AFFLICTION VP ON NEGOTIATING WITH M-1 & FEDOR
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AFFLICTION VP ON NEGOTIATING WITH M-1 & FEDOR
emfleek
8/20/09 8:24:15AM
When the negotiations between the Ultimate Fighting Championship and M-1 Global, which represents Fedor Emelianenko, broke down last month, there weren't too many fans or critics surprised by the fact that the Russian wouldn't compete in the Octagon any time in the near future.
The sticking point to the entire process was M-1's demand to co-promote with the UFC, and the UFC has always had a strict policy to not co-promote with other organizations. At the end of the day, no agreement was reached, and Fedor went on to sign with Strikeforce.
STORY
The sticking point to the entire process was M-1's demand to co-promote with the UFC, and the UFC has always had a strict policy to not co-promote with other organizations. At the end of the day, no agreement was reached, and Fedor went on to sign with Strikeforce.
STORY
SmileR
8/20/09 8:38:52AM
I hope Strikeforce can pull this off and the UFC has some legit competition, but with Fedors PPV draw being so weak and his wage plus M1's cut of the profits I'm really struggling to see how Strikeforce break even.
Fedor is the best HW in the world hands down but he isn't marketable in the U.S yet. Strikeforce haven't got the fan base or the promotional push to make him a big enough draw to make this work in opinion. They would need to start pulling in around the same numbers for PPV buys as the UFC in order to pay the other fighters and the costs that come with running the promotion and they haven't got enough high profile fighters to do that.
Its a shame but I think M1 will drag Strikeforce under and then limp on until Fedor's career and name isn't enough to keep the company afloat anymore.
Fedor is the best HW in the world hands down but he isn't marketable in the U.S yet. Strikeforce haven't got the fan base or the promotional push to make him a big enough draw to make this work in opinion. They would need to start pulling in around the same numbers for PPV buys as the UFC in order to pay the other fighters and the costs that come with running the promotion and they haven't got enough high profile fighters to do that.
Its a shame but I think M1 will drag Strikeforce under and then limp on until Fedor's career and name isn't enough to keep the company afloat anymore.
emfleek
8/20/09 8:43:28AM
Posted by SmileR
Fedor is the best HW in the world hands down but he isn't marketable in the U.S yet.
Agree. And without the UFC, I don't see him EVER being that big of a draw.
jae_1833
8/20/09 1:34:43PM
Well if they pulled that stuff they were pulling with Gegard (paying him only $2gs 
) then wouldn't that save them on the big Fedor price while building him up. I mean it's no secret that M-1 is shady!
) then wouldn't that save them on the big Fedor price while building him up. I mean it's no secret that M-1 is shady!
mrsmiley
8/20/09 2:14:23PM
As great as Fedor is,he's just hard to market,yet with his skill set,M-1 demand sa pretty penny,and a lot of other extra weight for any promotion to sign him.
I'm starting to even wonder how well Fedor would even be promoted within the UFC.
I'm certain they would be the best at promoting him,but the whole western culture just doesn't seem to mesh well with him.
I'm starting to even wonder how well Fedor would even be promoted within the UFC.
I'm certain they would be the best at promoting him,but the whole western culture just doesn't seem to mesh well with him.
moob
8/20/09 2:16:53PM
Posted by SmileR
I hope Strikeforce can pull this off and the UFC has some legit competition, but with Fedors PPV draw being so weak and his wage plus M1's cut of the profits I'm really struggling to see how Strikeforce break even.
Out of interest, what exactly is Fedor's dollar deal with Strikeforce?
Boo_Radley21
8/20/09 9:11:14PM
Just sign with the UFC already jeeeeeesus.
A list of UFC fighters I would like to see Fedor fight:
Cheick Kongo
Cain Velasquez
Shane Carwin
Gabe Gonzaga
Frank Mir
Randy Couture
Brock Lesnar
I think all of these fights would be huge draws, especially with the UFC being able to promote all of them. I mean come on, no other organization has that many heavyweights that would be good fights for him. There's no debating it. Who else is there? Barnett... Antonio Silva...thats about all I can think of.
A list of UFC fighters I would like to see Fedor fight:
Cheick Kongo
Cain Velasquez
Shane Carwin
Gabe Gonzaga
Frank Mir
Randy Couture
Brock Lesnar
I think all of these fights would be huge draws, especially with the UFC being able to promote all of them. I mean come on, no other organization has that many heavyweights that would be good fights for him. There's no debating it. Who else is there? Barnett... Antonio Silva...thats about all I can think of.
SmileR
8/21/09 7:37:49AM
Posted by moob
Posted by SmileR
I hope Strikeforce can pull this off and the UFC has some legit competition, but with Fedors PPV draw being so weak and his wage plus M1's cut of the profits I'm really struggling to see how Strikeforce break even.
Out of interest, what exactly is Fedor's dollar deal with Strikeforce?
I think I read somewhere it was basically the same as with Affliction. So it'll be around $30,000 per fight plus a share of the PPV sales and M1 will also take a slice of the overall profit which Fedor will get some of as well. I'll have a look about and see if I can find the exact terms.
EliasG
8/21/09 6:07:37PM
Silva is amazing and hard to promote. Low key, doesn't speak English and decimates competition. I think he got a serious buzz off his latest KO of Griffin. That's good and well deserved BUT I've seen Fedor do that OVer and OVEr and OVER. He's VERY explosive and has finished tons of fights.
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