Quote of the Day: Steve Sievert Proposes Fedor Emelianenko vs. Kimbo Slice

by Luke Thomas on Sep 25, 2008 2:09 PM EDT in News

"At first blush such a match-up might seem laughable – the world's consensus No. 1 heavyweight versus a guy who's fought in MMA three times against opposition with a combined record of 33 wins and 34 losses – but tell me you haven't thought about it. I'm sure Affliction and EliteXC have. And, getting Arlovski and Nelson into the EliteXC mix on CBS is a move that demonstrates that both organizations are willing to back up the talk about their desire to work with other promotions to make big fights.

Few fights would be bigger than Fedor vs. Slice.

Randy Couture's recent reconciliation with the UFC put speculation about a potential Couture-Emelianenko fight back on the front burner. However, with EliteXC and Affliction forging a partnership, which could even lead to a merger down the road, it becomes more likely that both organizations would work together to keep the UFC from making a buck off of a Couture-Emelianenko fight. Matching Emelianenko and Slice is the best way for EliteXC and Affliction to generate interest in their respective promotions, rack up hundreds of thousands of pay-per-view buys, and kick sand in the face of the UFC."

-- Steve Sievert, suggesting something that could be ruinous to Kimbo Slice's image, would likely never be approved by his trainers, would not necessarily be that successful given the relative anonymity of Fedor to the mainstream and would only give Dana White further ammunition to bash Kimbo Slice and the EliteXC product.

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Sievert has had some wild-eyed ideas lately.

by Michaelthebox on Sep 25, 2008 2:16 PM EDT 0 recs

HA!

Bas wont let Kimbo Fight Bret Rogers but he is gonna let him fight Fedor i don’t think so

"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye

by Pitbull on Sep 26, 2008 5:35 AM EDT up 0 recs

It would ruin EliteXC

Pass me some of what this guy is smoking. What does EliteXC stand to gain? Fedor walks in and probably comes close to killing Fergie. Now EliteXCs main selling point has been exposed by a guy that most casual fans have no idea about. Yeah that would be a GREAT idea for EliteXC.

by ChillMike on Sep 25, 2008 2:38 PM EDT 0 recs

I totally see where you're coming from, but ...

They have to be looking past Fergie right now. His stock was thoroughly dropped by the Thompson fight. This could use Kimbo’s minor fame to propel Fedor into the limelight. And Fedor isn’t someone they’d have to baby and protect. They’d finally have a legit fighter with mainstream cred. Plus, he’d be interesting in the exact opposite way that Kimbo is, which I think could be a good news piece for MMA.

“Coming up next: the quiet smiling man who can kill your entire family in under two minutes! But don’t worry, he won’t wear their skin as clothes, he’s just training for his next fight! Next on EXTRA!”

Assuming he could put on a highlight reel performance against Kimbo, of course.

by asa on Sep 25, 2008 3:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

You sure about his stock dropping? Granted us “in the know” saw his stock drop because it was Thompson who took him that far. We all know Thompson as a guy with a bit of a suspect chin that’s lost 9 out of his last 11 fights, but the way he was marketed was that “he’s won 14 mma fights and 9 by knockout”.

I suppose time will tell on the 4th, it’ll be interesting to compare the #s between the Arlovski fight and the Fergie fight.

I do see where you’re going with the whole Fedor thing but for one I’d think they’d be hard pressed to pay him what he wants but I definitely see what you’re saying…

"Coming up next: the quiet smiling man who can kill your entire family in under two minutes! "

Hahahaha so so so true.

by ChillMike on Sep 25, 2008 4:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

trolls are now writing for mmajunkie…

I guess common sense is not a pre-requisite for the position.

by mmalogic on Sep 25, 2008 2:48 PM EDT 0 recs

All they do over there is write stories and daily reminders. Any news they do post I’ve already about it on another site two days ago.

by steveoc24 on Sep 25, 2008 2:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

This is true

Junkie has gone down hill since they changed format. They are now only posting news stories once confirmed, which is two days after the news has broke on other sites. I barely go therenow, and it used to be my homepage back in the day when it was UFCjunkie.

by Nick Travaglini on Sep 25, 2008 3:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

They wont even put Kimbo in the cage with Rogers.

by steveoc24 on Sep 25, 2008 2:50 PM EDT 0 recs

I like the idea, if affliction and EliteXC are working together all the time now. Kimbo will get exposed sooner or later, why not build a huge star in the eyes of the casual fans in route to killing Kimbo.

by szucconi on Sep 25, 2008 2:51 PM EDT 0 recs

I have to agree with ChillMike

It would be a short term gain for EXC. Sure they sell a ton of PPVs but what do they do after their show pony is dismantled in approx. 2:34 seconds of the first round and never wants to fight again.

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Sep 25, 2008 2:51 PM EDT 0 recs

That’s all good, but joe public still has no clue who Fedor is. In fact, I would be suprised to see the betting lines leaning to the side of Slice based on public perception.

Of course we know the fight would go more along the lines of the Fedor/Timmy fight.

But I’m not so sure they would sell any more PPV’s than they would if Slice faught another Can.

by lbk on Sep 25, 2008 2:52 PM EDT 0 recs

The question is, does EliteXC believe sacrificing Kimbo’s name-value is worth making Fedor that much more popular to mainstream fans in the US?

by KneeToTheFace on Sep 25, 2008 2:56 PM EDT 0 recs

To the true fans, it’s a disgrace of a fight. To the general public, this could be very marketable.

USA vs Russia
(black) Rocky vs Ivan Drago
underground streetfighter vs MMA legend

Why wouldn’t EliteXC allow Kimbo to lose to Fedor? Fedor is the #1 HW in the world, and Kimbo’s going to lose eventually (soon) anyway – they can’t feed him cans forever – so why not have him lose to the best? There’s no shame in that. Chuck Liddell wasn’t less marketable after his loss to Randy or Rampage.

This could be a huge payday for both EliteXC & Affliction… and you know Kimbo is not “beneath” Fedor in terms of quality (freakshow) opponents!

Plus, having Fedor destroy Kimbo would give Fedor the exposure he needs to the US audience. It’s an easy way to make the best HW in the world (and arguably the #1 P4P fighter in the world) marketable & recognizable in the USA – something that would benefit Affliction & EliteXC greatly, if their goal is to compete with the UFC.

Keep Swillin',
Bruz

by Bruz on Sep 25, 2008 3:02 PM EDT 0 recs

they can’t feed him cans forever

Hahahahahahahaahahahahaa….

Yes, yes they can. And they will!

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones

by jemaleddin on Sep 25, 2008 3:35 PM EDT up 1 recs

I think you’re wrong. While the fight may be marketable, it’s unlikely to be significantly more marketable than any opponent as of yet for Kimbo. This because the fans who watch Kimbo do so because they don’t know jack about MMA (only slightly exaggerated) and so disregard pretty much who his opponent is. So it’s not really the case of the streetfighter vs MMA legend, as Fedor simply isn’t a legend in the eyes of those who are going to watch. They don’t even know who he is.

I don’t think that the comparison between Chuck and Kimbo is accurate. Chuck had proven his ability on numerous occasions before losing to Rampage in the UFC. He was marketable not because he was a badass streetfighter on a fight trek, but rather because he was the best for a long time and fought in spectacular fashion. The hype surrounding Chuck was legit, at the time. The UFC knew that, just as EXC now knows that the hype surrounding Kimbo isn’t legit. If they want to keep him marketable they’ll just have to keep feeding him cans.

Just about the only thing I can even consider as a possibility right now is the sacrifice of Kimbo in order to get Fedor exposure. However, I wouldn’t bet on it. It’s just a little too risky. First they’d need to tie Fedor up for a long time – no point in having him destroy Kimbo and get the philistines cred just to see him wander off into the UFC, or abroad. Would Fedor agree? Can’t see that he would. A fight with Kimbo would mean green, but then what? Would he become an instant draw? Naaaw, I don’t feel it.

by ununkvadrium on Sep 25, 2008 5:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

Slow News Week

This is nothing but the result of a somwhat slow news week in MMA. Why else would you float something like this out to the masses. There is an alternative theory, but I will give Seivert the benefit of the doubt.

by Nick Travaglini on Sep 25, 2008 3:10 PM EDT 0 recs

Steve Sievert Proposes Worst Fucking Idea Ever

How about Fedor v a bear? THAT would sell some PPV buys.

by subo on Sep 25, 2008 3:16 PM EDT 0 recs

Already happened…

Keep Swillin',
Bruz

by Bruz on Sep 25, 2008 3:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

Don't forget the rematch...

by Chris Nelson on Sep 25, 2008 3:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

Fuckin’ Nelson…..always comin’ up big with the graphics.

by Heenan on Sep 25, 2008 8:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not unless the bear was actually famous in America.

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones

by jemaleddin on Sep 25, 2008 3:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

Sergei

Kharitonov is free now that Mighty Mo can’t fight. EliteXC could pick him up to fight Fedor.

by KneeToTheFace on Sep 25, 2008 3:19 PM EDT 0 recs

Love him, but he already lost to Aleks

Sergei may well be the best HW other than Fedor not in the UFC – sorry, Josh and Andrei – but I don’t see him beating Fedor. I’m probably the only person that likes Nog in a Nog-Fedor IV match, but then again, fuck everyone else. :-)

by subo on Sep 25, 2008 5:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

This is crazy!

How can a cash strapped organization like EliteXC & Affliction turn around and hope to make a buck off the best, non-mainstream fighter and a guy who clearly was losing the decision against James Thompson? This makes no sense whatsoever. I get stuck watching fights with a bunch of people new to MMA, that’s just the nature of people who are watching it when I’m with my other friends. Someone mentioned Fedor in a telecast and everyone was like “who the fuck is Fedor?” “I bet Chuck Liddell could kick his ass!” (No joke). It makes no sense if Fedor was fighting for the reported 1 million a fight, none at all. Let alone the production quality of EliteXC is such shit that I can’t think of anyone who would be impressed enough to buy a PPV. They have no hype machine, no advertising, the only thing they have going for them is CBS and that won’t mean shit for PPV.

This guy is a fucking tool….

"Men like me are like comets, destined to be consumed by lighting up their century"

- Napolean

by Kris McKillop on Sep 25, 2008 4:01 PM EDT 0 recs

So EliteXC is supposibly going to sacrifice their cash cow to Affliction’s Russian cash vaccum as a co-promotion for what reason? EliteXC can’t afford to sign Fedor long term and even the world goes crazy and the two merge Affliction can barely pay Fedor themselves not to mention they have shown recently they can’t control him or even get him to stop making plans to ditch them to fight a freakshow match in Japan on NYE. At least Kimbo is a known marketable quantity who knows if Fedor will ever catch on in the US with casual fans or if he even cares to try.

by who me on Sep 26, 2008 12:01 AM EDT 0 recs