I've argued that Dana and the Fertittas overplayed their hand because they are truly fans of MMA. Leland Roling pointed out that there are multiple reasons the Fertittas might not want to risk their gaming licenses by getting into business with a bunch of "crazy Russians."
Over at UFC online PPV distributor Yahoo, Kevin Iole takes a considerably less nuanced view:
Finkelchtein clearly botched the negotiations, but he’s not to blame.
If Emelianenko really wanted to be in the UFC and fight the best competition in the world, he would have made certain Finkelchtein got it done.
If you want to blame someone in this fiasco, blame Emelianenko.
It’s 100 percent his fault.
I agree that M-1's demand to co-promote UFC events featuring Fedor is utterly ridiculous. However, I would also argue that they made that demand simply to put the kibosh on the deal. I've already outlined the Case Against Fedor Signing With the UFC, but there are two reasons I left off my list, one cultural and one having to do with the politics of MMA.
[Be warned, the rest of this post consists entirely of unfounded speculation -- my specialty. Take it for what its worth.]
There's an old saying, "never trust a Greek bearing gifts." It goes back to the Trojan War. It means when someone who has been your enemy appears at the gates offering everything you ever wanted, you should put your guard up.
Remember, Fedor is on the record as not liking Dana White's habit of publicly trash-talking fighters he's negotiating with. Also remember, Fedor and Vadim are Russian. And that means something. From Bloody Elbow commenter mason_beer:
Being Russian matters
I lived in Russia for three years while my dad worked for the embassy there and the first thing you learn is that Russian – perhaps more than any other country – distrusts any outsiders western or far eastern. It doesn’t matter. Its big, dark, cold country that has long winters to sit around and think about the world. It seeps into everything Russians do which is why its been so hard for them to become part of the world, so to speak.
Dana White represents everything Russians hate about Americans – loudmouth, cocky, brash, abrassive, and successful acting like that. For Russians, there is a certain way of doing things and its usually quiet and understated. I can see how Fedor and Vadim are completely put off by Dana White – the quintessential American in their eyes.
The second reason has to do with the politics of the sport. Most were contemptuous of Jerry Millen's claim that Fedor and the M-1 team were concerned with the future of the sport. And as contemptable a figure as Jerry Millen may be, there is something to that. He also called the UFC the "WWE of the sport" and its hard to argue that Vince McMahon is the model for Dana White's approach to the business: control all elements of production, make the promoter the main face, seek total control of the industry, etc etc.
As Beau Dure wrote:
Beyond the back-and-forth posturing over what's being offered to new free agent Fedor Emelianenko is a contest of competing visions over MMA's future.
Five years from now, we could look at a Fedor deal (or lack thereof) as a major step toward the worldwide dominance of a UFC that operates much as it does now. Or it could be a return to the days, only a couple of years ago, when the UFC and Pride operated separately and almost equally.
Fedor and his team remember when PRIDE, not the UFC was at the center of the sport. They understand as well as anyone that if Fedor signs with the UFC that Zuffa will have the top fighter in every division of the sport under contract. That simple fact will make the UFC champion, IN EVERY DIVISION, the linear champion, starting from the moment Fedor steps into the Octagon and continuing as far as we can see.
The Russians don't want to hand the keys to the MMA kingdom to Dana White, its that simple.
Update: From MMA Mania, here's a press release from Vadim Finkelchtein and M-1:
It is unfortunate that so much incorrect information has been leaked to the public. It is M-1's preference not to negotiate in public and we are unsure why people claim that Fedor and M-1 turned down a six fight, $30 million contract to fight in the UFC when no such offer was ever made. Even though Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White did not meet with Fedor in person on Tuesday, they were represented over the phone. Outside of representatives of the UFC and M-1, no other company was represented during our negotiations. Since we did not go to the media with details of the meeting and only responded to the erroneous reports, we are unsure how these reports started. It's unfortunate because these type of tactics will not help ensure that M-1's talks with the UFC are fruitful. M-1 Global is still interested in continuing to negotiate with the UFC and while we are fielding offers from other major promotions, nothing has been decided. It is our hope that the UFC will remain in active dialogue with us as we try to find ways for us to work together. All we are asking is that there is give-and-take in the negotiations and that they are not one-sided.