Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker Wants Fedor Emelianenko Back
by Nate Wilcox on Aug 1, 2011 11:54 AM EDT
in Strikeforce News
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Fedor Emelianenko signed with Strikeforce in 2009. Excuse me, M-1 Global and Strikeforce struck a co-promotional deal with Strikeforce's broadcast partners Showtime Sports and CBS in late 2009. At the time it was a bold, aggressive challenge to the UFC's dominance of the sport.
An alliance of Strikeforce, CBS/Showtime, M-1/Fedor and EA Sports Video Games was set to challenge for pre-eminence in MMA.
18 months later and Strikeforce has been purchased by the UFC's parent company, Zuffa. CBS no longer airs MMA programming after bad ratings and an on camera brawl in April 2010. EA Sports MMA flopped hard. And the invincible, never really beaten Fedor went 1-3 in Strikeforce. He has one more fight on his contract but don't be shocked if Strikeforce elects to cut him and re-start negotiations from a less expensive place.
Nevertheless, Coker wants to keep doing it. He spoke to MMA Fighting (transcribed by ESPN UK):
"As far as fighting in Strikeforce, I hope we have them both (Fedor and Henderson) back.
"If you look at that fight, I think it stands right up there. If you look back at the history of Strikeforce, which is relatively a newer company, I think the ones that stand out in my mind are, in our early days, Frank Shamrock fighting Cung Le - that was an unbelievable matchup. And Nick Diaz fighting Paul Daley this year - unbelievable fight.
"And [on Saturday], I think this one probably tops those two. So arguably one of the best fights in the history of our company."
I have to agree with Coker. It was a hell of a fight. I just wonder if Fedor and M-1 Global will be able to re-calibrate their calculation of Fedor's worth in light of his three fight losing streak.
As for Dan Henderson, another free agent after this fight, Coker will be bidding against his parent company for the suddenly red-hot light heavyweight.
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of course he wants fedor and hendo back
with no diaz or overeem anymore he/strikeforce needs someone
Fine! I'll go build my own lunar lander, with blackjack and hookers. In fact, forget the lunar lander and the blackjack.
PRIDE fan boy
I don't see how strikeforce will sign Henderson back.
In my mind, there’s no way Zuffa gives him another uber-contract like the one Strikeforce handed him.
Fedor’s another story, but again, I don’t see the Zuffa brass allowing another inflated contract to pass muster.
Probally when the Showtime contract is up
by rscott94 on Aug 1, 2011 11:45 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Wonder if Coker was speaking publicly about this with Lorenzo’s blessing? I guess seeing how the Fedor and Hendo situations play out will tell us something about the short and medium term plans they have for Strikeforce.
Besides, I thought Fedor had more fights left on his contract.
"Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid." -John Wayne
Death before dishonor, drinks before lunch.
Never send sheep to kill a wolf.
by The American Ronin on Aug 1, 2011 11:39 AM EDT reply actions
well of course he does
it isn’t his money on the line anymore.
http://mixedmartialartsblogger.wordpress.com/
Mel Gibson shot the movie Apocalypto on location at the center of my taint.
-Fake Emcee
by Cory Braiterman on Aug 1, 2011 11:39 AM EDT reply actions
I don't see why Fedor would stay at heavyweight
He’s not the world beater he once was. With proper dieting, he looks like he could shed 10 lbs of fat, and sweat the rest.
im lolling hard at "10 lbs of fat"
if you think that proper dieting will only shed 10 lbs off him, you have never wrestled. the man has much, much more fat to lose than a mere 10 lbs.
Obviously he could make 205
But he’s not going to. He’s simply not willing to do it from a nutrition and conditioning standpoint. And anyway I don’t think he’d be any more competitive at light heavyweight than he is at heavyweight.
by MichaelDavidSmith on Aug 1, 2011 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Even less competitive I think, when his historic speed and skill advantage are both nullified.
"Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid." -John Wayne
Death before dishonor, drinks before lunch.
Never send sheep to kill a wolf.
by The American Ronin on Aug 1, 2011 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Am I the only one who thinks it wasn’t that great of a fight? I mean, the guys were swinging hard every punch, but I thought it was pretty damn sloppy, especially on Fedor’s part.
your surprised? that how fedor strikes, he always throws those wide hooks im just surprised no one ever counter with a straight .
Like this?
That’s kind of just how he does it.
"So even though it’s the gayest sport ever, MMA is still the best sport ever. I love my gay sport." - Wrestling Uber Alles
Fast cars, danger, fire, and knives.
I haven't seen much of Fedor at all
but dude does seem to fight pretty damn sloppy/wreckless.
Anderson Silva, Edson Barboza, Jose Aldo, Charles Oliveira, Thiago Alves = Muay Thai wrecking machines!
by SentientAndroid on Aug 1, 2011 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
Fedor vs Anderson would not of been pretty and Freddie Roach is spot on you can outbox Fedor.
http://unintelligentdefense.blogspot.com
by MattParker117 on Aug 1, 2011 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think Fedor gives a shit whether people think he could make 205, 185, lose 10 pounds of fat or 40. I have never seen an Emelianeko interview where he proclaimed himself a great, or where it seemed like he looked upon fighting as anything more than a job. Some people seem to hate the thought of it, but sane minded people rank him as the best heavyweight in the history of MMA What i really don’t want to see is a fighter of his standing reduced to appearing on cards because promoters like Scott Coker think he still engages in entertaining fights, thats great for guys like Scott Smith and Chris Leben, but not for Fedor Emelianenko.
i would pay to watch m1 negotiate fedor’s contract after their prized possession just went #1 pound-for-pound to a guy who just lost racked up three consecutive loses
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker Wants Fedor Emelianenko Back...
For pennies on the dollar.
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