Fedor Signs with Strikeforce

Fedor Signs with Strikeforce
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Monday, August 03, 2009
by Loretta Hunt (lhunt@sherdog.com)

Fedor Emelianenko (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Fedor-Emelianenko-1500) has signed a multi-fight agreement that will see the world’s No. 1-ranked heavyweight compete for Strikeforce, the promotion announced Monday.

Emelianenko, who became a free agent after Affliction Entertainment canceled its Aug. 1 event two weeks ago, will make his debut on Showtime under a co-promoted Strikeforce/M-1 Global production this fall. Emelianenko was to have faced Josh Barnett (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Josh-Barnett-272) at Affliction “Trilogy” on Aug. 1, but Barnett failed a pre-fight test for anabolic steroids and was refused licensure by the California State Athletic Commission.

Emelianenko, along with his promoters and management team M-1 Global, negotiated with the UFC last week, but could not come to an agreement over co-promotion.

"Strikeforce is a top fight promotion that houses some of the greatest fighters in the world," said Emelianenko in a press release. "I am prepared to fight any of them."

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told Sherdog.com last week that he plans to match the stoic Russian against the likes of Brett Rogers (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Brett-Rogers-16048), Fabricio Werdum (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Fabricio-Werdum-8390) and the promotion’s heavyweight champion, Alistair Overeem (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Alistair-Overeem-461).

“I feel pretty confident that we could give him four or five opponents that would make sense for him,” Coker told Sherdog.com in an exclusive video interview (http://www.sherdog.com/videos/recent/Strikeforce-Denies-Affliction-Deal-Fedor-In-Works-2033).

Very dissapointed he's not jumping in with the UFC.

Very dissapointed he's not jumping in with the UFC.

Me too man!! :mad:

Just got back from lunch & read that on ESPN.com!!!! :eek:

The only thing i can think of is the promotion thing, although I did read somewhere that Fedors "people" claim that there never was a guaranteed deal w/UFC that they turned down. I think the exact words were "there was never any such offer made" or something like that~

Did Dana himself ever come out and say specifically exactly what his offer was? :what:

Too bad UFC heavies can't go over to Strikeforce for one fight to fight him.

Watching those Pride FC Grand Prix's I ordered....makes you wish for the days off MMA freedom. There were guys repping UFC, Pride, etc.

At least Strikeforce's strongest division is their heavies. It's not as strong as UFCs throughout, but Overeem and Barnett are pretty good.



Dana could do something to shut everyone up: allow Brock to fight one fight in Strikeforce against Fedor. Seeing as Fedor is still the linear UFC heavyweight champ and all. Brock has a convincing win: controversy over.

...Dana could do something to shut everyone up: allow Brock to fight one fight in Strikeforce against Fedor. Seeing as Fedor is still the linear UFC heavyweight champ and all. Brock has a convincing win: controversy over.

That's what I was thinking too! I would REALLY like to see that happen! :bowdown:

That's what I was thinking too! I would REALLY like to see that happen! :bowdown:

In the spirit of putting his money where his mouth is, it wouldn't be a bad decision.

But if Fedor absolutely destroys Lesnar (which he would), then what?

I think if Dana had real faith in Brock having any chance at Fedor he'd let it happen to shut everyone up.

...I think if Dana had real faith in Brock having any chance at Fedor he'd let it happen to shut everyone up.

I absolutely agree 100%...

Fedor fears Lesnar, the next big thing in MMA ;)

Fedor fears Lesnar, the next big thing in MMA ;)

Um, no. :lol:

Oh wait... Is Lesnar carrying a weapon?? Is it full auto?!?!?

OK then... MAYBE~ :haha:

Fedor fears Lesnar, the next big thing in MMA ;)

I actually thought the same thing. Even though Fedor is an evil beast of a fighter, no one really knows how they match up against another fighter until they fight. I think the thought of fighting Lesnar was a bit premature for Fedor. He is not ready to end his streak right now. I am not saying Lesnar would definitely win, but face it, he has a hell of a chance. He is a freak of a man. Sure he is not as experienced as Fedor in the world of MMA, but he sure does show plenty of dedication to the sport, to learn and conquer.

The thing that gets me is the fact that both of these guys(Fedor and Lesnar) have the same out-of-the-gate approach, which is balls-to-the-wall. I seriously doubt Lesnar has the same conditioning as Fedor, but I think his power is far greater than Fedor's. Looking at the second Mir fight, damn, those short blows really f***ed Mir up.

Fedor is a chump. Yea I said it. He has fought mid-level talent at best. He has ducked the chance to face real talent in the UFC time and time again.

Fedor is a chump. Yea I said it. He has fought mid-level talent at best. He has ducked the chance to face real talent in the UFC time and time again.

:haha::roflmao::haha:

You've been re-reading Tippy's posts too much my friend~ ;)

I agree lesnar would crush fedor... The guys fedor has faced were mostly tomato cans...

Fedor is a chump. Yea I said it. He has fought mid-level talent at best. He has ducked the chance to face real talent in the UFC time and time again.

Fedor is a chump. Yea I said it. He has fought mid-level talent at best. He has ducked the chance to face real talent in the UFC time and time again.

I agree lesnar would crush fedor... The guys fedor has faced were mostly tomato cans...

:confused:

He's beat almost every great UFC heavyweight in their prime.

Here's a link with a list of his fights.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fedor_Emelianenko

Who exactly is he ducking?

:confused:

He's beat almost every great UFC heavyweight in their prime.

Here's a link with a list of his fights.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fedor_Emelianenko

Who exactly is he ducking?

Thank you!!! :yippee:

I was wondering how anyone with MMA knowledge could think/say those things!

Thank you!!! :yippee:

I was wondering how anyone with MMA knowledge could think/say those things!

I miss the Pride brand. But I'm sure you guys already knew that.;) I liked the presentation more. The ring announcements in Japanese, the ring, the lack of "It's the year 2000Xtreme !!!" feel that UFC seems to be going for.

Pride's take was more of the honorable martial arts thing, and even though the people calling the fights in UFC are great and know their shit, the video presentation, music ect. just screams MTN DEW at me.

And how can't you miss Bass Ruten in the booth?

Great heavyweights huh?

Like Randleman, Goodridge, Choi, Sylvia?

Please, those are journey-man fighters, who are garbage. The only real heavyweight he has fought was Nog and Nog took him to the distance, twice.

It's like someone dominating in the Europe NFL league. Okay that's great but until you come over to the real deal, you're a chump who rather sell M-1 garbage than be a real fighter. Meh.

Among others; Cro Cop, Coleman, Herring, Randleman, all arguably in their prime. These fights were 5 years ago bro. They weren't the potato bags they are today.

Dana could do something to shut everyone up: allow Brock to fight one fight in Strikeforce against Fedor. Seeing as Fedor is still the linear UFC heavyweight champ and all. Brock has a convincing win: controversy over.

I don't see any controversy now. I don't think anybody believes that Brock is a challenge for Fedor now. Brock has a career record of what, 3-1? I didn't check but I can't be far off. His idiotic behavior after his last fight makes the UFC look like professional wrestling and he needs to stop that or risk having the UFC lose credibility.

The UFC might be able to come up with someone that would present a challenge for Fedor but right now an easy win over Brock would immediately place the UFC in an even worse light.

Chris

Great heavyweights huh?

Like Randleman, Goodridge, Choi, Sylvia?

Please, those are journey-man fighters, who are garbage. The only real heavyweight he has fought was Nog and Nog took him to the distance, twice.

It's like someone dominating in the Europe NFL league. Okay that's great but until you come over to the real deal, you're a chump who rather sell M-1 garbage than be a real fighter. Meh.

You might look at Fedor's record, who he has fought and listen to what experts like Bas Ruten or others have to say about him. There is nobody in the UFC that has fought the level of competition that Fedor has fought and his recent easy win over Silvia gives a basis for comparisons to UFC fighters. I have seen nobody make a credible case there is a UFC heavyweight now that has a chance against Fedor. Your puffing just reads like typical WWE crap.

Chris

I don't see any controversy now. I don't think anybody believes that Brock is a challenge for Fedor now.


No controversy? What is this thread about? I think that there are a lot of people that think Lesnar has a chance, albeit small or what not. I would personally love to see the match up!

Cro Flop is overrated. Didn't he leave UFC due to losses? UFC has the best competition in all weight classes. Fedor knows that. I'd take UFC's presentation over pride's any day.

Brock is too big for anyone in the Heavyweight division. He's going to go through everyone in the UFC like it's a knife through butter. If Fedor wanted to prove he was the best he would go to the UFC, instead he rather promote his shit organization and fight lowly fighters that offer him no challenge. I have no respect for someone who doesn't want to fight the best fighters and rather take the money. Dana's words hold true, he's a fucking joke. He's going to make millions fighting crap talent like Alistair Overeem (who's been owned by anyone from the UFC) and Fabricio Werdum who couldn't even make it in the UFC. What a competitor Fedor is!

Fedor's getting less money not going to UFC.

I understand that, but my problem is, he's not going to truly earn the money if he's barely breaking a sweat against these chumps he's going to be facing.

He didn't want to deal with the Fertitta brothers and Dana. He said he felt low balled two years ago when they tried to sign him and he didn't even really look at the newer offer.

I'm sure somewhere on this Earth he'll be able to find competition. His Sambo tournaments are his main sport anyways, and Dana really disrespected that every time he mentioned it. Dude's got nothing to prove in the martial arts world. Sure some American 18-32 year old beer drinkers might think Lesnar is the best MMA heavy in the world, but that's about it.

That may be your opinion, but my opinion is that unless you fight in the UFC, you DO have something to prove. Rampage was the same way for me, sure he fought some pretty good talent in Pride (I wish it was still around) and I thought he needed to do to solidify his career was go to the UFC and make some noise and he has. Facing 4 of the best LH of all time in his last 5 fights.