Fedor Emelianenko Signs With Strikeforce,

JoshW · 08-03-09, 12:52 PM

I am amazed he turned down the UFC deal. I got to give him respect for not sellng out for the money, and taking much less to maintain his freedom from corporate control.

MilfDriller · 08-03-09, 01:17 PM

want to see him beat the shit out of Lidell

The HOFF · 08-03-09, 01:19 PM

Originally posted by Thor4140

“I am looking forward to going back to work and fighting at the highest level,” said Emelianenko in the announcement. “Strikeforce is a top fight promotion that houses some of the greatest fighters in the world. I am prepared to fight any of them.”

What a joke. STRIKEFORCE does have some of the greatest fighters in the world, I'll say like 3. But guess what. None of them are in his weight class. Who is he fighting at the highest level? I am so disappointed by this bullshit. I like STRIKEFORCE and I'm sure this will help them tremendously, but I have lost all respect for Fedor. That bitch is ducking "the greatest fighters in the world." I hope by some act of God, Brett Rogers strikes him down like the pagan he is.

Bill Dozer · 08-03-09, 01:19 PM

I think he gets more money here with the co-promoting...Maybe someone can explain it better but the UFC article described co-promoting as his company getting ownership stake.

Bread · 08-03-09, 01:26 PM

Fedor's camp used cross promotion factor as the deal breaker with the UFC. Not sure how it all works out in the end for him financially now, but either way, this is a loss for MMA.

WITH THAT BEING SAID...I can't wait for Strikeforce on Aug 15th.

pavyracer · 08-03-09, 01:28 PM

Strikeforce will be bigger than UFC soon. They got the big star to build around now.

Thor4140 · 08-03-09, 01:43 PM

Originally posted by Bread

Fedor's camp used cross promotion factor as the deal breaker with the UFC. Not sure how it all works out in the end for him financially now, but either way, this is a loss for MMA.

WITH THAT BEING SAID...I can't wait for Strikeforce on Aug 15th.

I think that M1 stuff is loaded with the Russian mob and Dana couldn't afford to let that shit in the UFC. Im with Dana on this one. Dana letting that dick Tito back in was another good move by him. Shows he isn't holding grudges. I wasn't a big fan of Dana's but some of his recent moves have been great. LOve that Hendo is now gonna get Silva again instead of fighting Franklin. Dana listen to the fans on that one. Nobody cared about Hendo fighting with Franklin. Hendo is a big draw and most want to see him get another crack at Silva.

Thor4140 · 08-03-09, 01:45 PM

Originally posted by pavyracer

Strikeforce will be bigger than UFC soon. They got the big star to build around now.

Pavy affliction just had Fedor and folded quicker then JJ's picks in the 2nd inning.

THE_LOCKSMITH · 08-03-09, 03:39 PM

Originally posted by pavyracer

Strikeforce will be bigger than UFC soon. They got the big star to build around now.

like the above poster said Fedor is a great fighter but Pride, BoDog, Affliction all had him and went out of business. No way this move will make StrikeForce bigger than UFC "soon". Many great fighters are not as big draws as other fighters. The fight cards headlined by Anderson silva generally do worse than cards with Liddell, Couture, Lesnar, Ortiz, even though his is a great fighter.

JoshW · 08-03-09, 04:24 PM

No way Fedor makes more money with this deal than UFC. UFC offered over 30 million for five fights. I doubt all of Strikeforce will be worth that much in two years. Honestly, while diehard MMA fans love Fedor, the guy can't sell PPV to save his life. As Locksmith points out, Fedor hasn't been able to save any of the promotions he worked for, and in the case of Bodog and Affiction, his contracts were a big part of them going down (they would have gone down on their own b/c of who was behind them, but still).

Strikeforce is certainly the strongest of all the US promotions outside of the UFC, but I really don't think they are ready for Fedor, or that no matter with what they do, he can make much money for them and thus himself (via salary or co-promotion). The HOFF points out rightly that Strikeforce has virtually no one to pair Fedor against. Affliction overpaid so he could fight name fighters, but I don't see Strikeforce being able to do that. They are a smaller promotion that has slowly built themselves up. That is why dropping Fedor into the mix makes no sense. Best case scenario is they attract all the heavyweights not in the UFC and he beats them all in exciting fashion. Even in that case, I don't see how this works out in the end.

And this is to say nothing of what UFC will do to them. For the longest time the UFC left Strikeforce alone. Strikeforce was small and almost acted as AAA team that allowed fighters to move up and down out of the UFC. No longer. I expect every Strikeforce event will be counter programmed on free TV via Spike. It will be brutal.

I am all for competion, but I think this is a bad move by Strikeforce. Fedor is once again happy to fight subpar fighters, taking a few million in guarantees and keeping his freedom. He won't get hurt by this, but Strikeforce could go down.

reno cool · 08-03-09, 04:27 PM

the guy sleighs monsters. Who the ****'s gonna beat him anyway?

pavyracer · 08-03-09, 04:29 PM

Why would Fedor want to join UFC for a few fistfuls of dollars more when he can fight less often and with inferior opponents at Strikeforce?

If someone offered me $10 million to fight but not sweat and get hit hard and $20 million to fight hard and get hit all the time I would chose the $10 million. Noone likes being hit in the head.

JoshW · 08-03-09, 04:40 PM

I don't think you are wrong pavy. They way I project it, is that the guy has no ego about his fighting ability. He doesn't care if people think he is the best; that is pretty rare. So the biggest stage, the brightest spotlight, doesn't mean shit to him.

In addition, why become an employee if you don't have to. If you are happy with life, financially secure, maybe it is better to not take 30 million and literally add a boss to your life. Dana White and the UFC are no easy to get along with boss either. Strikeforce has to work with him.

I really don't think he is scared of the UFC fighters, I just think his priorities are different than what most people think of when they think of the best at somthing.

The HOFF · 08-04-09, 06:02 AM

Originally posted by Thor4140

“I am looking forward to going back to work and fighting at the highest level,” said Emelianenko in the announcement. “Strikeforce is a top fight promotion that houses some of the greatest fighters in the world. I am prepared to fight any of them.”

STRIKEFORCE has soooooooo much talent at heavyweight that Fabricio Werdum is fighting light heavyweight Mike Kyle at the August 15th event.

Bread · 08-04-09, 07:12 AM

LOL...just noticed that sportsbook.com has odd on:

Fedor Emelianenko -225
Brock Lesnar +185

Guess they can pull that down now...but interesting odds if it would've happened.

waco66 · 08-04-09, 12:18 PM

Originally posted by pavyracer

Strikeforce will be bigger than UFC soon. They got the big star to build around now.

LOL...i dont think so

THE_LOCKSMITH · 08-04-09, 05:32 PM

“Although the deal with Strikeforce is an exclusive one, it’s far from a contract signed in blood as Fedor is currently contractually obligated to fight for Strikeforce for just one year. Basically it’s three fights over the next year, and we’ll start in the fall some time… The very first fight that Fedor fights will be on Showtime, and then the roll-out of television from there forward hasn’t been determined 100%, but his first fight will be on Showtime. [Fedor] and Alistair Overeem should be an amazing fight, and people that haven’t seen Alistair, you know, he’s an amazing fighter.. I think we should do a couple of fights and build that one up, and then let their champion fight our champion, and let’s see what happens. We’re hoping that Alistair will be ready to fight in the Fall, and we can put him on one of the cards with Fedor, and not fight against each other but fight against someone else, and let’s build that fight up"

So it looks like the deal is only one year 3 fight deal (like he had 3 fights left on his M-1 contract) So in a year the UFC will be going after him again

flyingillini · 08-04-09, 06:13 PM

The UFC will be fine without Fedor, I am a huge MMA fan but regardless if Fedor is in the UFC or not they will be just fine.

ijustwant2bpaid · 08-04-09, 06:18 PM

im exited my boy fights 4 strikeforce, eric lawson, hes 9-2 and just about to get better fights coming, time to see strikeforce blow up!!

brooks85 · 08-10-09, 07:12 PM

http://i28.tinypic.com/t6xru9.gif

just hilarious

JoshW · 08-10-09, 07:57 PM

Great link. Perfect animated gif.

brooks85 · 08-23-09, 01:28 AM

RUN FORREST

they just keep getting better

Saunders FTW · 08-23-09, 04:56 PM

Strikeforce will go bankrupt, promotional wise they cant afford to co exist with M1, Fedor is not goign to be the draw they expected just like he wasnt with affliction

StraitShooter · 08-23-09, 05:06 PM

anyone who thinks the UFC is the only place with quality fighting talent is biased...or a fool

Saunders FTW · 08-23-09, 09:22 PM

Originally posted by StraitShooter

anyone who thinks the UFC is the only place with quality fighting talent is biased...or a fool

No but that is where the best fighters are