M-1 Global is NOT in talks with the UFC about Fedor and Mousasi

Something sounds fishy.

I think M-1 did have some sort of contact with the UFC and SF didn't like it and it possible could be some contract violation with SF. Now they're denying everything.

Interesting take Farm

But disappointing, and their contrats with M-1 end in a couple fights anyways correct?

In talks can mean several things. It can mean they left a message, talked for a second, made a proposal, or they just talking about the future(after the SF deal is up) but all i took from Dana's UFC interview is that he wants those guys in UFC, as well he should.

I think both guys(dana, vadim) talk their share of bullshit so i'm just going to say that M-1 has a deal with Strikeforce for 2 Fedor fights. Not two M-1 co-promoted events. The deal has always been they bring Fedor, Strikeforce brings CBS. They did not agree on a handshake, they agreed on a contract so i think the only realistic way you see those guys in UFC in 2010, is through co-promotion with no just M-1 Global but Strikeforce.

My hope is UFC is looking to play ball with the other kids in the neighborhood and discussing co-promotion. Which, if any talks with M-1 are serious, it would definetly involve the C word and UFC loosening up on it. Fact is, Japan has recovered from PRIDE and there is another big promotion in the states. UFC is going to be seeing more big time fighters not within their organization as time goes on.

My take on Fedor is that he is never leaving M-1 and the only way UFC will get Fedor is co-promoting with M-1. Gegard on the other hand will be in UFC by next year IMO without M-1.

We'll see. I think it's all nothing and we won't even be talking about this by the end of the week. M-1 shot it down, and the topic would have never even been brought up by Dana if he was not asked. I would like to see a follow up interview with Dana on the topic.

So, did finkel twit or not twit?

They will end up in the UFC after there SF contracts anyways. UFC can pay them way to much money for them not to sign.

Today, M-1 Global exec Jerry Millen told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) that in reality, the two sides were having "absolutely zero communication."

"I called everybody in the company before I made this statement," Millen said. "I called (M-1 Global president) Vadim Finkelchtein and talked to him, and he said, 'Absolutely not. There's no correspondence with the UFC at all.'

"I think Dana, in a fantasy dream he had, he signed Fedor. That's probably the 'more recent than you think.' He's dreaming. He wants Fedor. His heavyweight division is a mess."

With current UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar on the shelf indefinitely, Millen believes White may now more than ever see the need to bring Emelianenko, who is a part owner of M-1 Global, into the fold. Millen also contends the UFC could use "The Last Emperor" to help bolster lagging pay-per-view sales.

"The (UFC) pay-per-views aren't doing well," Millen said. "I don't care what anybody says, the numbers that people are reporting the pay-per-views are doing, they're not doing.

"Their pay-per-views are hurting, and for the next couple of pay-per-views, look at the main events. I love the fighters that are fighting, but they're not going to sell a lot of pay-per-views. So Dana has got to stir up controversy or talk it up any way he can."

Millen believes White's vague comments regarding potential communications with M-1 Global may have been a creative attempt to damage the still-developing partnership between the Russian organization, Strikeforce, Showtime and CBS.

"When I saw this coming down, I was like, 'OK, what's going on here? Is this Dana trying to affect our relationship with CBS and Showtime and Strikeforce?'" Millen asked. "We have a great relationship. We're very happy with our partners, and we see a great future with them. But this is a way to undermine somebody.

"If you think somebody isn't fully committed, would you be fully committed? What you do is create doubt, and that's what they're trying to do – create doubt that M-1 is not fully committed. But we are fully committed to Showtime and Strikeforce. It's a great partnership."

That partnership resulted in both Emelianenko and Mousasi fighting on CBS this past November, and the two will likely repeat the process in April. But with Strikeforce and M-1 Global officially tied together for just three fights, could things change some time in 2010?

"You can never say 'Never' in anything," Millen said. "Would I love to see Fedor fight Brock Lesnar? Sure. I'd love to see him smash Lesnar. But it would have to be an M-1/Strikeforce/UFC collaboration, and they're never going to that. They're never going to break their business model. They're just not, unless the fans keep hammering Dana so much that they have to."

White has admitted to offering millions of dollars for Emelianenko's services, and the UFC exec also admitted at this past Saturday's press conference that he was a fan of Mousasi. But Millen said it's going to take more than a large contract to bridge the gap between the two parties.

"Dana wants [Emelianenko and Mousasi] now, bad, because he needs those guys," Millen said. "They're two of the best fighters in the world. But if things don't go his way, in two months it will be, 'Fedor sucks. He's overrated. He doesn't fight anybody. There's no depth.' Well look, your guys are dropping off, too. He goes back and forth. I think he's bi-polar.

"Money can buy you just about everything but Fedor. That's what Dana is running into. ... Dana White has no clue about the people he's dealing with in M-1. He doesn't know anything about the people in M-1. He doesn't know how to treat them. He doesn't know their background. He doesn't know who they are as people. That's his biggest problem."

Millen said the M-1 Global team, including Emelianenko, is more interested in respect than the amount of zeroes on a paycheck.

"Dana White doesn't respect anybody," Millen said. "He doesn't respect his fighters, I don't feel. He respects Fedor, and then he doesn't respect him. He respects the Russians for a minute, and then he calls them 'The Crazy Russians.' Dana White needs to learn how to respect people. He doesn't treat people very well.

"I just feel he thinks he's at the top of the world, but the people you see going up the ladder are the same ones you see coming back down. It's all about respect."

So according to Millen, the speculation can stop just as quickly as it started. The M-1 Global exec says his company is satisfied with its current partnerships, and their position on key topics such as co-promotion haven't changed.

"We're very happy," Millen said. "Everything with the first event was a great success.

"Dana is grabbing at straws. He wants Fedor so bad he can taste it. ... But as long as M-1 is involved, I'm sure it's always going to be co-promotion. Fedor has been a part of the family. You don't just give your family away. Gegard is an M-1 fighter, as well, and he's right there with Fedor."

Interesting read, I'll respond to different parts of it later, lot to comment on here

"Money can buy you just about everything but Fedor"

Classic!

They probably had some cursory legal communication that companies often have at different levels and Dana is using that to try and damage the Strikeforce/M-1 relationship and the CBS deal. CBS would get cold feet if they have no stars you'd think right?

I call bullshit on Dana.

Millen is 100% correct about Dana not respecting anyone. He may have shot himself in the foot when he ran his mouth about Fedor and M-1.

redvexx8 wrote:

<i>"Money can buy you just about everything but Fedor"</i>

Classic!

Those words probably came out of Fedor's mouth originally.

GDPofDRC wrote:

redvexx8 wrote:

"Money can buy you just about everything but Fedor"

Classic!

Those words probably came out of Fedor's mouth originally.

And they are bull crap. Money will buy M-1, Fedor, and whatever else.

Farmer1906 wrote:

GDPofDRC wrote:

redvexx8 wrote:

<i>"Money can buy you just about everything but Fedor"</i>

Classic!

Those words probably came out of Fedor's mouth originally.

And they are bull crap. Money will buy M-1, Fedor, and whatever else.

I don't know, Fedor does seem like a different breed of character. I do think respect plays a huge part in the process.

but more then anything, if the UFC wants Fedor, they need to open up to cross promotion. I think it's simple as that.

Money will not make Fedor Smile

captain organic wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

GDPofDRC wrote:

redvexx8 wrote:

"Money can buy you just about everything but Fedor"

Classic!

Those words probably came out of Fedor's mouth originally.

And they are bull crap. Money will buy M-1, Fedor, and whatever else.

I don't know, Fedor does seem like a different breed of character. I do think respect plays a huge part in the process.

but more then anything, if the UFC wants Fedor, they need to open up to cross promotion. I think it's simple as that.

What is prevented Fedor from joining the UFC? Money. The UFC wasn't willing to co promote which in turn would make M-1 tons of money.

It wasn't just money though, and you're smart enough to see that. Would a star freeagent sign with a team who had a GM who bad mouthed him and called him a fraud and fake for years and years?

Wolfgangsta wrote:

It wasn't just money though, and you're smart enough to see that. Would a star freeagent sign with a team who had a GM who bad mouthed him and called him a fraud and fake for years and years?

They would if they paid him enough

Of course, but clearly the UFC didn't offer enough to make up for what was said.

Fedor aint your average fighter dude. You also have to factor cultural aspects into this. Do you think Country Boiz/wannabe GI Joe dipshit republicans like Don Frye or Matt Hughes would sign for, gasp, an all Russian ran league, after they shit talked them for years and called them fruads, especially if they could get similar, even if slightly less, money and exposure with another company that agreed to work with an American company they had a small partnership in?


It's not like the UFC was offering them 30 million bucks. That story was debunked. Fedor makes between 2 and 3 million now as far as we know right? The UFC deal hinged largely on PPV buys which are not concrete and had from what we understand less guaranteed money.

Fedor's decision should puzzle no one.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Of course, but clearly the UFC didn't offer enough to make up for what was said.

Fedor aint your average fighter dude. You also have to factor cultural aspects into this. Do you think Country Boiz/wannabe GI Joe dipshit republicans like Don Frye or Matt Hughes would sign for, gasp, an all Russian ran league, after they shit talked them for years and called them fruads, especially if they could get similar, even if slightly less, money and exposure with another company that agreed to work with an American company they had a small partnership in?


It's not like the UFC was offering them 30 million bucks. That story was debunked. Fedor makes between 2 and 3 million now as far as we know right? The UFC deal hinged largely on PPV buys which are not concrete and had from what we understand less guaranteed money.

Fedor's decision should puzzle no one.

I don't disagree with that, but money could buy Fedor and any fighter. Everyone has their price tag.

Farmer1906 wrote:

captain organic wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

GDPofDRC wrote:

redvexx8 wrote:

<i>"Money can buy you just about everything but Fedor"</i>

Classic!

Those words probably came out of Fedor's mouth originally.

And they are bull crap. Money will buy M-1, Fedor, and whatever else.

I don't know, Fedor does seem like a different breed of character. I do think respect plays a huge part in the process.

but more then anything, if the UFC wants Fedor, they need to open up to cross promotion. I think it's simple as that.

What is prevented Fedor from joining the UFC? Money. The UFC wasn't willing to co promote which in turn would make M-1 tons of money.

Your muddying 2 pretty distinct negotiating points. 1)co-promotion 2)fighter pay.

But it seems we agree.

as far as respect and money go.

1)Fedor is already a legend, he doesn't need the UFC. I think he is very willing to end his career with his countrymen in non-UFC collaborations with other org's. And Dana talking junk makes it all the more the easy to do so.

2)Dana has talked junk about Fedor for a while now. So if $$$ played no part, I don't think Fedor would have sat down with the UFC in the first place, but he did.

So I believe both money and respect play a role, but with Fedor respect may weigh heavier then with many other fighters

Money and respect both play a role, but Fedor isn't an average fighter. He has been the best fighter for years. Would a Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning, Floyd Mayweather, Barry Sanders, Roger Federer or Tiger Woods take such disrespect?

Burger King is never going to say the Big Mac is the best burger

tolivendiewithLA wrote:

Burger King is never going to say the Big Mac is the best burger

Nicely said, but then again the King isn't going to straight gun down Old McDonald either, right?