July 31st, 2009
Wow, what a week for MMA news! I wasn’t going to post about any of the goings on this week surrounding Fedor coming to the UFC, there is so much already out there, but I have to let it out.
So is Fedor coming to the UFC? In short, No! Why? Apparently rumors of how much he was going to be paid, fight deals etc were leaked throughout the internet. Everyone reported that Fedor was going to be in the UFC, but I figured wait until we hear something official from Zuffa.
It appears as if Fedor had the opportunity of a lifetime to potentially make some serious cash and really give the fans what they want. Apparently the deal breaker was for M-1 to co-promote those UFC events Fedor would be fighting in. To me, it sounds like Fedor’s management is calling the shots and are more worried about lining their own pockets. From what I understand is that Fedor is also part owner in M-1. So wouldn’t he be double dipping?
At this point, I can really give a shit less if he ever comes to the UFC as his intentions aren’t for the fans, but rather the all mighty dollar. Now that the Affliction events aren’t going to happen, their meal ticket disappeared, so the scramble begins.
I think Fedor(M-1) will sign with another organization, he’ll have a couple fights with less than stellar opponents and disappear. He may be missing out on a huge opportunity not only with the cash, but for the exposure to more fans. Casual fans have no idea who he is.
As Far as M-1 and their team fighting, it was cool the first when it was IFL, but only for a little bit.
Dana White quote
“We built this business, this entire freaking industry,” White said. “How are they going to come in and help us co-promote? It’s basically them coming and saying, ‘We’ve got this guy and some people say he might be the best heavyweight in the world. So for that, we want half your business.’ Yeah, OK. That sh-t probably works in Russia. Not here.”
“He got offered a f—ing assload of money,” White said. “A ton of money, everything he wanted. He can go fight in sambo every f—ing Thursday night if he wants to. He can do everything he wanted to. We showed them nothing but respect.”
“It’s insanity to turn down a deal like this,” White said. “To turn down a deal like this, you don’t care about proving you’re the best in the world. You don’t want to fight the best in the world. You don’t care about money. How do you deal with something like that?”
On a side note, Tito Ortiz is coming back. Should be interesting now that White and Ortiz have kissed and made up. I don’t think any of the bad blood fro the past were doing any of them any good. So it’s nice to see them mend the past and move on. Ortiz’s first fight back will be against Mark Coleman… If Tito is in great shape, I think he’ll take this one. All Ortiz needs to do is take Coleman to deep rounds and Coleman gas out. But should be an interesting fight.
Vitor Belfort will be back to take on Rich Franklin at UFC 103. This should be an interesting bout.
Anyways, enough of my rant, lets move on and make some cash betting!
