White hopeful for Emelianenko and Mousasi in the UFC

Apparently, the Ultimate Fighting Championship's door hasn't completely closed on notables Fedor Emelianenko and Gegard Mousasi.

Although the M-1 fighters are signed in the U.S. to Strikeforce and past negotiations with the UFC fell apart, UFC president Dana White said he recently reopened talks with M-1 Global boss Vadim Finkelstein.

White wouldn't elaborate on the nature of the discussions, only saying they've taken place "more recently than you would think." But Finkelstein has since confirmed he's entered talks and hopes "fans will be happy this time" with the outcome.

Finkelstein's recent Twitter message came a day after White confirmed the renewed talks.

White's update, which raised more than a few eyebrows, followed a simple question asking if Mousasi, the former DREAM middleweight champ and current Strikeforce light-heavyweight title-holder, would never be a UFC fighter.

"I wouldn't say he never would be," White said on Saturday. "It's not that I don't want to talk to M-1. I want to get this [expletive] done. I want him, and I want Fedor. I want to do it. And I never say never. They can call me right now, and we can start talking and figure this thing out. I'd love to get Mousasi in here. He should be. He deserves to be.

"I like [Mousasi] a lot. I'd love to get him in here and try him out with some of the other guys."

When pressed for details, White declined to elaborate but confirmed the talks have taken place recently.

While certainly good news for THE UFC fans who want the top fighters under the company's umbrella, it's certain to cause concern for Strikefore and broadcast partners Showtime and CBS, who have relied (and will continue to rely) heavily on the two stars. Both are expected to figure prominently into Strikeforce's 2010 plans with Emelianenko likely to contend for the organization's heavyweight belt and Mousasi expected to defend his title, which he recently took from Renato "Babalu" Sobral.

Emelianenko, the longtime PRIDE champion, recently competed for Affliction Entertainment, where he defeated ex-UFC champs Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski. After its promotional demise, Emelianenko and the UFC entered talks that soon sparked a war of words in the media. White said the fighter's demands (which included the caveat that Emelianenko's UFC fights must be co-promoted by M-1 Global) were outlandish, but he said he was willing to pay big for the fighter. (Finkelstein, though, later denied reports that the UFC had offered a contract worth $30 million.) However, the co-promoting demands eventually halted the negotiations.

The talks temporary broke down in July, and Emelianenko signed with Strikeforce the next month. The promotion then announced a network-TV deal with CBS, and Emelianenko headlined the first show with a knockout victory over Brett Rogers in November.

Emelianenko (31-1) and Mousasi (28-2-1) are both expected to fight again for Strikeforce in the spring.

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They need to be in the UFC more than any 2 other fighters around

I agree Farmer... But I'd still much rather see Gegard than Fedor if given the choice. With Brock sidelined, there are really no fights against Fedor that would give me a chubby. However, almost anyone in the top-10 at LHW against Gegard would make for a very exciting fight... And I definitely think he's every bit as legit a threat to Machida as Shogun...

Disagree LTFG, Fedor needs to be there much more then Gegard. He's the goat, and Brock should be healthy by the time Fedor's contract is up. Plus considering age, it's more important that he gets in sooner rather then later, where as Gegard is plenty young.

I have a feeling lesnar could be done with the way dana is all about fedor once again. We should find out soon but my gut tells me he needs surgery again cause due to his sitiuation it is very common for a second surgery which is considered major and could sideline him for a year or forever. Just my thought but I wish the big guy a speedy recovery and hope he makes it back in the cage before its all said and done.

captain organic wrote:

Disagree LTFG, Fedor needs to be there much more then Gegard. He's the goat, and Brock should be healthy by the time Fedor's contract is up. Plus considering age, it's more important that he gets in sooner rather then later, where as Gegard is plenty young.

Eh, decent points Cappy... But Fedor running through the UFC will do nothing to add to his career. And I really don't think anyone but Brock stands a legitimate chance against him. So, Dana drags him in and he beats Brock... What's next? Mir, JDS, Carwin, Cain??? I love watching Fedor work his magic, but for me the talent pool is really no different in the UFC than it is around the rest of the world.

However, ALL of the top LHW's short of Gegard reside in the UFC. Gegard needs to be in the UFC he wants to work to be the GOAT (Which I truly believe he has the skills or can refine them to become). Fedor has already cemented that legacy...

Honestly, im more intrigued by Mousasi coming than Fedor.

With Lesnar out...I could care less to watch Fedor stomp on everyone else in the HW division.

I said the same thing about Mousasi

https://ninjasplace.forumotion.net/mma-f1/i-m-more-pissed-off-about-mousasi-then-fedor-t569.htm?highlight=mousasi

I guess its slightly less true because Mousasi can fight Hendo & King Mo now.

Fedor being UFC champ adds nothing to his career I agree....



...apart from giving him the HW title in the most respected and largest promotion in the world, letting him face a few more challenges than he would outside the UFC at this point, legitimizing him to the bulk of American MMA fans and media that don't know him or worse think he is fake, allowing him to cash in on more sponsorship and PPV dollars than he probably ever has and certainly could make elsewhere and letting him finally bring the true lineal MMA HW championship back to the UFC where it has been absent for over ten years.


LTFG I am more and more concerned you may fall and break a hip if you have this level of dementia.

There's no reason both guys can't fight in the UFC. Dana needs to get them both here and I believe he will.

Id rather see Fedor against guys like Mir, Velasquez, and even Nog again then watch him fight Brett Rogers, Werdum or Overeem.

Lesnar will make it back at some point. He has a family to feed and its his only source of income.

He could still do fake fighting if he is too hurt to do real fighting, besides, dude aint hurting for money.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Fedor being UFC champ adds nothing to his career I agree....



...apart from giving him the HW title in the most respected and largest promotion in the world, letting him face a few more challenges than he would outside the UFC at this point, legitimizing him to the bulk of American MMA fans and media that don't know him or worse think he is fake, allowing him to cash in on more sponsorship and PPV dollars than he probably ever has and certainly could make elsewhere and letting him finally bring the true lineal MMA HW championship back to the UFC where it has been absent for over ten years.


LTFG I am more and more concerned you may fall and break a hip if you have this level of dementia.

Ah, reality check... Welcome back Wolfy!

You know what I'm saying. I and most of the rest of the MMA world that has even the slightest knowledge of the sport and who Fedor is understand that he doesn't "have" to fight in the UFC to prove dick... Who cares what that unknowledgeable bulk of American fans think of him? The most respected and largest promotion as you call them, has a joke champion who sports a pecker tattoo on his chest for crying out loud... Remember Wolf? Seriously, I would love to see Fedor run over Brock and through the other so called legitimate top-10ers in the UFC... But given the option between the two, "I" would rather see Gegard make his mark in the UFC's LHW division...

Besides, we all know that Finky isn't letting him anywhere near the octagon unless Dana offers 51% of UFC stock and a rimmer a week for life...

Wolfgangsta wrote:

He could still do fake fighting if he is too hurt to do real fighting, besides, dude aint hurting for money.

True dat he makes what 400K to show up and lives modestly.

I think Alistair Roidedreem would lock a guillotine on Brock if he didnt KO him first. Provided he could get his huge arms around Brocks thick neck. Brock would have a clear speed advantage though.

Please god please, also even with Brock out, there's better fights in the UFC HW division than anywhere else, unless Barnett steps up. Mousasi is young and talented, but needs seasoning, the potential Hendo fight will be a big test. Still, come on, these two guys in the UFC complete the circle.

Also, I've been calling this

redvexx8 wrote:

Lesnar will make it back at some point. He has a family to feed and its his only source of income.

umm when it comes to health shit you dont really have a choice. There is still a good chance we have seen Lesnar fight for the last time, but let's hope not.