Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

by Michael Rome on Mar 6, 2008 6:49 PM EST in News Comment 27 comments

According to ESPN The Magazine, Fedor Emelianenko is in the process of separating from M-1, and his people are open to re-opening negotiations with The UFC:

With Couture embroiled in a nasty legal dispute with the UFC and Emelianenko tied to M-1 Global's MMA franchise, the heavyweight dream matchup has long seemed to be the world's best bout that would never happen.

Now it could. Apy Echteld, one of Emelianenko's agents, confirmed what a source close to the situation previously told The Magazine: M-1 Global and Emelianenko will part ways some time in the next week, making the Russian a free agent. Divorce negotiations are ongoing right now, with a formal announcement likely for in the next few days. "Officially, yes, Fedor will be a free agent," Echteld says.

Of course, the UFC would have to be willing to re-open negotiations with Emelianenko's management. Previous talks dragged on for almost a year before falling apart amid plenty of name-calling and finger-pointing from both sides. UFC president Dana White was vocal in pinning the blame on Emelianenko's team, saying he never once spoke or met with the fighter. Would the head of the UFC be willing to enter the Fedor fray again? "Absolutely, 100 percent, in a heartbeat," says White. "People think he's the best--I don't, not even close. But if it's somehow possible, I would make it happen."

No use getting too excited yet, but this would be the best outcome possible. Maybe the sides can finally make this damn thing work for all the fans.

Update [2008-3-6 19:30:57 by Kid Nate]:

Of course, Dana can't help himself and has to throw in this remark:

"I like Randy, I genuinely like to think he's a good guy," White says. "As much as we've gone back and forth on this, I would sign Fedor and do everything possible to get Randy in the octagon with him. I'd do anything, because a., it's a great fight and b., I think Randy would smash Fedor."

I'm sure that's really going to make Fedor feel welcome and eager to sign on with the UFC.

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Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

Laughing my ass off at these idiots.

by ilostmydog on Mar 6, 2008 7:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

lolololol!!!

And everyone thought M1 would rule the world (in my villain voice)!

Man, how hilarious would it be if Fedor came to the UFC and then Dana told Randy to take a hike!

Of course that is the money fight and Dana would never pass on that, but still, it would be hilarious.

by BJJDenver on Mar 6, 2008 7:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

It sounds to me like Fedor's asking price may be coming down a bit. Where else is he going to go now? I'll bet Dana offers him something around Brock Lesnar money.

by jaydog on Mar 6, 2008 7:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

I think we all have to believe DREAM is going to do their best to sign Fedor.

by Luke Thomas on Mar 6, 2008 8:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

By the way...

somebody let me know when this happens, I'm holding my breath already.

by BJJDenver on Mar 6, 2008 7:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

BJJDenver - I'll be out your way for UFC Fight Night 13 and wanted to get in a few training sessions. Where can I go?

by Luke Thomas on Mar 6, 2008 7:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

My school has a Denver(downtown) and Boulder location, Easton BJJ, owned by Amal Easton. eastonbjj.com

Nate Marquardt has his school on the East side of town, i think it is High Altitude BJJ.

Mauricio Zingano has a school on the North side of town (Broomfield I believe), Zingano BJJ

Dave Ruiz has Colorado BJJ.

Those are the 4 biggest schools, but there are a ton out here. Check out RMBJJF and look under academies-

http://www.rmbjjf.com/pages/states/colorado_academies.htm

That will give you most of the area schools and addresses and phone numbers. Hopefully there is someone you are familiar with.

Some of our black belt instructors are:
Amal Easton
Mario Correa (from Barra)
Eliot Marshall
Nick Kline
Mark Johnson
Tyrone Glover
Bang Ludwig (MT)

Best of luck man!

by BJJDenver on Mar 6, 2008 7:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

I'm assuming they have gi and no gi sparring morning sessions, right?

by Luke Thomas on Mar 6, 2008 7:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

I think the Boulder school does. The class schedule is on our website. Not sure about the other academies.

Denver is a newer school and is just getting daytime started with a couple of Blue Belt classes. So that probably isn't what you are looking for.

If you are staying close to the Broomfield event center, Boulder is just up the road about 10 minutes or so, on the same highway.

by BJJDenver on Mar 6, 2008 7:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

Here's Zingano's schedule (in Broomfield):
http://zinganobjj.com/pages/schedule2.htm

Tues. and Wed. are advanced classes with gi from 11-12p. Thurs. same time advanced but no gi. Fri. is open sparring from 11a-12p.

Mauricio is an excellent teacher; Van usually teaches the day classes--although Maricio is always around--and Van is an excellent instructor also. If you want some more open sparring, just show up early or stay a little late on Tues. through Fri.--there's always someone around.

slow irish is a romantic dreamer who has occasional delusional fits of glory

by slow irish on Mar 6, 2008 8:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

Zingano is also a great school and he is always working hard for the bjj community in Colorado.

by BJJDenver on Mar 7, 2008 12:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

I really hope this happens. I also, happen to think Couture would "smash" Fedor in the UFC. I'll take Couture by Cut in the first round.

by Richard Wade on Mar 6, 2008 8:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

I may have just wet my panties. This would solve so much of their problems (both sides) if this happens.

by Gong on Mar 6, 2008 8:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

Im praying that it happens, damn it...M1 global the biggest fiasco in MMa history

by demonianray on Mar 6, 2008 9:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

Is everyone forgetting Mark Cuban in this whole situation?

It's already surfaced that HDNet has signed Couture to a contract as soon as his UFC deal expires (whenever that may be). Don't you expect him to go after Fedor and make that fight happen?

I'd say the front runners are HDNet Fights, DREAM, and then the UFC, in that order.

Cuban definitely has the money to make this fight happen, even if he only signs Fedor for a one fight deal.

by Joe Schmitt on Mar 6, 2008 10:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

Well, that would suck. Hopefully the UFC can make it happen.

by Richard Wade on Mar 6, 2008 10:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

Yes it would, but I don't think we'll see him in the UFC. I hope I'm wrong, but I just don't think it will happen anymore.

In fact, I doubt we see Fedor in a cage at all. So it may be that DREAM is the actual front runner.

To me, Randy's best chance is in a cage where he can control Fedor. If that fight takes place in a ring, Fedor takes it without much of a problem.

Either way, I'm not going to hold my breath until I see both sides have signed and both are standing across the ring from one another.

by Joe Schmitt on Mar 6, 2008 10:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

The power of positive thinking, people!

Yes, Cuban can back up the brinks truck to Fedor. Yes, this probably will happen...whenever Randy actually becomes a free agent, able to sign with Cuban. But Cuban signs fighters on a fight to fight basis, not to long term deals. The only indication we have that Fedor may be more interested in a long term deal is the fact that he is bolting M-1, which appears to be about as stable as a house of cards.

So, does Fedor want to fight the best in the world after all? We certainly haven't seen any inclination to that effect since 2006 or so, but maybe folks calling his legacy into question (stupidly) has gotten to him. Or, maybe he'll do a one and done deal with Cuban. Or maybe he'll sign with DREAM and face Cro Cop. Again. And for an encore...Kiss Nakao? Well, seems reasonable, unfortunately.

But like I said, it's the power of positive thinking. Fedor to UFC, Randy returns to UFC, we can finally see not only who is the better fighter, but presumably put an end to this interim heavyweight title nonsense as well. I call this strategy win-win-win, because Fedor wins, Randy wins, and I win. Win-win-win.

by Brett Jones on Mar 6, 2008 10:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

From what I've read, Couture has already signed with HDNet Fights, and the deal starts whenever his UFC contract finally expires. That's not to say that he won't turn his back on Cuban because all he wants is the Fedor fight.

I'm with you though, positive thinking, and maybe, just maybe, we'll see Fedor enter the cage and get to take on Couture. It may be wishful thinking instead of positive thinking. Either way, I just want to see the fight and I would prefer if it was in the UFC.

by Joe Schmitt on Mar 6, 2008 11:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

I've heard about the Couture/Cuban arrangement as well, but I do not see how a contract could already be signed between the two parties. In my very limited knowledge of contract law, it seems to me that signing a contract with a rival promoter while under contract to another promoter would be tampering at the very least, and may perhaps nullify the new contract if the issue were taken to court.

That doesn't rule out Couture going to HDNet by any means, but I would think that at best there is a wink wink nudge nudge agreement that at, say, 12:01am on the day Couture's UFC contract expires that he will sign a deal with Cuban. Even that seems to me to be tampering, but again, I know very little on the subject.

by Brett Jones on Mar 7, 2008 9:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

I think the best chance for this to be in the UFC is that neither side, Zuffa nor couture, really want to engage in years of messy litigation. They could really just sweep this whole mess under the rug.

by Michael Rome on Mar 6, 2008 11:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

I don't see DREAM having the upside or the money that UFC does. UFC tried low-balling the guy once already, and subsequently lost Fedor and Randy in the process.

Life doesn't grant too many second chances.

by Popetastic on Mar 6, 2008 11:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

I have a hard time believing that Randy has physically signed anything with HDNet and Cuban. A deal may very well be in place and a contract may be awaiting Randy's signature, but there have to be legal ramifications of signing with another company when you're already under contract.

by Gogoplata on Mar 6, 2008 11:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

By the way, this match would be a PPV flop in any organization besides the UFC.

by nitro on Mar 7, 2008 12:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

Nice to see you around again, Adam. I agree. I really dont believe all the HDNet crap floating around.

This fight will be huge no matter where it's held. ESPN will even cover it, even if it's in DREAM.

And DREAM does have the money. Lots of it. And if they need some more, they just print some more, or steal some if the presses are down... I love the Japanese.

by MoreThanUFC on Mar 7, 2008 4:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

The fight would be lucky to get a mention in passing on ESPN if it took place in Japan. That much I can promise you. It would get decent coverage anywhere in the US but other than maybe a brief "over in Japan Randy Couture lost to Fedor..." it wouldn't get much attention if it is overseas.

The UFC is ready to throw probably 1 - 1.5 mil per fight at Fedor which in all honesty is more than the name value he brings to casual fans (and yes...casual fans control the money in MMA). If his management doesn't see that as enough scratch then they should write him off completely and move on. Fedor doesn't care about his legacy, so we'll likely see him sign with HDNet after Mark Cuban offers him a ridiculous amount of money.

by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 7, 2008 9:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Randy/Fedor: Still A UFC Possibility?

I feel like money is less of an issue than being able to co-promote with UFC in Russia and being able to bring in a bunch of the Red Devil guys along with Fedor. I know the dollar is weak right now, but the rumored $2 million per fight deal is not one you back away from easily unless other issues are on your mind.

But to me, this is God saying "ok UFC and Fedor, you guys fucked it up last time, so here's a reprieve. You screw up again, and Fedor ends up with YAMMA and EliteXC does business on CBS." Granted, I am not a man of The Lord, but things like this are proof of God on some level.

by Brett Jones on Mar 7, 2008 10:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs