Fedor Emelianenko Pens Open Letter to Dana White

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Posted by cmill21

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Posted by telnights

Fedor has no room to say anything till he fights someone thats not a can. He also shouldnt expect the UFC to help him with this. It isn't the UFC job to prove he is good or bad its also not their job give him exposure this is M-1s job and his own. So he shouldnt be shocked that Dana is talking smack about him when he is making it so easy.

Now for the people complaining about the contract. I'm sick of hearing this I don't know how many times this has to be said before people get it. The UFC's contract is a standard pro athletic contract. In fact their contract isn't as strict as some NFL contracts are. Most contracts have a ton of clause in them and are not very friendly to the person signing it. Before you go knocking the UFC's contract spend some time and read your cell phone contract and you will see how unfriendly contracts are.

Now as far Fedor not signing with the UFC to go to company that respects him is a joke. M-1 and his management respect him so much that they keep having him fight cans. The VP is his own manager and he doesn't even respect him, if he did he would have had Fedor fight better fighters for the past 3 years. If you have your fighter always fighting cans that means you don't think he can beat any better. For those that don't know one of the things Fedor was asking for in his contract with the UFC was full rights of picking who he fights this was also in his Pride contract.

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Tuvok has a twin!!! Lol man you need to read up on what the UFC offered Fedor. Yes contracts aren't warm and fuzzy but look at all the problems the UFC is having with contracts. I get that you love the UFC, but right now that are doing things exactly like a monopoly, it's what they offer or fight elsewhere. Tito, Hendo, Soko, Tim, Randy, Lindland, Barney, Gomi, Fedor, Shamrock, ect. all have had big problems with UFC contracts, it's not just Fedor. He's not saying UFC I need you to find me a fight, he's saying hey Dana you want to say I suck, send me your champ and I'll show you that i'm no joke. You have no idea of the competitive nature of athletes if you don't think that 99% of them would say the same thing if someone like Dana was talking shit about them. Your UFC can do things wrong you know, and I think they will end up getting slapped with the same kind of thing Ali laid on Don King, even Big John has said it's going to be happening soon.

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I did read up on the contract offer in fact I would say I know more about it than you do. It has nothing to do with loving the UFC just knowing the facts.

Tito has always had a problem with any contract that didn't pay him what he thinks he is worth.

Hendo is in the UFC and doesnt seam to have a problem now.

Soko also in the UFC and doesnt seam to have a problem now. Funny how that works.

Tim has never had a problem with his contract till now. He has a problem because Brock is making more money than him and for good reason he is a much bigger draw than Tim is.

Randy just wants more money and didn't have a problem with the contract when he signed it.

Lindland has been trying to get back in the UFC so why would he do that if the contracts are so bad.

Gomi didn't sign with the UFC because he isn't worth as much as he is to say K-1. He is a hero in Japan and worth much mroe to a company that has a TV deal in Japan.

Fedor had Pride bending over backwards for him and you see where they are now.

Shamrock - depends on what Shamrock you speak of. Frank isn't a good source of any kind of INFO. Ken was basically forced to retire but before that he didn't have a problem at all with the contract as long as he was making money.

Like I said before it isn't the UFC job to prove anything is right or wrong about Fedor. If he wants to shut Dana up how about fighting someone that isn't a CAN. He hasn't done that in 3 years so its no shock that people are saying stuff about him. He also cant expect the UFC to provide the fighters for him to fight. Thats his own company and managements job. If Fedor needs a another company to provide competition for him then the company and management he is with isn't doing its job.

I also don't disagree that they can do things wrong any company can make mistakes but I don't think their contract layout is wrong. I think the other origination bending over backwards for the fighters is wrong. In the end it didn't work for Pride and wont work for M-1. If anyone hasn't noticed M-1 is almost based off the same things Pride was. If it didn't work before it wont work now. I don't think people understand that in North America MMA isn't blowing up the UFC is. I don't like monopolies as much as the next guy but we are a little late for that. Name one other MMA origination right now making a profit. I bet you wont find one. The IFL is going under WEC was going under before the UFC picked it up. Pride was dead when the UFC picked it up. Now lot of people think that M-1 or HDnet is going to do anything that the other originations couldn't. Also Monte Cox is the CEO of M-1 and also a manager for a lot of fighters do you think you can run a company and still look out for the best interest of your fighters you manage and still have the best interest of your company in mind. If you think so your dreaming.

also props to malice I definately agree. I dont disagree with the above post either.

white was going to let wandy fight in the ufc under the pride name. so let fedor fight under the m-1 name.

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Posted by Gipper

white was going to let wandy fight in the ufc under the pride name. so let fedor fight under the m-1 name.

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Only if it was a long term deal which is why it fell through. Plus he wanted PRIDE to pay Wandy's salary even though PRIDE paid Chuck's when he visited PRIDE

Ok tel if you know so much about the contract then tell us all about it? Would you say it was a fair contract to sign? Also those other guys signed because the UFC changed their offer, soko wen't up 20k per fight, Hendo is still on his pride contract(heard he resigned though) and Tito is worth quite a bit since people always tune in to watch him. Big Tim is another on going discussion. The UFC is gave Fedor a pretty much unsignable contract, not the money, but the conditions. I know quite a bit about the contract from my talks with people who were "in the loop" and they all said he would have been a slave if he signed it. Dana was playing hardball(understandable) so Fedor's managment played back(understandable) but when they agreed upon a contract it showed up with a bunch of little conditions, some were the ones Manfred listed. Again he's not saying he needs to fight for the UFC, there are a bunch of intriguing fights out there including one people have been waiting for longer then RC Fedor, and that is Josh Barnett. You also have Ricco trying to get back into it, AA possibly coming out of the UFC's roster, Tim, Kharitonov, Overeem, Rizzo, ect. He, like any athlete, is saying to dana, "If you think I suck, prove it with one of your champs". Do I want to see Fedor in the UFC? As much as anyone here, but I don't want him to give up his free will to do it.

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Posted by cmill21

Again he's not saying he needs to fight for the UFC, there are a bunch of intriguing fights out there including one people have been waiting for longer then RC Fedor, and that is Josh Barnett. You also have Ricco trying to get back into it, AA possibly coming out of the UFC's roster, Tim, Kharitonov, Overeem, Rizzo, ect.

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Lets hope, for Fedor's sake and all of the fans, that his management puts one of these fights together.

Randy is going to be tied up in court for a while, so they should not pursue him at this time.

AA is a possibility. We will see if the UFC and AA come to another contract agreement, or decide to part ways.

I don't see Big Tim leaving the UFC, but you never know.

Rizzo, Overeem, and Kharitinov would be better than his last two fights. IMO.

Barnett would be the best choice. What is with his layoff anyways. What is he waiting for? This is the matchup I want to see more than Rany/Fedor.

Dana would kick Fedors ass just like he did Tito!

oh wai Tito didnt want to fight Dana

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Posted by SpiderSilva

Dana would kick Fedors ass just like he did Tito!

oh wai Tito didnt want to fight Dana

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I remember watching that show thinking this is going to be sweet. Then Tito backed out of the whole thing, and it was his idea.

just because fedor has only faught "cans" in the last three years, your making it sound like hes garbage . its funny though because i have seen these cans you speak of, and i have seen them pull upsets against highly skilled fighters, such as himself. The cantract was garbage, and you know it. You wouldnt sign it, nobody would unless there a crackhead on the street who hasnt ever faught before, getting a chance to make some quick cash. The fight is going to happen, if it couture or nog. somone is going to give a little, and it probably wont be dana. as far as ufc contracts go, most of them i have seen are a little restrictive, but nothing worse then a nfl, or other televised sport contracts. Now as far as the fedor contract i wouldnt even think about signing that.

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Posted by cmill21

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Posted by BlazinSaddle

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Posted by RMFG_187

Now THIS is a new step to making the fight happen

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UFC or not this is starting to piss off fedor

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Woulden't it be great to see Fedor fight angry?

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yeah it would, i dont even think he would have an expression on his face of anger, i think he'd fight like he did against goodridge just more aggressive

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Posted by xxMALICExx

I've never heard of anyone forcing a fighter to sign with the UFC. If they do not agree with the contract, they don't need to sign it. Nothing upsets me more than someone signing a contract, and then not honoring that contract, or complaining about their contract.

Nobody forced you to sign, so the fault is your own. That's all there is to it.

So a new athlete to your org signs a contract better than your own. That sucks. But honor your contract and you can make your demands when it is up. That is how it works.

Fedor didn't agree with UFC's contract, so he didn't sign it. Good for Fedor, he knows what he wants. Randy signed his contract. If he is not happy with that contract, or chooses not to honor that contract, the fault is his own.

As for the UFC getting the blame for not making the Randy/Fedor fight happen. It is completely bs. They offered Fedor the largest mma contract to date. He did not agree with it, so the blame is on nobody.

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great say, 100% true. proped 4 sure

The UFC doesn't need to co-promote with anyone.
I think their ratings speak for themselves.
The UFC is at the top....by far.
The detractors can say what they like....but it's all just BS.
Sure Fedor vs. Randy would be cool....but don't expect the UFC to have anything to do with it.
Say what you want about Dana White and the UFC....they have the majority of the best fighters in the world, they have the best fights, they have the best commentary staff and the best overall production.
You should never look a gift horse in the mouth.

If Dana White and the UFC are at the top of the food chain then why does he take the time to bash Fedor and the little org he is with. If Fedor is so bad than why does he care about Fedor. If Fedor was really such a non issue then he woudnt speak about it. Oh, thats right your number one commentator went on the radio and said he is the best HW and maybe the best P4P fighter to date. He goes out of his way to bash fighters and make outlandish comments about fighters and Fedor in particular. Sounds exactly like what Gary Shaw is doing. Dana bashed him for actling like a boxing promoter, yet he was promoting his org and fighters. How is that different from Dana. If the UFC wants to go mainstream maybe the head of it should take some cues from some of there commisioners. It is unprofessional to constanly bash your own employess, and fighters who simply choose to sign elsewhere. Dana, not Fedor started this when he didnt sign. Dana is the one constantly calling Fedor a chump. Fedor is simply saying that if Dana wants to keep spewing trash about him then why doesnt Dana back that talk up. If Dana wasnt acting the way he is then we would probally never hear Fedor talk about the UFC or there champions, other than with respect which is what you have always gpt from Fedor.

i keep seeing the contract issue brought up and i think a major point is being missed here. ok the contract is basically a standard sports contract with no-this and no-that clauses, well in football or baseball, or whatever this really isnt a big deal because this is the way contracts have been done for a long time, not so in MMA. just recently has MMA become big enough where the guys are being paid fairly lucratively and therefore the company they are fighting for wants to protect their investment from fighting elsewhere. a few years ago a guy would fight once for one company then 2 months later fight somewhere else, wherever they could make a buck to pay the bills. now there are endorsements, and big competition between the UFC and anyone else out there that is trying to be the upstart(IFL, EliteXC, M-1, etc.). the exclusive, non-compete contract is new to the world of MMA and guys are wary of it because the guys that have been around for awhile didnt have to do this early on in their careers. as far as the strictness of the contract goes, many times an athlete has control of who they choose to represent for endorsements, but things like alcohol, and cigarettes to name a couple arent allowed, but the UFC contract isnt as stiff as many in other pro sports where guys arent allowed to ride motorcycles, 4-wheelers, skydive, etc. so before you go saying how much stricter the ufc contract is than other pro sports consider the fact that their champion(frank mir) was out of action for over a year following a motorcycle accident, yet their fighters dont have clauses prohibiting "dangerous" activities like MANY other pro atheletes do.

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Posted by cowcatcher

i keep seeing the contract issue brought up and i think a major point is being missed here. ok the contract is basically a standard sports contract with no-this and no-that clauses, well in football or baseball, or whatever this really isnt a big deal because this is the way contracts have been done for a long time, not so in MMA. just recently has MMA become big enough where the guys are being paid fairly lucratively and therefore the company they are fighting for wants to protect their investment from fighting elsewhere. a few years ago a guy would fight once for one company then 2 months later fight somewhere else, wherever they could make a buck to pay the bills. now there are endorsements, and big competition between the UFC and anyone else out there that is trying to be the upstart(IFL, EliteXC, M-1, etc.). the exclusive, non-compete contract is new to the world of MMA and guys are wary of it because the guys that have been around for awhile didnt have to do this early on in their careers. as far as the strictness of the contract goes, many times an athlete has control of who they choose to represent for endorsements, but things like alcohol, and cigarettes to name a couple arent allowed, but the UFC contract isnt as stiff as many in other pro sports where guys arent allowed to ride motorcycles, 4-wheelers, skydive, etc. so before you go saying how much stricter the ufc contract is than other pro sports consider the fact that their champion(frank mir) was out of action for over a year following a motorcycle accident, yet their fighters dont have clauses prohibiting "dangerous" activities like MANY other pro atheletes do.

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It just shows that the sport is evolving. How many pro athletes today do you know of that have the freedom to move from team to team on their contract? Without Exclusive contracts the fight organisations would be like game shows. Fighters would be coming and going just like contestants on a game show. Now wouldn't that be great for the sport.

I say good for Fedor.

Dana White said he sucks and isn't in the top five so Fedor wants to hit White were it hurts,and under the banner of another promotion.

I say go Fedor.

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Posted by cowcatcher

i keep seeing the contract issue brought up and i think a major point is being missed here. ok the contract is basically a standard sports contract with no-this and no-that clauses, well in football or baseball, or whatever this really isnt a big deal because this is the way contracts have been done for a long time, not so in MMA. just recently has MMA become big enough where the guys are being paid fairly lucratively and therefore the company they are fighting for wants to protect their investment from fighting elsewhere. a few years ago a guy would fight once for one company then 2 months later fight somewhere else, wherever they could make a buck to pay the bills. now there are endorsements, and big competition between the UFC and anyone else out there that is trying to be the upstart(IFL, EliteXC, M-1, etc.). the exclusive, non-compete contract is new to the world of MMA and guys are wary of it because the guys that have been around for awhile didnt have to do this early on in their careers. as far as the strictness of the contract goes, many times an athlete has control of who they choose to represent for endorsements, but things like alcohol, and cigarettes to name a couple arent allowed, but the UFC contract isnt as stiff as many in other pro sports where guys arent allowed to ride motorcycles, 4-wheelers, skydive, etc. so before you go saying how much stricter the ufc contract is than other pro sports consider the fact that their champion(frank mir) was out of action for over a year following a motorcycle accident, yet their fighters dont have clauses prohibiting "dangerous" activities like MANY other pro atheletes do.

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The biggest beef I have is the "automatic extension" clause that Fedor talked about.

If you fight 8 fights for someone over two years, you have the earned RIGHT to renegotiate or walk away. That goes for everyone from Danny Abbadi to Fedor. Being automatically extended at the SAME pay is complete and total horse shit.

I'm pretty sure that's exclusive to Fedor or we wouldn't be hearing about these other contracts being up for negotiation.

i cant argue with that manfred, but i was speaking more to him not being allowed to fight in sambo comps, and people bringing up endorsements.

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Posted by cowcatcher

i cant argue with that manfred, but i was speaking more to him not being allowed to fight in sambo comps, and people bringing up endorsements.

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I actually agree with the UFC on the sambo thing. It's combat sambo, not exactly ADCC. I don't know all the rules, but it basically looks like MMA with pads and a gi to me.

Considering all the shady stuff coming out about Xience, and the fact that they still owe a bunch of guys money. I don't think they have any right to pick sponsors besides the normal restrictions like cigs and alcohol. (although Fedor should get a waiver for Vodka)

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Posted by Manfred

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Posted by cowcatcher

i cant argue with that manfred, but i was speaking more to him not being allowed to fight in sambo comps, and people bringing up endorsements.

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I actually agree with the UFC on the sambo thing. It's combat sambo, not exactly ADCC. I don't know all the rules, but it basically looks like MMA with pads and a gi to me.

Considering all the shady stuff coming out about Xience, and the fact that they still owe a bunch of guys money. I don't think they have any right to pick sponsors besides the normal restrictions like cigs and alcohol. (although Fedor should get a waiver for Vodka)

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Lol What about Mickey's malt liquor?

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Posted by cmill21

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Posted by Manfred

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Posted by cowcatcher

i cant argue with that manfred, but i was speaking more to him not being allowed to fight in sambo comps, and people bringing up endorsements.

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I actually agree with the UFC on the sambo thing. It's combat sambo, not exactly ADCC. I don't know all the rules, but it basically looks like MMA with pads and a gi to me.

Considering all the shady stuff coming out about Xience, and the fact that they still owe a bunch of guys money. I don't think they have any right to pick sponsors besides the normal restrictions like cigs and alcohol. (although Fedor should get a waiver for Vodka)

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Lol What about Mickey's malt liquor?

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Well, its Irish, and fighters are Irish, so there ya go.

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Posted by cmill21

Ok tel if you know so much about the contract then tell us all about it? Would you say it was a fair contract to sign? Also those other guys signed because the UFC changed their offer, soko wen't up 20k per fight, Hendo is still on his pride contract(heard he resigned though) and Tito is worth quite a bit since people always tune in to watch him. Big Tim is another on going discussion. The UFC is gave Fedor a pretty much unsignable contract, not the money, but the conditions. I know quite a bit about the contract from my talks with people who were "in the loop" and they all said he would have been a slave if he signed it. Dana was playing hardball(understandable) so Fedor's managment played back(understandable) but when they agreed upon a contract it showed up with a bunch of little conditions, some were the ones Manfred listed. Again he's not saying he needs to fight for the UFC, there are a bunch of intriguing fights out there including one people have been waiting for longer then RC Fedor, and that is Josh Barnett. You also have Ricco trying to get back into it, AA possibly coming out of the UFC's roster, Tim, Kharitonov, Overeem, Rizzo, ect. He, like any athlete, is saying to dana, "If you think I suck, prove it with one of your champs". Do I want to see Fedor in the UFC? As much as anyone here, but I don't want him to give up his free will to do it.

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I'm really tired right now and don't really feel like going in depth but yes I think the contract was very fair. I don't think you understand for a company to put millions in to a fighter they need protection. For a company to not do this is plan dumb. Do you really think that the NFL teams or NBA teams don't have these kind of clauses in their contracts? I agree their are some good fighters out there he could fight, one has to wonder why he hasn't.

Now as far as Dana trash talking Fedor thats what Dana does here he is a promoter. But Fedor is making it easy for him to do so. Just like this open letter BS. Its basically saying don't trash talk me or else. Or else what you will Beat Dana up, what a joke. He also said he proved something in his last fight. Yeah it did prove something he can beat a guy that has had 1 pro MMA fight. Then he goes on to tell Dana to let him fight one of his fighters. Even if Fedor losses It would give legitimacy to a company that isn't worth squat right now. Why would Dana want to do that when he holds all the marbles in this game. This was a desperate move by a desperate man.

i dont think fedor is a desperate man by any stretch, hes proven himself time and time again against the best in the world(althoug maybe not recently). i think that if someone was bashing you about the way you do your job eventually youd fire back too, i know i would. fedor did what he(and the voice in his ear, vadim) thought was best for him by fighting for m-1, which is closest to home for him and i wont fault him for that. people that havent seen enough of fedor, especially those that never ordered a pride event live on ppv, will never appreciate what a huge mma star he truely is, and thats too bad because he doesnt get nearly the credit or respect he deserves here in the states.

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Posted by cowcatcher

i dont think fedor is a desperate man by any stretch, hes proven himself time and time again against the best in the world(althoug maybe not recently). i think that if someone was bashing you about the way you do your job eventually youd fire back too, i know i would. fedor did what he(and the voice in his ear, vadim) thought was best for him by fighting for m-1, which is closest to home for him and i wont fault him for that. people that havent seen enough of fedor, especially those that never ordered a pride event live on ppv, will never appreciate what a huge mma star he truely is, and thats too bad because he doesnt get nearly the credit or respect he deserves here in the states.

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100% agree.

Like me and you have talked about this before cowcatcher,Fedor is always in a postition of damned if he does,damned if he doesn't.I've never herd the guy speak ill of anyone.He never claimed himself he was the number one heavy weight in the world.Fans and PRIDE gave him that title,but I believe it was rightfully so.I'll never understand all the Dana love and Fedor hate,but I guess that's how it goes.

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Posted by mrsmiley

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Posted by cowcatcher

i dont think fedor is a desperate man by any stretch, hes proven himself time and time again against the best in the world(althoug maybe not recently). i think that if someone was bashing you about the way you do your job eventually youd fire back too, i know i would. fedor did what he(and the voice in his ear, vadim) thought was best for him by fighting for m-1, which is closest to home for him and i wont fault him for that. people that havent seen enough of fedor, especially those that never ordered a pride event live on ppv, will never appreciate what a huge mma star he truely is, and thats too bad because he doesnt get nearly the credit or respect he deserves here in the states.

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100% agree.

Like me and you have talked about this before cowcatcher,Fedor is always in a postition of damned if he does,damned if he doesn't.I've never herd the guy speak ill of anyone.He never claimed himself he was the number one heavy weight in the world.Fans and PRIDE gave him that title,but I believe it was rightfully so.I'll never understand all the Dana love and Fedor hate,but I guess that's how it goes.

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Now this is not a blow against Fedor or the UFC, nor is it in any way, meant to support Fedor or the UFC.

Fedor does deserve respect in the states. But to get the respect, he, his managers, and his fans, know he deserves, he will eventually need to learn one thing. Athletes don't control the sport. Fedor has this luxury in M-1. M-1 is based around Fedor. Being the top dog at M-1 right now is like being the top dog of the schoolyard. Doesn't really matter all that much to the real world. But being the top dog in the UFC, gives you worldwide respect. Well, MMAWorldwide Respect.

The UFC (Dana White) also deserves respect. He may run his mouth, but his overall goal is to sign as many top fighters as he can to put on the best events. Isn't that what everyone wants to see? I do, but then I cant contradict myself by saying I dont want him to have a monopoly. The UFC does need to learn to become less strict with their negotiations. And of course they will. With each new contract expiring, demands will become higher, and better contracts will be signed.

MMA can never pay the purses that boxing pays. Otherwise it would be a disordered schedule of superbouts with no logical ranking structure just like boxing. I for one, DON'T WANT THAT.

In time, I believe Fedor and the UFC will come to agreements. This would be in the best interest for Fedor. He is already losing the top PFP and HW spots. Something he held for a very long time.

telnights and Malice,

Glad someone gets it.
Props to both!!! I have nothing else to add that you guys have not covered without beating a dead horse. Either people get it, or they don't.

i think people need to start getting off the ufc's nuts... look at boxing promotion for a minute. the manager works out a deal for the fighter (who possibly puts his life and good looks on the line) to make some good money. boxing has been huge for over a century!! still makes bank over all mma organizations. it should be about the fighters... i watch MMA for the fights and the guys i chose... i don't watch b/c i care about dana and his deep pockets. Fedor's right about all this and hopefully he'll make an example for all fighters to fight for their rights, they're professional athletes... not paid federal property like a damn marine or something. and yeah, he wants to fight the best in the world, not to make a point but b/c he's beaten EVERYONE that's ever been put in his face. he deserves to be treated with a little respect. stop getting on his nuts for not signing bullshit contracts and at the same time nut hug all over Randy for dipping out on bullshit contracts. fighters wanna be known for fighting and push themselves. everyone wants to be the champ.

it's also not fair to these other fighters in the ufc to not be able to fight the best in the world.... how can they really be a "champ" or "the best" if theirs someone out there that's concidered better or at least "as good"? that's why i can't go for all this P4P stuff... is Anderson the best ever if he's never fought anyone more then 1lb bigger then him? in this sorry UFC mw division?