
However, no concrete date or place had been set for the event, nor were negotiations with prospective fighters finalized.
The new WVR boss also said that he and the WVR office would entertain fan submissions in regards to what the company's MMA event should be called.">
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