Report: Fedor Signs With M-1
Highly coveted and top-ranked mixed martial artist Fedor Emelianenko has signed a deal with M-1 according to a report from The Fight Network:
PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko has committed exclusively to the new ownership of M-1 Mix-Fight Championship, which has been purchased outright by an undisclosed American entertainment-related company, according to a source close to the deal who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Established in 1997, the St. Petersburg-based M-1 held over 30 events under the ownership of Russian businessman Vadim Finkelstein, also the long-time manager of the much-sought-after Emelianenko. Finkelstein is also the proprietor of the Red Devil Sports Club, a facility and team that houses numerous Russian fighters, including PRIDE veteran Roman Zentsov and former UFC middleweight Andrei Semenov.
The source confirmed the new ownership has infused a substantial amount of capital into the organization. Finkelstein and others will stay on to assist in running the company, which will continue to promote under a variation of the M-1 name. The new M-1 will take more of a global stance, and Emelianenko (26-1) will headline its inaugural event as early as January or February, possibly in the U.S., the source said.
The UFC had been looking to sign Fedor since they purchased PRIDE earlier this year. Emelianenko is the reigning heavyweight champion of the recently disbanded organization and is widely regarded as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Earlier this year things looked hopeful of a deal being completed though things took a turn for the worse in recent months.
Recently, inactivity has plagued Emelianenko. He has fought just once in 2007, a submission win over Matt Lindland at a Bodog Fight event in April. The lack of fights has led many to question Fedor’s status as the top fighter in the world, though most expect he will remain in top form upon his return to competition.
Key to the agreement appears to be the entrance of a US-backed company who has pumped money into M-1 to sign Emelianenko. Though the specifics on the debut show and the company will not be released until later this month, some have speculated that Mark Cuban may be backing the company. He has recently expressed his interest in signing Fedor and will be launching his own promotion, HDNet Fights, this weekend in Dallas. At this point nothing is more than speculation, though given the vague details his name jumps out as one of the most likely candidates who could back a signing, and a promotion, of this magnitude.
Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for more on the situation over the coming weeks and months…
Tags: Fedor Emelianenko
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This is so unfortunate. I really thought the UFC would come through and have our guy Couture fight Fedor next year. I guess M-1 is going to pay big money to free agent MMA fighters. This mean a guy like Barnett could go there and if Arlovski’s contract situation isn’t resolved; he could go to
M-1.
The only good thing that will come out of this is Fedor will get his head kicked in by Josh Barnett. Other than Barnett, Fedor has beat all of the rest of the M-1 fighters. I AM PISSED. I hope M-1 folds under the presure. I believe Fedor doesn’t want to fight Randy Couture. The Russian Red Devil team is “using’ Fedor’s skills to get a contract for the whole team instead of letting him prove that he deserves the title of “Greatest Fighter in the World” UNBELIEVEABLE!
[...] Report: Fedor Signs With M-1 [...]
I’m not at all surprised. there’s no way the ufc was going to sign fedor, because the ufc only deals with exclusive contracts and doesn’t have any plans for events in Russia.
Although the M-1 contract is exclusive, chances are they’ll hold events in his native land – something fedor has been very vocal about – loving to compete in his own country. it was more about competing in front of his people than the money – afterall there were reports of the UFC offering $2M / fight … I’m sure he easily makes that in endorsements.
but for anyone that saw his last fight with linland, you would have also noticed the big deal they made over fedor in st.petersburg – all the celebs, even putin was there. he’s all about this homeland.
I hear fedor is running away – ****. He aint the best. I hear coutures retire-ing as Fedor has signed for M1. Just as well for Fedor as this decision proves to me hes overated, running away to a fight fighters he beat before. No 1, no way.
[...] business deal with the M-1 MixFight Championship, the promotion that signed Fedor Emelianenko earlier this week. Many fans are taking this news as an indication that he is the possible purchaser of the M-1 [...]
Jeff, you talk about MMA but you don,t know about MMA and Fedor, have you ever seen Fedor fights? he can swith from one martial art to another like no other fighter in the world, plus he have the kwan (intelligent, strong and fast), plain and simple, know as the best by the people who really know’s about this sport, the fighters, not from fans!
Fedor is a good fighter….I question him being able to beat Randy. Cro Cop was good too…
[...] release making the rounds online highly sought after mixed martial artist Fedor Emelianenko, who is reported to have signed a lucrative contract with M-1 last week, will make his future plans official on Monday in New York [...]
Fedor is willing to fight everyone
Fedor kill knock the **** out of Couture all day, everyday. He’s not avoiding the fight by signing with M-1. Why should he sign with UFC, an organization known for treating its fighters like ****? The man wants to get paid. I don’t blame him. I’ve watched the sport long enough to know who’s the best. And it is unequivocally Fedor.