this is awful. Why M-1? Fear of competition? I think so.

Oh well, Ben Rothwell is a free agent. SIGN HIM!

This is the worst news of the day.

This is the beginning of the end for Fedor. He’s gotta dump his manager and think about his career instead of his loyalty to that bum. How good of a manager can he be if he makes all kinds of outrageous demands at the expense of his fighter and with his own companies interests in mind. Say what you want about White, but what Zuffa offered Fedor was ridiculous, 2 mil per fight and an immediate title shot. I guess Fedor’s people forgot they can’t just use his name recognition to bully people into signing him. You wouldn’t see Kobe Bryant expecting to sign with a team at four times the amount of Lebron James and only as long as he could bring his buddies from the street court and be under contract to the euro-league and spanish league as well, just for fun. That wouldn’t happen, no matter how his agent tried to use his dominance at the game, and especially as Fedor can’t straight up claim to have fought against the best in the world because they get dummied by people like Cheick Kongo. The key word there is “use” as well, because wait and see how he is regarded by so called Russian MMA managers and promos alike if he loses a couple of times. With the continued emergence of flaws in Pride’s so called unbeatable fighters people will question more and more how good Fedor really was. If we see Couture beat Nog and if Gonzaga shitcans some other tough fighters, Couture will be the better proven fighter by the end of 2008. Think that’s crazy? Well, given Couture’s recent heavyweight stint plus the fact he will be likely be fighting the likes of Nog and Vera this year, and with guys like Arlovski still hanging around, people will be hard pressed to consider Fedor better with spectacular bouts with Oleg Taktarov, a bunch of Russian Sambo cans, and possibly a dancing bear drunk on Slivovitz.

I’de like to quote Dana White on this one “Crazy Russians”

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 America 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.

On March 27, Ultimate Fighting Championship majority owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta bought the assets of PRIDE, only to discover Emelianenko had previously signed a non-exclusive, non-transferable contract with its former owners, Dream Stage Entertainment.

Fedor realizes PRIDE fighters were not that tough! I wished he would have signed with the UFC and got his ass kicked.

BOOOOOO!!!!!!!! I just lost alot of respect for fedor. why would he even consider fighting in an other organization???? you would think that a guy who a lot of people rank the best fighter in the world would want to fight the best competition. i have absolutly no intersest in watching any of his fights any more unless they are in the octagon. i hope he gets knocked the fuck out in his first fight!!!!

Well all I can say now is fuck Fedor’s camp. You are right, this is the beginning of the end for him. If I was Dana, I would jump ship on future hopes he’ll change his mind. Fedor had his chance.

this is not a new rumor. It was on sherdog over a week ago.

I have to agree with you Hardcase, on everything you said.
If Fedor won’t fight the best, which happen to be in the UFC right now, I don’t see how he can remain the best ranked fighter.
I personally don’t think Fedor is worth 2 mil a fight. I also think that the UFC is probably thinking ‘we have all the best fighters, if someone wants to be the champ they have to fight here and play by our rules’. Which I think is reasonable.

MMA is not a team sport. Only MMA training is team oriented. Those team members who help Fedor train don’t deserve UFC fights based on Fedor. They should have to earn fights on their own merit.

No longer number one! Randy should be considered #1 from now on, then he should fight Nog to see who is the best between Pride and UFC.

I hope Dana runs this company into the ground. Whoever they are, they obviously are hoping that Fedor will catapult them to a level that can compete with the UFC. Let them! UFC will destroy them! BOYCOTT M1!!!

Whatever, Fedor, you’re nothing but a pretender now. . . If you wanna pretend to be #1 in the world at m-1 go right ahead, you just lost all respect in my books. . . you’re only #1 if you consistantly face #1 contentendors. . . you’re running from them, you make me wanna puke. . . your nothing but a pretender. . . shame on you.

Goodbye no.1 Rating..
I mean who is he possibly gonna fight that makes this look credible?
I mean come on imagine if it was something stupid like say Matt Lindland……..oh.

Difficult to say exactly what the precise issue is with Fedor obligation to previous contract? obligation to countrymen teammates? Worried about losing in UFC and Fedor stock plummet for any new ventures? Possibility of more $$$ in M-1?

I think his stock will definitely go down, unless he manages to fight and defeat a few UFC big names he hasn’t already fought.

This M-1 organization better have some deep pockets to pull away top name fighters from the UFC. They have to do all the UFC is doing and more promotionally to keep this organization afloat for the next 5 years, because if it’s just another re-make of Pride, they’re doomed.

This is gayer than a handbag full of rainbows….Fedor is a has-been in my book….

what the hell did he do that for. oh well, cmon CROCOP start kicking some ass its about freaking time. MIRKO MIRKO MIRKO

Where the hell are “Fedor by Armbar” and all the other Fedor Nuthuggers? Id like to hear their opinion.

Heres mine: If Fedor is so tough then he needs to fight the best, every fight!

HE IS SCARED!!!!!!! He doesnt want to loose.

Fedor M1 = Loser

Did M-1 give him more money then UFC?

I for one am not so sure that this news sways me into thinking that Randy would wipe Fedor right away, or that Fedor is merely scared about losing. That would have still been a dream fight, with truly unpredictable results.

However, the news SUCKS, that’s for sure. Bad, bad, bad decision on the part of his management.

Just looking at that picture of Fedor smiling pisses me off. I hate to say this of a guy that I held in such high esteem, but .. ugh… pains me to even think of the possibility of this..

‘Fedor… Scarola’d out!’

this is awful. Why M-1? Fear of competition? I think so.

Oh well, Ben Rothwell is a free agent. SIGN HIM!

This is the worst news of the day.

rothwell will get fukin smashed by any heavyweigt in the ufc…he might have a chance against a couple bottom end guys.

this is not a new rumor. It was on sherdog over a week ago.

Tagg radio first reported it. But considering the recent track record we held off until it was confirmed by a more trustworthy source.

?? it would be nice if Fedor/entourage made an official statement of why they wouldnt enter the ufc??

maybe he’s stalling till randy’s too old to fight

hats off to randy, he should be ranked #1 in the world, since fedor has taken himself out of the game. love it or hate it, ufc is mma now.

fedor must be making a shit ton of money to do something like this, or he’s scared shitless. either way this is such bullshit for the fans.

Looks as though Dana wasn’t as good a negotiator as I thought.

Fedor Couture
Fedor Couture
Fedor Arlovski
Fedor Sylvia
Fedor Vera
Fedor Kongo
Fedor Hughes
Fedor A. Silva
Heck even Fedor Penn
I’d watch any of these. But Fedor Vs a nobody
I think his owners are protecting his mystic by putting him Vs subpar fighters in a subpar fighting venue and by limiting his fighting to 1x/yr. He is considered on top but soon enough we’re going to see him drop from the top of the list. He’s not big enough to catapult a starting organization into stardom. He’s going to drag out this 1 fight a year thing for awhile, eventually lose to some nobody and after he’s dropped out of the top ten will want to come to the UFC….Couture would anihilate him…

Where the hell are “Fedor by Armbar” and all the other Fedor Nuthuggers? Id like to hear their opinion.

Heres mine: If Fedor is so tough then he needs to fight the best, every fight!

I want to see their opinion too…. I bet this M-1 is a Mark Cuban owned company now. I hope it does well, because I hate to see a Monopoly, but it’s at best on the level of a WEC, and I bet other than Fedor the WEC has better talent.

Fedor is not prepared for glory?

ha fedor carrer is gonna skyrocket now that hes fighting for m- 1 wat a retard

Dont mess with Fedor… its all about the money and the lifestyle

UFC contracts has alot of restrictions.. so maybe M1 was very flexible besides the money.

Just because you dont want to fight for the UFC does not mean he is scare or anything. you got to make the right choice whats best for your career. money and how it can affect your lifestyle

this is ridiculous and fedor is a coward he is afraid of randy couture what a bunch of bullshit

Did M-1 give him more money then UFC?

Im sure they are at the end of the day its business. Fedor is not scared of anyone thats BS.

Dana is part to blame for Fedor not being in the UFC. Of course so is Fedors Managers. But Dana keeps making promises he cant keep. “Ya we will have him by the end of the year”.

In the meantime everyone loses.

I just saw this and I actully I cant believe it.That was NOT what UFC fans have been waiting for. I am kind of dissapointed ,but if he does not want to fight for the UFC. GET THE F….. OUT OF HERE. I dont want to to see people say that he is the best. The best is Randy.

“Dont mess with Fedor… its all about the money and the lifestyle”

thats fine, if he were my friend.

but im a fan. whether he’s not signing with the ufc cause hes scared, or because he’s so greedy that $2m a fight isnt enough, I am not a total fedor-hater. hes totally not thinking about the fans if $2m a fight isnt enough.

Someone said it earlier, but I would almost put money on it that Fedor will try signing with the UFC once Randy is finally to old to compete. Randy is a smart guy and I hope he quits as soon as his body doesn’t let him compete as well as he does now, rather than let some clown like Fedor beat Randy when he’s old and not at his best. Even still Fedor will NEVER be a huge threat in the UFC against guys like AA, and as much as people dislike him for whatever reason Sylvia I think would mop the floor with that tiny little Fedor…a flabby 6 foot 233lbs heavyweight that he is. Fedor would have to drop to 205lbs, or 185 to be a serious threat in the UFC.

word LordParrich

and in the post two comments earlier i meant to say that i am a total fedor-hater.

Sounds like Fedor wants to go down as the best fighter in the world. Guess what buddy, not gonna happen now. As far as I am concerned your not even on the list. You have to fight the best to be the best, and the last “big name” fight you had with Mirko was a while ago, and Mirko is now getting bitch stomped by UFC begginers. At first I was pro Pride talent but I think we will find that the real MMA is right here in the USA IN THE UFC!!!!!!!111

From what I’ve read Fedor said it was never a money issue with the UFC, in fact he said that they offered him the most.One of the main reasons is because the UFC would not let him represent his country in certain wrestling events, they basically wanted control over everything he did. If Dana and the UFC were not so controlling and greedy, we might have had him. Fedor is no coward, he obviously has more love for his country than the UFC and the money they offered him. Good luck to him, I hope he continues to do well. Randy would not have beaten him, but it would have been a good fight for the two rounds it would have lasted. Now bring in Josh Barnett.

"""Just looking at that picture of Fedor smiling pisses me off. I hate to say this of a guy that I held in such high esteem, but .. ugh… pains me to even think of the possibility of this..""""

Ohhh well at least they didn’t post the picture of him licking the ice cream.

Fuck!What happened?After all this talk and all the hype this guy is going to fight somewhere else.I dont even have a comment right now.

i am dana whites nephew fedor signed with m-1 zuffa owns m-1 therefore zuffa owns fedor. dana told me himself randy will be fighting fedor superbowl weekend

I hope in his first fight he gets KTFO…now that would be hilarious.

HE IS SCARED!!!!!!! He doesnt want to loose.

Fedor has a political obligation to compete once a year in the Russian Sambo champioships, and the UFC wont let him if he signs with them, the UFC is the one who f’d up this deal, all they had to do was let him compete in Sambo once a year. Maybe you guys havent heard but Russia isnt like America with all this freedom stuff, it is still very much a Semi-Communist country and Fedor is a personal friend of Vladamir Putin (the Russian president)which has lots of benefits in that country. The last thing he would want to do is offend the president and his countrymen by not competing in Sambo. If Dana White would pull his head out of his a$$ and let Fedor fufill his obligations then there would be no problem with fighting in the UFC

This sucks. I’d like to see the dollar figure they offered him. Either way it didn’t look like the ufc deal was ever going to happen. Fedor didn’t just want to compete in combat sambo. He also wanted the ufc to hold event in russia and sign other red devil contracts.

That, along with the price tag, is an INSANE list of demands to make, and I’m not surprised negotiations fell through.

Now that this is out of the way, the ufc can use those resources in getting a multitude of other fighters in. Hansen is the fighter I’d most like to see in the ufc, but they can also help out their middleweight division. Kang isn’t available, but Filho and Lindland are. And Lawler has looked REALLY impressive lately with stoppage wins over Trigg and Ninja

[quote comment=“172536”]“Dont mess with Fedor… its all about the money and the lifestyle”

It wasnt about the money or Fedor being scared…cmon, do you guys honestly believe that Fedor is scared…lets see he dominated NOG twice, beat Cro Cop when he actually fought good, Mark Hunt, Coleman twice, Herring, Fujita, Randleman, Linland…And as for all the guys who are hating on Pride give em a break, the UFC hasnt even signed most of the good Pride Heavyweights…they got NOG, and a Cro Cop who needs to get his head together..wow…..they still havent signed Barnett who spanked Randy by the way, Alexander Emilienko, Fedor, Mark (i cant be knocked out) Hunt amoung others

what’s his managers name? Scott Boras maybe?

Well I do like Fedor as a fighter, but this is ridiculous………a fight organization owned by his manager??? This has to be the worst decision he could possibly make for his fighting career. I really hope he gets KOed in his first match, and then his second, and third would be nice too. His opponent is going to be like a 20 to 1 underdog and a loss for Fedor would drop him so far down the ranks, it would serve him right.

From what I’ve read Fedor said it was never a money issue with the UFC, in fact he said that they offered him the most.One of the main reasons is because the UFC would not let him represent his country in certain wrestling events, they basically wanted control over everything he did. If Dana and the UFC were not so controlling and greedy, we might have had him. Fedor is no coward, he obviously has more love for his country than the UFC and the money they offered him. Good luck to him, I hope he continues to do well. Randy would not have beaten him, but it would have been a good fight for the two rounds it would have lasted. Now bring in Josh Barnett.

It wasn’t just having him fight for his country. if combat sambo was the ONLY issue, that probably could have been worked out. Fedor also wanted the ufc to host events in russia, and sign some of his teammates to fight for the ufc.

I don’t see how you can be mad at Dana for not agreeing to those crazy demands. There are plenty of things I disagree with him on, but this isn’t really one of them.

“One of the main reasons is because the UFC would not let him represent his country in certain wrestling events” Ade

i dont buy that for a second. if ufc signed fedor then they would use him enter into more markets like . . . russia, which is what our boy dana totally wants to do. dana was definatley not holding back, he wants a global brand bad. as stated in tons of other posts, fedor was making crazy demands.

but as stated before the only people getting shafteded are us the fans. i say let fedor go and compete in other organizations that let him represent his country. maybe he will enter the ufc when his countrymen want to see him truly compete against the best.

im with Yohnstoppable, lets use those dollars to sign other great fighters. by the way, why is kang unavailable? wheres gomi, brock ect

I wonder if Dana could arrange one fight between Randy vs Fedor much like they were going to do with Chuck and Wandy.

I do agree the UFC should sigh Ben Rothwell that would be a good pickup.

I’m going to say it again. I think Fedor is overrated and I think some people are starting to see that as well.

randy should get the number 1 spot.. .this aint cool.. fedor is going to be fighting tomato cans for the rest of his career. WAR RANDY!! CAPTAIN AMERCICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If M-1 has any chance of competing with the UFC in the immediate future they need a marque matchup with Fedor’s 1st Fight… someone that has a contract up with UFC, someone that has name recognition/credibility and Fedor hasn’t beaten. Otherwise no one in the US and most other countries won’t even care who Fedor beats.

I think Dana White should have a statement/ and interview as to why he and the UFC didn’t sign Fedor, the #1 ranked Heavy Weight in the whole darn world of MMA.

IT wasn’t Money, We are speculating on the Why’s?
WE should stop all this talk until The

Fedor’s career might be over as a champion, he was the champ of the no 1 organization of that time.

Maybe he doesn’t want to pull a Tito Ortiz and fight past his prime.

Can you really blame him that much? UFC is not exactly a respectable organization, but it is the no1 organization now. FANS BOO FIGHTERS! If you were the greatest fighter of a decade, would you really want to be boo’d at an event just because you’re fighting an American Legend (Couture)?

Please don’t discount Fedor, his accomplishments in MMA are unmatchable, except for maybe Hughes or Gomi or Royce.

Whats up with the WEC as they are not having any more events until December or so?

that tapout show was KEWL!!! it was on the channel VS
What happened to it!?!?!

Now alls we get are reruns of WEC’s and tapouts?

i dont blame Fedor, if he goes to the ufc he wont be such a stud put him in one of these smaller events and he can be the man. he knew randy would kick his ass.

a lot the postings seem to imply like Fedor owes them something … maybe MMA isn’t his first priority, he wants to fight in sambo competitions, do some promotions in his own country, doesn’t make him any less of a fighter than he was yesterday… maybe this mystery organization will sign up some big fighters if they have that much money to drop on him. he makes what he thinks is the best choice; the post about Fedor dropping to 185, are you retarded?

Randy is great, but if it was anyone else who beat Sylvia and Gonzaga, they wouldn’t be number one right now?

I’m not surprised. Kind of glad that this whole thing is over with now. The UFC were never getting him. Fedor doesn’t jave to worry about what fanboys think. He ran through the Pride opposition and knows how good he is. At the end of the day it all boils down to business. (Plus Sambo and other commitments.)

He is thinking about his camp and young fighters as well. I think he will not carry on as long as some people think. He has already expressed an interest in training the young guys full time which is fair enough. He owes the fans nothing. Family wise this might be better for him who knows?

I wish him all the best.

Now I know the rumors are true, Fedor really does want to pick and choose his fights so he can win. He was too scared to fight Tim Sylvia when he was dominant, and now he has fled from a fight with the true legend Randy Couture. The reason I say the rumors are true is because Fedor is fighting in a company(m-1) that is owned by this agent. Now he will definitly fight scrubs and get the matches he ask for, what a bitch, I thought he was great, he is nothing but a scared punk who does not want to face the top competition.

IN A WAY I HOPE FEDOR LOSES HIS 1ST FIGHT

If this is true. then maybe..
-Fedor is scared of the UFC HW’s?
-Fedor is scared of losing.?
-Ferdor’s Juiced up?

 I dont know why he wouldn’t want to fight in the #1 MMA promoton today.
I have always liked Fedor, but I have to start considering some of the (rumors) things people think about his reasons.
I always held Fedor as #1 HW of the world, but he will lose that title as #1 if he really did sign M-1..
(just my opinion, but Fedor is not #1 anymore)

Who wants to bet the undisclosed American entertainment company is Mark Cuban?

If Fedor loses his 1st fight Dana White will be laughing his ass off and if this fledgling company have paid him big bucks they will be crying tears of blood.

Fedors last match was against Matt Lindland which was suspect to me from the beginning, not to mention how he got busted open quick and held the ropes (hence my screen name). This was not an impressive victory.

Plus with that report before about him liking to pick fighters and not wanting bad style match ups, it all leaves a stain on his entire career. The final nail in the Fedor coffin will be if Big Nog gets totally abused by Couture, people would then just assume that the entire Pride HW division was nothing more than hot air.

dana and fedor were playing who’s got the bigger dick

a shame that dana did not sign fedor, now who is going to fight randy in feb??
and now that fedor is gone dana should make it up to the ufc fans by getting some quality fighters with the fedor money like arona, sukari, lindland, get some middleweight guys, sign lesnar and big ben

I don’t really care where he fights, I just want him to fight some good fighters. Mark Cuban will probably start getting some, and he apparently started with Fedor. It might take awhile, but hopefully he’ll be fighting some big names eventually. Until then he doesn’t exist to me.

boobity doobity

on a different topic…

BIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

The following is from Dave Meltzer’s WrestlingObserver.com website:

Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva is now verbally agreed upon by both sides to take place on 12/29 in Las Vegas.

Wasn’t Fedor a bit choosy over who he would and wouldn’t fight? You can’t be #1 if you’re trying to handpick fights.

if M1 get barnett and that is fedors first fight then he will prove hes still fighting a guy at the top of the foodchain

josh was probably the #1 contender before pride folded

if there is serious $$$ behind the promotion then it could be some welcome competition to the ufc

it is a shame that M1 dont team up with strikeforce and elitexc as they will need a tv deal … and the talent such as diaz lawler shamrock (frank)and baroni certainly boost the undercard

You can not be considered the best in the world if you don’t keep fighting and beating the best in the world.

M-1..I never heard of them..and I consider myself an in depth MMA guy..Just a horrible mistake.

The UFC will still grow and move in the right direction with the stable of fighters..marketing..and events. Fedor on the other hand..is going the opposite direction.

Fedor’s lore outweighs his actual accomplishments. Until he start’s fighting the best he’s just a good fighter who beats weaker opponents. We’re finding out that CroCop and Big Nog might not be as lethal as everyone thought. I think Fedor is a good fighter but that’s all he will be in my eyes until he starts beating some of the UFC’s best.

Dana’s failure to sign Fedor, in my opinion, has less to do with contracts and economics and more to do with political and cultural differences between Russia and the United States.
Russian athletes, save hockey players, take more pride in their country than in their personal legacies. Until these two countries settle their differences, a Russian-born fighter will never support an American-born UFC. Russian businesses, some worth more than Fedor & Co., largely choose not to pair up with American business.
In other words, you have a neighbour you hate and you nearly went to war with. You despise this neighbour and everything he is about. He sells lemonaid once a month and it is becoming quite popular. His lemons are good, but you’re lemons are the best lemons in the world. Producers from all over the world are putting their best lemons on his table, but none of which are as good as your lemons. He doesn’t pay much for these lemons at all, since his stand is the only decent stand in the world — it’s a buyer’s market as far as buying lemons go. Your neighbour is bullheaded, and piggish, he offers you 2 cents per lemon even though he sells lemonaid for $39.95 and $49.95 in HD. Not only is he trying to rip you off as far as payment goes, ever since you last went to war he has affected you and your family’s well being by way of spreading rumors and trade restrictions.
Anyways.. hopefully this made some kind of sense.

peace.

on M-1 website (http://www.mixfight.ru/) there logo is similiar to UFC logo, the typeface is the same….i think its called sofachrome or sumttin like that…..

Fedor’s lore outweighs his actual accomplishments. Until he start’s fighting the best he’s just a good fighter who beats weaker opponents. We’re finding out that CroCop and Big Nog might not be as lethal as everyone thought. I think Fedor is a good fighter but that’s all he will be in my eyes until he starts beating some of the UFC’s best.

I agree 100%. Anyone who doesn’t question Fedors talent after his decision not to fight with the UFC, and after seeing how mediocre Fat Nog, and Mirko Crap Cop’s performances have been is insane. Fedor struggled with both Crap Cop, and Fat Nog…Fedor knows he will be mediocre at best in the UFC.

what the hell, what if he losses some of his fights right there,then after that he will gonna show some interest in going to ufc?

i will be more respect him if he losses one of his fight at the UFC,atleast against one of the best fighters so no regrets,rather than seeing him get his 1st loss outside the top of the competition..

then if that heppen,he wil no longer have that status as the man to beat in the HW division (worldwide)

then i think the #1 heavywieght contender shoul;d give to Couture (“after he will beat Big Nog”)

Can anyone imagine Michael Jordan deciding to play for the European League over the NBA?

How about Joe Montanna choosing to play for the Canadian League instead of the NFL?

Yao Ming choosing to continue his career in China over the US?

You all get my point right? I believe Fedor saw what happened with Heath Herring who was no walk in the park when they fought & Cro Cop who was one of his most competitive fights ever. I’m sure he measured himself against Cro Cop’s last 2 UFC performances. Add what happened with Shogun to the equation & you’ve got a perfect recipe for some serious self-doubt. Now factor in the ridiculous demands his manager was making & now Fedor can hide his own self-doubt behind the excuse that the UFC would not meet his requests & all of that equates to Fedor commiting Career Suicide and signing with M-1.

Someone else said it earlier in this thread and I agree that monopolies are a bad thing. I’d like to see at least 2 more Promotions rise up & compete on a level close to the UFC but I have little faith that M-1 will rise to the occasion. Who on God’s green earth can Fedor possibly fight to further solidify his status? Ben Rothwell? Assuerio Silva? Gan McGee? How about none of the above because despite what a persons favorite MMA promotion might be, there is no HW in ANY OTHER promotion that’s on par with those currently fighting in the UFC. Fedor obviously could care less about his longevity, his career, his legacy or his fans.

sad sad day in mma..
Alot more people would of got to see him fight but now not so many

Ive never even heard of M-1 and im a big mma fan..

The reason is UFC orgazination doesn’t best offer Fedor Emelianenko requested for $3 million of dollar for each fighter. UFC orgazination’s really cheap. Keep the big bucks in the pocket. That is why Fedor wasn’t interested in UFC. He doesn’t want to work for them. He hates UFC because of those are greedy Republicans. Emelianenko was offered a $10 million contract from a new M-1 organization out of Russia. I am very happy for him. Fuck UFC!!!!

Fuck UFC Owner Lorenzo J. Fertitta and Frank J. Fertitta and President Dana White. They shouldn’t purahased PrideFC orgazination. I’m really sick of greedy guys. I think that they are white collar crime orgazination as mobester.

Wow I guess that I have to finally change my screen name now.

OUCH… that stung a bit. No Fedor. Some of the comments posted said he was the best in his day.. and the best in PRIDE. That is a perfect way to put it… He will look amazing fighting a bunch of nobodys…Couture goes straight to the #1 spot… hands down.

From what I’ve read Fedor said it was never a money issue with the UFC, in fact he said that they offered him the most.One of the main reasons is because the UFC would not let him represent his country in certain wrestling events, they basically wanted control over everything he did. If Dana and the UFC were not so controlling and greedy, we might have had him. Fedor is no coward, he obviously has more love for his country than the UFC and the money they offered him. Good luck to him, I hope he continues to do well. Randy would not have beaten him, but it would have been a good fight for the two rounds it would have lasted. Now bring in Josh Barnett.

You say Randy would not have beaten him. Well Randy made it clear he wants Fedor. Fedor also made it clear that being the ONLY ONE that couldn’t come to a deal with Dana, that he is avoiding Randy. Fedor isn’t stupid, he knows had his hand full with CC and GG owned CC and Randy mauled GG. Fedor knows all to well that Randy’s wrestling will be to much for him. I guess we will never find out because, Fedor likes protecting his record by hiding out in the little leagues,like Bodog and M-1. He can be an undefeated hero there, but the true fans of the sport know you have to fight the best, to be the best and the best are in the UFC.

Wow I guess that I have to finally change my screen name now.

LOL…. Ya’ you picked a great screen name… Dont give up on UF ‘Fnn’ C… Sign Fedor!!!! LOL.

ok, I was pissed off at Fedor for a few hrs, but I’m over it… I think M-1 will not last unless they have deep deep pockets and spend spend spend…to get top name fighters and TV, pay per view contracts etc…

Fedor will be a free agent again when this organization goes under…his timing entering in the UFC will probably never be as good as it is now… if he loses in M-1 his stock in $$$ will go down. If he fights no names his stock will go down.

I’m all Fedor’d out now.

I’m not surprised. Kind of glad that this whole thing is over with now. The UFC were never getting him. Fedor doesn’t jave to worry about what fanboys think. He ran through the Pride opposition and knows how good he is. At the end of the day it all boils down to business. (Plus Sambo and other commitments.)

Fedor does know how good he is. He is a desision win above the top Pride guys and they can’t buy a win in the UFC. Unless you count Eddie Sanchez or Brad Imes. By Fedor not signing, this is just more proof of how he protects his record by avoiding the fighters who are a bad matchups for him.

IN A WAY I HOPE FEDOR LOSES HIS 1ST FIGHT

In all ways I hope Fedor losses his first fight. Mind you it’s pretty easy beating cans in the smaller leagues. He’s robbed Randy and all of us fans ,of many great fights.

Visions of Balboa and Drago come to mind. Fedor’s obviously seen it too many times and is scared of the American hero Couture. BOOOOO Fedor!

what kind of thinking that fedor has. this is the perfect time for him to go to UFC,he’s on top of the world,top of the division,top pound for pound.. walse else he should need?

M-1 will not make any progress in his career,his status will going down instead of progress. & its shame for him if lost one of his fight there. it looks like Manny Pacquiao will fight those rank #44 or #43 below. & even winning against them, will not do any good for his career, unless fedor is all about maoney making.

or maybe he’s thinking that he will never loose a fight outside the ufc,& will come to the UFC in the future that has still unbeatable, thats risky for him. but if he lost, couture will be disapointed very much.

No longer number one! Randy should be considered #1 from now on, then he should fight Nog to see who is the best between Pride and UFC.
I hope Dana runs this company into the ground. Whoever they are, they obviously are hoping that Fedor will catapult them to a level that can compete with the UFC. Let them! UFC will destroy them! BOYCOTT M1!!!

I dont think so. UFC has not been the only MMA organization for a while, and we all need to embrace the other guys. Thats what will keep the ufc honest and make things more interesting for us, the fans.
I’d like to see Fedor in UFC but what can we do? I for one will be watching him on M-1 right along with the good old UFC

Yep, he’s a pussy. He should not even be regarded as the number one heavyweight in the world, he doesn’t even want to prove it.

So, here is the way it’s going to go down….Zuffa is actually the unnamed entertainment related company. Rather than force us to watch Bisbing/Lewis at UFC 78, Dana will scrap the main event and announce the merger instead. And then monkeys will fly out of my ass.

really…who cares…i’m over this dude…done…

This is the beginning of the end for Fedor. He’s gotta dump his manager and think about his career instead of his loyalty to that bum. How good of a manager can he be if he makes all kinds of outrageous demands at the expense of his fighter and with his own companies interests in mind. Say what you want about White, but what Zuffa offered Fedor was ridiculous, 2 mil per fight and an immediate title shot. I guess Fedor’s people forgot they can’t just use his name recognition to bully people into signing him. You wouldn’t see Kobe Bryant expecting to sign with a team at four times the amount of Lebron James and only as long as he could bring his buddies from the street court and be under contract to the euro-league and spanish league as well, just for fun. That wouldn’t happen, no matter how his agent tried to use his dominance at the game, and especially as Fedor can’t straight up claim to have fought against the best in the world because they get dummied by people like Cheick Kongo. The key word there is “use” as well, because wait and see how he is regarded by so called Russian MMA managers and promos alike if he loses a couple of times. With the continued emergence of flaws in Pride’s so called unbeatable fighters people will question more and more how good Fedor really was. If we see Couture beat Nog and if Gonzaga shitcans some other tough fighters, Couture will be the better proven fighter by the end of 2008. Think that’s crazy? Well, given Couture’s recent heavyweight stint plus the fact he will be likely be fighting the likes of Nog and Vera this year, and with guys like Arlovski still hanging around, people will be hard pressed to consider Fedor better with spectacular bouts with Oleg Taktarov, a bunch of Russian Sambo cans, and possibly a dancing bear drunk on Slivovitz.

Great commentary on management issues, but……
Fedor has faced competition just as good as Randy and has a better record to show for it. Don’t forget my friend that Fedor fought these pride guys before/during when they received good beatings. If fedor were to fight past people that couture beat, forgetta bout it.

In my opinion Couture is absolutely the only UFC fighter capable of taking out fedor (and a good chance!) but no other.

Also if Fedor is truly the best and fighters want to see how they will match up then they can wait till their UFC contract is up and fight fedor in Russia.

Much respect to Matt Lindland!

aww what a shame….lol – serves the dumb ass UFC right – only the UFC lose out on this deal, not Fedor

If he even loses 1 time in another organistation it means he is no longer even in the top 10 HW’s

Fug’em.

I actually don’t think its the money I think, as we are seeing in UFC, that Pride wasn’t as good as we thought. I loved watching Pride as well as UFC and thought that some of the fights were awesome. But, lets be honest none of the fighters have set the UFC stage alight, and I am as disappointed as everyone with CroCops performance.

I think Fedor’s Hercules like image would be damaged in the UFC (I actually do believe now that Couture would beat him) and that would tarnish him.

I mean why go to an organisation with lesser fighters in it, if you wanted to prove yourself you would fight in the UFC, thats where all the best fighters are at the moment.

It could also have been a steroids issues as well, as we are now seeing, I just hope (and I think he will) that Silva proves that Pride did have some great fighters.

ROUTURE COULD AND COULD NOT BEAT FEDOR IN A MILLION YEARS! ROUTURE LOST BIG TIME TO THE ICEMAN

In my opinion Couture is absolutely the only UFC fighter capable of taking out fedor (and a good chance!) but no other.[/quote]

Brandon Vera can beat Fedor.

Since M-1 is a Russian Organization I found out who Fedor is fighting in January, Its the Russian guy from Rocky IV

I think his name is Couture and yes he did lose big time to Liddell but lets see chuck put on 15 or 20 pounds and fight Randy in the HW division, that would be interesting. The bottom line is Chuck is falling off his game and Randy doesn’t seem to have lost anything so Chuck would lose to Randy right now. Fedor is a pu$$y. If he thought that he could beat Randy he would have signed with the most dominant orginization in mma but I think there is a doubt in the back of his mind like what if this old man beats my ass, will I still be considered the greatest on the planet? In my opinion this deminishes his status far more than if he would have fought Randy and lost. Now it is a true statement that Randy is greatest heavyweight on the planet and he might lose one day when he is 50 or so.

If M-1 has some cash they could add Barnett, Arlovski, Hunt, and a some other former Pride/UFC fighters and put together a decent heavy weight division. I wouldn’t mind seeing another decent MMA organization, hopefully with a ring again. Maybe this is Mark Cuban’s new deal? I’m going to hold out hope that this leads to more good MMA, if its not in the UFC oh well.

WOW! Who is he going to fight other then a possible Barnett, possibly Arlovski, is he done with UFC?. Wow competition for him willbe thick and he will solidufy his place in MMA history with this move. WOW WOW WOW. I am so excited by that move I think I will take my ass to the store and get some icw cream. Send Couture for a one night, one real champ romer stomper of a bout, like what they tried to do with the Iceman and Pride…

I actually don’t think its the money I think, as we are seeing in UFC, that Pride wasn’t as good as we thought. I loved watching Pride as well as UFC and thought that some of the fights were awesome. But, lets be honest none of the fighters have set the UFC stage alight, and I am as disappointed as everyone with CroCops performance.

I think Fedor’s Hercules like image would be damaged in the UFC (I actually do believe now that Couture would beat him) and that would tarnish him.

I mean why go to an organisation with lesser fighters in it, if you wanted to prove yourself you would fight in the UFC, thats where all the best fighters are at the moment.

It could also have been a steroids issues as well, as we are now seeing, I just hope (and I think he will) that Silva proves that Pride did have some great fighters.

Well Rampage has been the only success story for the Pride fighters transitiong to the UFC. I do agree with the rest of what your wrote. Wandy still needs to fight though. I suspect he will do better then everyone else, considering he has already seen some degree of success in the UFC.

If M-1 has some cash they could add Barnett, Arlovski, Hunt, and a some other former Pride/UFC fighters and put together a decent heavy weight division. I wouldn’t mind seeing another decent MMA organization, hopefully with a ring again. Maybe this is Mark Cuban’s new deal? I’m going to hold out hope that this leads to more good MMA, if its not in the UFC oh well.

I agree, if M-1 can guys like that it would be great I’d love to see those fights, i just hope they’ll have some kind of PPV deal were I can see them. I would still love to see Fedor go against UFC’s heavywieghts. You never know maybe down the line he’ll end up there.

I’de like to quote Dana White on this one “Crazy Russians”

NO NO NO…u got it all wrong..its “Fuckin Crazy Russians”

Fedor has been quoted saying that he doesn’t want to fight Couture, and that he doesn’t want to fight Tim Sylvia. Thats 2 of the top 5 in the UFC. That just leaves Nog, Herring, and Vera. There are a few others that people would consider to be top 5: Gonzaga, and Arlovski aren’t top 5 in my book though.

I doubt he was “afraid” to fight these people, he probably just didn’t find the UFC to be in his best interest at this time.

Dana White is as much to blame as Fedor’s management if all the rumors are true. No way would I expect UFC to sign all of the Red Devils. Also, I wouldn’t expect Fedor to stop having to do Sambo.

Horrible deal for all parties involved.

Mania, any rumors about the length of the contract he signed?

This is good for mma! Being a huge ufc an myself I do believe whole heartedly that alot of the fighters(not all) are underpaid. This move by M-1 might attract alot of top end fighters hunt,arlovski,barnett,alexander emilienko maybe even sokoujou(I think he is still availible). In turn this will force Dana to pay out his talent the money they deserve or see them make the jump over to M-1. Should be interesting to see how this plays out over the next couple of months and what angle M-1 is going to take. They might be inclined to bolster a roster of top talent or they might do a bodog thing and have fights like that. There is tons of talent still out there they could work with for the time being. If Chucky loses his next fight and Couture drops a couple or age caches up with him then UFC is going to take it on the chin a bit as far as huge draws. Tito hasn’t been Tito Shogun stumbled out the blocks Cro cop flopped fabricio werdum put me to sleep. Should be interesting i M-1 pushes the pace a bit making both organizations better and in turn making more mma action for us!…….as well as a higher ppv bill for me at the end of the month!

UFC blew it by not meeting Fedor’s price. They underpay most of their fighter’s and I have no doubt that Fedor can top their offer by being the franchise at M-1.

Also if Fedor is truly the best and fighters want to see how they will match up then they can wait till their UFC contract is up and fight fedor in Russia.

Much respect to Matt Lindland!

I am or was a huge PRIDE fan also and Fedor, but given the circumstances, I think he has more to prove and looses face in this more so then anyone fighter or organization. With the lack of success of the Pride fighters transitioning to the UFC I believe he has more to prove. Nobody is questioning the validty of the fighters in the UFC anymore since the buy out of Pride. The questions about validity now remain in the hands of and with former PRIDE fighters. Forrest Griffen who was not nearly as respected as he is now took out with ease the “BEST 205” in the world. Cro Cop lost his stones some where between Croatia and Vegas and has been absolutely dominated on 2 occasions(who was also considered maybe top 2 or 3 in the world in his division). Big Nog won a less then lack luster decision against Heath Herring who has looked less the average at best since coming to the cage. Nick Diaz went to Pride took away the the champs belt in his first fight back to PRIDE. Were the top teir fighters of the PRIDE organization actually just crazed steroid raging fighters, in a league with virtually no or very little testing and restriction(except for Nick Diaz’s smoking Pot-what an effen joke)? As far as I am concerened and in my most humble of opinions I feel that the UFC has proved they are the better fighters to this point. Maybe some will turn it around, but from the current showings I do not see it happeing for quite some time…

M-1, OMG is that LAME or what? My only hope is that Mark Cuban is the American company that is looking to, or did, buy M-1.

Fedor is scared of the UFC. I guarantee that 99% of us have not heard of a single fighter in M-1. I for one, have never even heard of M-1.

The reason is UFC orgazination doesn’t best offer Fedor Emelianenko requested for $3 million of dollar for each fighter. UFC orgazination’s really cheap. Keep the big bucks in the pocket. That is why Fedor wasn’t interested in UFC. He doesn’t want to work for them. He hates UFC because of those are greedy Republicans. Emelianenko was offered a $10 million contract from a new M-1 organization out of Russia. I am very happy for him. Fuck UFC!!!!

NO fighter is worth even close to $10 mil a fight. The top names in the UFC, Randy, Chuck, and Hughes don’t even make close to that type of money. Pretty much less than 1/10, and they need to win the fight in order to do so.

I would like to gut his managers like the Fucking maggots that they are. UFC mania, I rarely curse on this site, but do not censor my comments. Fedor was my favorite fighter in the world…but M-1? Come on! I hope to never hear about this guy again. I hope that George Bush passes a law against even saying the name Fedor! I dont want to see his pics no more, I dont wanna know who he is fihting or how he performed… U want to be the best tyou gotta fight the best! there is no bigger Fedor supporter then me….. and I have had enough of him…. I agree with some of you in that him signing with M-1 is just like him retiring. To me fedor has retired! This means we will prolly never get to see Fedor vs. Randy, Randy is 44 years old, if this fight doesnt happen soon, it wont ever happen! Oh well, the dreams of what could have been!

Does Zuffa really own M-1?

Arona has been signed, Sakurai looks like he is going to stay in Japam, I doubt Lindland will ever fight in the UFC again since he has a childish grudge against Dana, Lessnar is a nobody to true mma fans, and Big Ben is an IFL star (do u really think he can be that succesfull in the UFC?

So basically saving the money from the Fedor contract does nothing for us fans! Filho is already signed to Zuffa, Kang isn’t available, Rogerio has been boxing, Gomi is staying in Japan, Jacre looks to be heading to the WEC,

I dont think that we will see any more major signings for a while!

M1 = “Me First”

Very disappointing news. Apparently, Fedor’s first fight is against Blake Bowman.

fedors reasoning is mind blowing, i am a huge fedor fan but in my opinion not signing with ufc is more about protecting is legacy. no doubt he was the best fighter in the world but enough fights in the ufc and i promise, he would have gotten beat. no one can run through every fighter and not get beat, but you what, true fight fans know, you will be beaten no matter who you are! this is all about riding into the sun set as some sort of fight legend. they will protect him in m-1 and thats the facts sir. lost all my respect for the man.

For mother Russia…

In a way I am glad that Fedor is not fighting in the UFC. This sport has turned into something very ugly. RIght now it is about ego, and money… there is no pride in it any more. UFC acquired Pride to distroy it. Now Dana has some of the best fighters in the world and he still calculates on how to earn money. There is too many unnecesary unwriten rules. Lidel and Silva lost titles and that messed up UFC money calculations. SO th f… what. Let them fight. People would still like to see them fight. Pride was excelent just because they didn’t have things like that. In one night you could have seen 10 excellent and top fighters. In the UFC you can see two to three fights a night and that is it. Dana should alow fighters to fight, because that is why they are in this sport. For example, Why does a Mark Hunt have to loose weight in order to fight. That guy showed incredible skills with the weight that he has. He shouldn’t be forced to change. Dana is a horible businessman. He has all the fighters in the forld to make the UFC something incredible and he doesn’t know how to do it. He is still calculating. There is just too much ego in the UFC. Its not about sport anymore. Many fighters are not in UFC just because of that. And its’ a waste of f…. talent. Just because of that, I am glad Fedor is not fighting UFC (though I would love to see him fight all the heavyw. in the UFC. There are some excellent guys overthere).

ROUTURE COULD AND COULD NOT BEAT FEDOR IN A MILLION YEARS! ROUTURE LOST BIG TIME TO THE ICEMAN

is your name Insain because of your spelling!!!!

Well, where ever Fedor goes, i’m sure he’ll do well!. Unfortunately Fedor won’t be able to bang or hang with the best in the world. I think on Fedor’s behalf, he’s making this all about business. It’s too bad we won’t be able to see Fedor clash with the Natural. I think Randy would do well in this bout with Fedor. Randy does so well at finding out how to win a fight, even before he steps into the cage.

But be happy for the dude(Fedor).

But be happy for the dude(Fedor).

Be happy for him for what? Ducking all of the top competition?

Couture would own chuck if they fought today at HW. Fedor has been quoted as saying he wouldn’t fight Tim Sylvia because it is a bad style matchup for him. The difference between Fedor and Randy is Fedor avoids fights to not lose and Randy adjusts his game to not lose fights. I don’t care if Fedor never fights in the UFC. He’s a great fighter, but he doesn’t want to fight the best. I’m sure dana offered him a huge amount of money for a two fight deal. One title shot, and a possible title defense. Then after that he would be out of contract and he could do his Sambo. fedor is afraid to lose.

Fedor is #1.

Dana White learned two valuable lessons…

1. Never call a Russian’s bluff

2. UFC will face comeptition in the near future from other organization.

Fedor scared of Tim Sylvia couldn’t be farther from the truth. Rumors of Fedor ducking fights or hand selecting his victims is simply a way UFC fundamentalists bolster the credibility of UFC fighters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll0KJ_13NJU

Enjoy.

Be happy for him for what? Ducking all of the top competition?

Well, he doesn’t want the best. We can’t be mad for that. We all know that the UFC has the best(Mostly) and Fedore can’t commit to a loss too his credentials like that. i mean look at his resume’, he’s got no losses and an un-tarnished record(except for the pussy loss)
Fedor is a bitch and a pussy. there i said it. but it doesnn’t mean we should be chocked about it.. All you have to say is “Fedor ain’t shit” it don’t matter. Let’s talk about the matched coming up..Vera smashing TIm, and Chuck and Wandy, Vitor talking shit about coming to fight or wanting to fight Page..Page actually being the best in thw wrold..Ect Ect…Fuck em’

Any posts made by “the truth” (all lower case) are not associated in any way with my posts.

First of all I’m very disappointed of Fedor’s decision. The best fighters (besides Fedor, Barnett and Rizzo) are in the UFC. Anyway, I’m sick of you who are saying Fedor was fighting cans in Pride and would got beaten by anyone in the UFC.

Fedor hasn’t lost to ANYONE
Randy has lost to:
Enson Inoue 11-8 can?
Mikhail Iloukhine yeah whotf is he?
Valentin Overeem 23-20
Barnett
Ricco
and couple of 205’s like
Liddell x2 (who is today ufc can i quess)
and Vitor.

With your logic in a nutshell:
fedor > Fat Nog > Barnett > Randy
fedor > mirko > silva > page > chuck > randy

I also freakin hate everyone who thinks a superb fighter who loses once or twice against top competition is automatically considered a can.

Anyway, I’ll be enjoying to see Fedor fighting..well anyone. I just like his style inside and outside the ring and respect him as a MMA artist.

Iam over fedor!

“As far as I know, [the UFC] give me Randy Couture, so there is talk about a match against this fighter. I respect Randy very much. Of course, to be honest, I would not want to fight him because I really admire this fighter, and we could have become friends.”

-Fedor

Truth,

I do somewhat believe that Fedor is ducking Randy. He said similar things about Lindland,Coleman, and Cro-Cop. He didn’t want to fight them because he “respected” them. I call bullshit on that, if you respect a fighter you should want to fight them more to see how you measure up against the best. I bet thats why Randy wants to fight Fedor:

“Fedor is the best Heavyweight fighter in the world”

-Randy Couture

Its about competition, Fedor is acting like its about animosity. Ive also heard reports of him management saying that he wanted 2 “easy” fights in the UFC before fighting Randy. Thats kinda bullshit if your the #1 HW. Who wants to see Fedor fight Eddie Sanchez in the UFC huh?

Who is his first fight in M1? If its going to be Barnett they better sign him soon. That would probably be the only fight worth watching.

Fedor is #1.

Dana White learned two valuable lessons…

1. Never call a Russian’s bluff

2. UFC will face comeptition in the near future from other organization.

Fedor is #1 because….

he beat a bunch of guys in Pride who are japanese proffessional; wrestler’s now.

He beat Mirko Cro Cop, boy he sure is doing great in the UFc

He beat Matt Lindland, an awesome fighter…at middleweight

 Fedor is the best fighter in the world, that has beaten guys that were thought to be great until they fought tough competition. He couldn’t finish Big Nog , he couldn’t finish Cro Cop. He’s good but has not fought any competition good enough to be the best.

Fedor is not the only top fighter that Dana White could NOT sign. Let’s see…Gomi, Barnett, Meldenez, Nick Diaz, Hunt, Sakuri, and Filho, jus to name a few.

It doesn’t seem that Fedor is the only one having problems with Dana White and/or the UFC.

give me Randy Couture, so there is talk about a match against this fighter. I respect Randy very much. Of course, to be honest, I would not want to fight him because I really admire this fighter, and we could have become friends."

-Fedor

Truth,

I do somewhat believe that Fedor is ducking Randy. He said similar things about Lindland,Coleman, and Cro-Cop. He didn’t want to fight them because he “respected” them. I call bullshit on that, if you respect a fighter you should want to fight them more to see how you measure up against the best. I bet thats why Randy wants to fight Fedor:

“Fedor is the best Heavyweight fighter in the world”

-Randy Couture

Its about competition, Fedor is acting like its about animosity. Ive also heard reports of him management saying that he wanted 2 “easy” fights in the UFC before fighting Randy. Thats kinda bullshit if your the #1 HW. Who wants to see Fedor fight Eddie Sanchez in the UFC huh?

Who is his first fight in M1? If its going to be Barnett they better sign him soon. That would probably be the only fight worth watching.

First, respect you because you envoke your Viking heritage, albeit Danish. (Ragnar)

Fedor has said that he respects every fighter he faces, as long as the fighter isn’t a donkey. Watch the pre-fight interview before Fedor v. Big Nog #1 when Fedor states that Big Nog is the #1 fighter and that he is not the best.

Also, you mentioned the names of Linland, Cro Cop, and Coleman. If memory serves me correctly, Fedor faught and beat every one of those fighters.

Fedor has tremendous respect for Couture. Fedor has even said that Couture was one of his personal favorite fighters. Fedor respects Couture as a fighter and would like to be his friend rather than beat him.

Remember Fedor does NOT speak a lick of english, thus I hope the translator was competent.

Fedor is #1 because….

he beat a bunch of guys in Pride who are japanese proffessional; wrestler’s now.

He beat Mirko Cro Cop, boy he sure is doing great in the UFc

He beat Matt Lindland, an awesome fighter…at middleweight

Fedor is the best fighter in the world, that has beaten guys that were thought to be great until they fought tough competition. He couldn’t finish Big Nog , he couldn’t finish Cro Cop. He’s good but has not fought any competition good enough to be the best.

Watch the fights in Pride and tell me Fedor didn’t have ample opportunity to finish Big Nog in either fight and Cro Cop, but chose not to do so.

Big Nog #1 was all about proving that he is the best fighter. He won a unanimous decision by demonstrating the most destructive ground and pound even seen. After he inflicted that much damage in the first round he could have stood up and finished it. He didn’t because fucking him up for another two rounds would show how dominant he really is.

Big Nog #2 was all about proving that the first fight was a fluke. He put Big Nog on his back 4 – 5 times in the first round from crushing right hands. Then Fedor proceeded to let Big Nog recover so that he could take him apart for another two rounds. Are you starting to see the pattern emurge?

Let me point out the Big Nog has oneof the toughest chins in the business. This is evidenced in the fact that “NO ONE” has been able to KO Big Nog.

Fedor v. Cro Cop was all about proving that he can strike witht the best striker in the world at that time. He took Cro Cop’s best shots, including a high kick to the head which opened up a nice cut on the side of Fedor’s head. Fedor barely flinched. Fedor won the fight be unanimous decision.

REMEMBER this when Fedor fought Cro Cop, Cro Cop was one of the best HWs in the world. By the time Cro Cop made it to the UFC he was NOT the same fighter. Fighter’s abilities wax and wane throughout their careers.

Think of where Mike Tyson was at the end of his career as compared to what he was during his hayday. Mike Tyson is a different fighter. It is irrational to compare the Cro Cop Fedor fought to the Cro Cop Kongo fought. It just does not make sense because Cro Cop was a different fighter, when you look at his ability.

MANIA!!!!!!!!!!

I JUST READ A HORRIBLE ARTICLE STATING THAT RANDY IS LEAVING THE UFC!!

PLEASE SAY IT ISN’T SO!!!!

http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=5085

Ragnar -

I respect that you embrace your Viking heritage by creating a username that references the most vicious Viking in history.

Fedor is #1. He makes similar statements about all of his opponents. Watch the pre fight interview for the Fedor v. Big Nog #1. Fedor admits that he is not the best fighter and that Big Nog is #1.

As far as Couture is concerned, Fedor probably respects him more than any other fighter. Fedor has admitted to strengthen his ability by watching Couture game plan. Fedor has since implemented similar pre fight game planning that Couture so expertly executes.

I do NOT buy, for one second, that Fedor fears any fighter in the world. Fedor has never back down and has always fought the best talent. It seems to me that UFC fundamentalists have somewhat of inferiority complex. THE UFC is the best and if you do NOT agree then you are an idiot. Fuck that shit! The UFC hasn’t sign a multitude of top fighters see my prior post.

Obviously, I will be supporting Fedor. May be the American Organization is HDNET and Mark Cuban is making a move similar to the NFC merger! That would be trump tight. We’ll have to wait and see. STOP SPECULATING!!!!!

I can imagine it already.

UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy “The Natural” Couture quits UFC and joins M1 to face his nemesis, PRIDE Champion, the undefeated Russian Experiment, Fedor Emelianenko. Couture says it is his last chance at this point of his career to face the best of the best. It is all about honour and to be The Best. – Screw the money.

That would be a nice American story

WAR COUTURE!

iwonder how long it will be before zuffa strips him of his pride belt. they own it. he is no longer the pride hw champ, pride doesnt even exist anymore. RAGNARR i just read your link and cant beleive it either. i say its not true.

Well Rampage has been the only success story for the Pride fighters transitiong to the UFC. I do agree with the rest of what your wrote. Wandy still needs to fight though. I suspect he will do better then everyone else, considering he has already seen some degree of success in the UFC.[/quote]

Umm…Anderson Silva? I’m not trying to argue Pride vs. UFC but hey, former Pride fighters hold 2 out of 5 belts. Pride is dead anyway, why bother with that tired arguement anymore.

As for Fedor, it’s disappointing but I can’t blame fighters for not wanting to fight for Dana White. Look at the popularity of MMA compared to boxing, yet MMA fighters pretty much get hosed in comparison with what they get paid. These fighters have a great impact on the growing popularity of MMA, UFC ownership shouldn’t be the only one making some sick bank.

Ragnar -

I respect that you embrace your Viking heritage by creating a username that references the most vicious Viking in history.

Fedor is #1. He makes similar statements about all of his opponents. Watch the pre fight interview for the Fedor v. Big Nog #1. Fedor admits that he is not the best fighter and that Big Nog is #1.

As far as Couture is concerned, Fedor probably respects him more than any other fighter. Fedor has admitted to strengthen his ability by watching Couture game plan. Fedor has since implemented similar pre fight game planning that Couture so expertly executes.

I do NOT buy, for one second, that Fedor fears any fighter in the world. Fedor has never back down and has always fought the best talent. It seems to me that UFC fundamentalists have somewhat of inferiority complex. THE UFC is the best and if you do NOT agree then you are an idiot. Fuck that shit! The UFC hasn’t sign a multitude of top fighters see my prior post.

Obviously, I will be supporting Fedor. May be the American Organization is HDNET and Mark Cuban is making a move similar to the NFC merger! That would be trump tight. We’ll have to wait and see. STOP SPECULATING!!!!!

Thanks Truth, I will admit though I am a poser, I do not come from viking heritage, I just enjoy the history a bit. Besides the name is cool.

As for your comments, your certainly right, I am going off of my impression of the situation, which could be wrong. I just put myself in Fedors shoes for a minute, if I am the greatest fighter in PrideFC history, and Randy is the Greatest HW in UFC history, I would do everything in my power to fight Randy and see who is the #1 fighter between the two largest and best MMA orgs ever. Especially since Pride is gone now.

Well with the recent news of Randy leaving the UFC, maybe he will sign a deal with M1 and we will get to see this fight. Wouldn’t that be a slap in Dana’s face eh?

maybee randy is chasing fedors butt to M1 to force a match w/him. does anyone know if M1 fights in a cage or a ring. i visited several other sights in the last few minutes, it looks like its true. i hope randy changes his mind, if not the ufc better get A.A. signed.

MANIA!!!!!!!!!!
I JUST READ A HORRIBLE ARTICLE STATING THAT RANDY IS LEAVING THE UFC!!
PLEASE SAY IT ISN’T SO!!!!
http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=5085

I am sitting at my desk crying.

Did Dana F’ing White know this? He must have. I’m sure Randy told him that if he doesn’t sign Fedor, he would leave or retire because he has nothing left to prove. So, even knowing this, Dana did not get the deal done with Fedor.

This is BY FAR THE WORST NEWS IN THE HISTORY OF THE UFC!!!!!!

Watch the fights in Pride and tell me Fedor didn’t have ample opportunity to finish Big Nog in either fight and Cro Cop, but chose not to do so.

Big Nog #1 was all about proving that he is the best fighter. He won a unanimous decision by demonstrating the most destructive ground and pound even seen. After he inflicted that much damage in the first round he could have stood up and finished it. He didn’t because fucking him up for another two rounds would show how dominant he really is.

Big Nog #2 was all about proving that the first fight was a fluke. He put Big Nog on his back 4 – 5 times in the first round from crushing right hands. Then Fedor proceeded to let Big Nog recover so that he could take him apart for another two rounds. Are you starting to see the pattern emurge?

Let me point out the Big Nog has oneof the toughest chins in the business. This is evidenced in the fact that “NO ONE” has been able to KO Big Nog.

Fedor v. Cro Cop was all about proving that he can strike witht the best striker in the world at that time. He took Cro Cop’s best shots, including a high kick to the head which opened up a nice cut on the side of Fedor’s head. Fedor barely flinched. Fedor won the fight be unanimous decision.

REMEMBER this when Fedor fought Cro Cop, Cro Cop was one of the best HWs in the world. By the time Cro Cop made it to the UFC he was NOT the same fighter. Fighter’s abilities wax and wane throughout their careers.

Think of where Mike Tyson was at the end of his career as compared to what he was during his hayday. Mike Tyson is a different fighter. It is irrational to compare the Cro Cop Fedor fought to the Cro Cop Kongo fought. It just does not make sense because Cro Cop was a different fighter, when you look at his ability.

Who the hell has ample oppurtunities to finish a fight, but chooses to win by a lackluster decision. The rest of the post is feasible, but comeon, ample oppurtunities to finish afight but chooses not to. And cro cop beat wanderlei silva and josh barnett in the same day just a year ago, how much can he have possibly changed as a fighter. The only thing that changed is the level of competition. gonzaga would have done the same thing to Fedor, that he did to cro cop. That’s why Gonzaga is UFC and Fedor is M-1, or what used to be known as m-1 or whatever the case may be.

The signs of great management…

1. Chasing out the face of your organization, who is currently holding the most sought after title in MMA.

2. Make sure not to sign the top contender for that title, so the champion can cite that as the cause of his retirement.

Dana White and the rest of the gang are brilliant, simply brilliant. “IF” the letter is true, it would indicate even Couture hates the UFC management because he is tired of fighting with them.

I really hope Couture’s retirement is internet bullshit.

FEDOR v. COUTURE…

MARK CUBAN, MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!!!!

James S = Typical UFC Fundamentalist.

If Fedor would have knocked them both out, you would claim that both KOs were flukes. Whatever makes you sleep better at night, I guess. WATCH THE FIGHTS and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Especially, Fedor v. Big Nog #2. Fedor simply executs his game plans to perfect.

Since when is a unanimous decision “lackluster?”

Umm…Anderson Silva? I’m not trying to argue Pride vs. UFC but hey, former Pride fighters hold 2 out of 5 belts. Pride is dead anyway, why bother with that tired arguement anymore.

As for Fedor, it’s disappointing but I can’t blame fighters for not wanting to fight for Dana White. Look at the popularity of MMA compared to boxing, yet MMA fighters pretty much get hosed in comparison with what they get paid. These fighters have a great impact on the growing popularity of MMA, UFC ownership shouldn’t be the only one making some sick bank.

I was going to mention Silva but the reason I did not and that was a big reason for Silvas Succesful transition is he came from a King of the cage, where I do believe he fought the majority of his pro fights….Not arguing thoug just strictly speaking of smooth transitions into the UFC. As far as Fedor vs Couture and integrity and being a fighter. I can not believe that any real MMA fighter, martial artists, or boxer that fights profesional, would not want to fight who is considered consider the best. Maybe he does not fear Couture, but does he Fear blemesishing the “Undefeated MYstical” jeno se qua or special something that is and drives Fedor and the MMa community to believe he is #1.

James S = Typical UFC Fundamentalist.

If Fedor would have knocked them both out, you would claim that both KOs were flukes. Whatever makes you sleep better at night, I guess. WATCH THE FIGHTS and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Especially, Fedor v. Big Nog #2. Fedor simply executs his game plans to perfect.

Erroneous on all counts. I am not a UFC fundamentalist. A knockout is a win, not a fluke. I love fedor, just believe his competition was weak at best. Cro Cop and Nog are arguably the best competition he ever faced. They are not great. I could say you are a typical fedor Nuthugger. If fedor is the best he would fight the best. But reading dana’s comments about Randy retiring I’m understanding fedor’s reason for not signing with the UFC. Still he is not the best fighter in the world. At 44 that title belongs to randy followed by Anderson Silva, Fedor can have third, just to humor you, but there are better fighters than Fedor.

I hope he loses.

What a shit show. Fedor will be fighting Mike Tyson, that is how ridicules this is.

I am not a UFC fundamentalist. A knockout is a win, not a fluke. I love fedor, just believe his competition was weak at best. Cro Cop and Nog are arguably the best competition he ever faced. They are not great.

Then who is great enough? AA? Sylvia? Monson? or maybe Tank Abbott? Kimbo? Lesnar? Big Show? Now when Randy is gone, Nog will submit all UFC heavyweights.

Then who is great enough? AA? Sylvia? Monson? or maybe Tank Abbott? Kimbo? Lesnar? Big Show? Now when Randy is gone, Nog will submit all UFC heavyweights.

It will be interesting to see Big nog and Gonzaga Roll. I would imagine he has to come back in to the picture since he was the last title holder…

Then who is great enough? AA? Sylvia? Monson? or maybe Tank Abbott? Kimbo? Lesnar? Big Show? Now when Randy is gone, Nog will submit all UFC heavyweights.[/quote]

It will be interesting to see Big nog and Gonzaga Roll. I would imagine he has to come back in to the picture since he was the last title holder…[/quote]

Are you stupid? Gonzaga never held the belt you idiot. Maybe you should stick with the WWE.

FEDOR says that he didn’t want to fight Randy because they could be friends. Are you fucked? That sounds a lot like an excuse to me. He is so affraid of getting his ass handed to him in the UFC just like so many of the Pride bitches. The wrestling talent in the UFC is sick. He knows he can’t out grapple them all. Russian Cyborg my ass. Straight Punk Bitch should be this guys monacher. Keep ducking the actual talent out there. Jake O’Brien would beat this guy. Your ground and pound would be useless against guys with superior wrestling in the cage. This guy signing with this shit company should drop him out of #1 ranking. Who the hell is he going to fight there? More Japanese Pro wrestlers.

Massive Fedor fan and favored PRIDE fighters (sorry) but love the sport and this is BAD. apparently M1 is a new Russian organisation organised through his manager!I say drop that twat and face the big boys in the UFC to prove your the champ!

Got my hopes up for nothing now Couture has retired there is no no.1 ……..

Read the REAL truth. Couture not retiring he’s tired of that pussy Dana White’s shit.

http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=5096

He’ll go sign with M-1 to fight Fedor.

More truth to Fedor not signing. You all need to stop bashing Fedor until you have the TRUTH:

http://www.mmafighting.com/articles/rousseau/2007/fedor_emelianenko_to_m1.html

It’s not that it’s any secret why the UFC deal fell through. After all, the problems with negotiations were pretty well known. In fact, Finkelstein aptly noted them in that same July interview.

“The problem is that Fedor is the face of Combat Sambo in Russia,” he said. "His popularity is at a level where he is acquainted with president Putin himself, in part because he is so successful and well known for Combat Sambo here.

Combat Sambo is a Russian sport that’s not at a level of difficulty of MMA, but is hugely popular with our public. Fedor must represent Russia in Combat Sambo and at world championships, specifically the ones coming up in September. All we want him to do is compete something like once a year in Combat Sambo. But the UFC is not happy with that."

In other words, the UFC always asks for exclusivity. Fedor’s strong native ties would apparently not allow him to turn his back on his homeland, particularly as he is the face of Combat Sambo there. Thus, both lost out.

So here’s a question now that Fedor has been signed. Who is this organization that’s signed him?

RESIGNATION

 
By Jack Encarnacao

It is quite a twist that the UFC has fought tooth-and-nail the last seven years to attract mainstream media attention, yet one of the biggest frenzies to date is centered on losing one of its top stars.

In an unexpected move, Randy Couture resigned from all professional association with the promotion yesterday, which included two contracted fights, an on-camera analyst’s position, and his heavyweight crown.

UFC president Dana White tagged Couture’s decision a “retirement,” citing the 44-year-old’s departure from the sport in 2006 before returning in March 2007 to reclaim the heavyweight title from lumbering 6-foot-8, 265-pound Tim Sylvia.

“It’s not a retirement,” said Couture Friday, who also works as on-air analyst and ambassador for The Fight Network. “It’s a resignation from the UFC organization.”

Couture would not elaborate on his future plans, though he’s currently on the movie set for “The Scorpion King — Rise of the Akkadian” in South Africa, of which he has a lead role. Tucked away from the Internet uproar, the soft-spoken fighter seemed unaware of the commotion his defection has caused. “You know I’m not much for talking,” he said. “I let my actions speak louder.”

The news of Couture’s move has created a flurry of analysis and questions in the MMA community, and has made a splash in the larger sports media. ESPN, Sports Illustrated, MSN, the Associated Press and Yahoo! all treated the move as a top story on their websites Thursday alongside major league baseball playoff stories coverage and the latest Britney Spears tidbits.

White, for one, has tried to downplay his promotion’s greatest exit to date.
“This is just another day in my life,” White told Yahoo! Sports Kevin Iole. “Believe me, as much as I would like to be promoting another Couture fight, it’s not the news that is going to kill the UFC.”

The quintessential favorite and a figure credited with professionalizing mixed martial arts to the highest degree, Couture (16-8) is beloved in all circles, something that even the sometimes abrasive White understands.

“I’m sure Randy Couture and I are gonna be friends for a long time,” White said in an interview with UFC’s Thomas Gerbasi published on UFC.com. “Randy Couture is a guy who I’ve said publicly a million times and I’ll say publicly right now who I feel is one of the guys who helped us get here.”

White’s praise hasn’t extended to Couture’s confidantes though, which includes Couture’s agent Matt Walker, of the Los Angeles-based Gersh Agency.

“He hooked up with some Hollywood agent that I bitch slapped about a month ago, and these Hollywood agents are parasites, so unfortunately this guy is probably in Randy’s ear right now,” White said. “Apparently Randy’s upset about something, and the timing of this thing is a typical Hollywood agent move while Randy’s out of town.”

Couture says White’s reaction is typical of the problematic attitude the athlete shunned yesterday.

“He doesn’t respect anybody unless he controls them,” said Couture. “Disrespecting my agent Matt is insulting to me because it says I’m not intelligent enough to make a decision on my own or surround myself with quality people. It’s all about respect, something they’ve never given me or anyone representing me.”

Couture has had superlatives heaped on him since May 1997, when he first stepped into the Octagon an unknown wrestler four times shy in his bid to reach the Olympics. Defying the odds became his specialty. In 2003, at the age of 40, he dropped to light heavyweight and toppled Chuck Liddell in what was at the time one of the bigger upsets in the company’s history.

His fight against Sylvia in March drew the largest paying live crowd yet to see mixed martial arts in the United States, and the prospect of the 44-year-old battling mother nature and the odds in title defenses to come almost guaranteed lucrative pay-per-view cards.

For such a commodity any fight promotion would clamor to acquire, White told Yahoo’s Iole he never said no to anything Couture wanted to do. Couture doesn’t agree.

“If he had given me everything I wanted, we wouldn’t be where we are today, now would we?”

WOW, TALK ABOUT RESENTMENT TOWARDS FEDOR CAUSE HES NOT SIGNING WITH THE UFC. NOW THAT randy has left the ufc, that should tell people, that ufc doesn’t treat its fighters fairly and doesn’t pay them anything. please, ur going to say that randy couture is the #1 heavyweight in the world, ummm, wasn’t it just a short while ago, he was knocked out twice by chuck lidell?????. so, he beat tim sylvia, u gotta be kidding me, right, that guy is a be bum. all he is is a boxer. what else does he do? then he beat a guy whos only had 7 pro fights. Gonzaga. yes he beat a washed up crocop. anyone who knows anything about mma, knows, that thats not the same cro cop that competed in pride. he would have destroyed check kongo a few years, are u kidding me or what. how many times has randy lost? how many times has Fedor lost? and how could nog, be ever cosidered top heavyweight, fedor destroyed him twice. randy got his ass kicked a few years back by Chris barnett. and in my opinion, fedor would destroy barnett. i woiuld say that pride fighters coming over to ufc are this way: 2 fighters have done really well (Anderson silva, rampage jackson.) lets all remember one thing, nobody has beaten Fedor, nobody. we all know that his one loss wasn’t a loss. and randy has lost numerous times. and not years ago either, lidell knocked him out senseless, and fedor hits twice as hard as lidell does.

WOW, TALK ABOUT RESENTMENT TOWARDS FEDOR CAUSE HES NOT SIGNING WITH THE UFC. NOW THAT randy has left the ufc, that should tell people, that ufc doesn’t treat its fighters fairly and doesn’t pay them anything. please, ur going to say that randy couture is the #1 heavyweight in the world, ummm, wasn’t it just a short while ago, he was knocked out twice by chuck lidell?????. so, he beat tim sylvia, u gotta be kidding me, right, that guy is a be bum. all he is is a boxer. what else does he do? then he beat a guy whos only had 7 pro fights. Gonzaga. yes he beat a washed up crocop. anyone who knows anything about mma, knows, that thats not the same cro cop that competed in pride. he would have destroyed check kongo a few years, are u kidding me or what. how many times has randy lost? how many times has Fedor lost? and how could nog, be ever cosidered top heavyweight, fedor destroyed him twice. randy got his ass kicked a few years back by Chris barnett. and in my opinion, fedor would destroy barnett. i woiuld say that pride fighters coming over to ufc are this way: 2 fighters have done really well (Anderson silva, rampage jackson.) lets all remember one thing, nobody has beaten Fedor, nobody. we all know that his one loss wasn’t a loss. and randy has lost numerous times. and not years ago either, lidell knocked him out senseless, and fedor hits twice as hard as lidell does.

who else has he fought? One or two decent fighters. Couldn’t finish Cro Cop. He got punked in the UFC. Face facts dude, Fedor would get crushed by Randy. Every fighter has someone out there that has there number. Your right no one has beaten Fedor. But who has he beaten. Nog, and he couldn’t finish him. Now he will go fight nobodys to make sure it stays that way.

YEAH GUYS, WE ARE ALL HURT WITH ALL THIS BULLSHIT. BUT DONT LET THIS SAY CRAZY THINGS LIKE “FEDOR IS AFRAID” COME ON!!
WE REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT MESSING W THE UFC MEANS. I’VE HEARD THAT THE UFC LIKE TO HAVE THE FIGHTERS HAS PRISONERS. FOR EXAMPLE.. FEDOR MAN. HE LIKES TO MOVE AROUND, WE ALL KNOW THAT. BODOG, PRIDE ETC, HE ALWAYS DID. NOW HE HAS THE UFC IN FRONT OF HIM TELLING HIM THAT HE HAS TO ASK FOR PERMISION TO GO AND TAKE A SHIT? FUCK DANA AND HIS POLITICS, HE MESSED UP.

LMAO at most of these comments. First, a general statement about the Pride fighters who have not had success in the UFC…hate to break it to you guys, but Shogun fought Forrest Griffin with a torn ACL…all the athletes out there who didn’t know that just gasped because we understand how debilitating an injury that is…that is why shogun was trying to take the fight to the ground instead of destroying griffin with his sick muay thai like we all expected (it also explains why he gassed in the first round…he couldnt train cardio for a month before the fight because he couldn’t run or jump on that leg.) As for crocop, I think his best days are behind him. Fedor showed the world how to beat crocop (circle away from his left leg and bring the action to him…take him down if he starts landing straight lefts) and gonzaga definitely watched that tape (he sure as hell noticed that his left arm hangs low.) Couture is a super smart, well conditioned fighter. He comes out with a great game plan and he is tough to beat without finishing him, like Liddell did, twice. However, someone who really thinks Randy would have destroyed Fedor is off their rocker. Fedor doesn’t throw single punches like Gonzaga…he is much better at throwing in combinations. His power is sick…both punching and from the clinch. I think Randy’s game plan, whatever it would be, would end with the ref pulling Fedor off of him. He is just a much more complete fighter than anyone in the world and he is not scared to fight anyone in the UFC. His decision to go to M-1 has to do with the contract terms (fight deals for his teammates and Fedor being allowed to wrestle in the Russian and world Sambo championships.)

YEAH GUYS, WE ARE ALL HURT WITH ALL THIS BULLSHIT. BUT DONT LET THIS SAY CRAZY THINGS LIKE “FEDOR IS AFRAID” COME ON!!
WE REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT MESSING W THE UFC MEANS. I’VE HEARD THAT THE UFC LIKE TO HAVE THE FIGHTERS HAS PRISONERS. FOR EXAMPLE.. FEDOR MAN. HE LIKES TO MOVE AROUND, WE ALL KNOW THAT. BODOG, PRIDE ETC, HE ALWAYS DID. NOW HE HAS THE UFC IN FRONT OF HIM TELLING HIM THAT HE HAS TO ASK FOR PERMISION TO GO AND TAKE A SHIT? FUCK DANA AND HIS POLITICS, HE MESSED UP.

He fought in Bodog because pride had no future shows. He is afraid to blemmish his record. Sambo tourny’s aside, why then does he not want to test himself against the best as opposed to pussies. If he doesn’t want to be a “prisoners” then sign a one fight contract like they did for Royce Gracie. He knows that he can’t take down Couture and that he would be worked like a part time job.

Fedor can fight who/where he wants. No matter where he fights it will be a show. Who wants to be involved in UFC anyway? It’s garbage. Dana White is garbage. Pride was awesome, I look forward to M1.

Hey, Im russian and I wached a interview with fedor and some russian dude. Anyways he said the reason he is not fighting in the ufc is because UFC DOESNT have the high caliber fighters that pride has. Think about it. Everybody thought Chuck liddel was god in ufc AND he got raped by rampage from PRIDE 2 times. RAPED, go wach them two fights. DESTROYED!… now Fedor raped rampage. so.. think abou it…His a champion in pride…his not gonna go do some UFC ROCKSTAR shit vs shitty opponents. Randy is a good fighter, I love him, and It would have been an awsome fight to wach. But I think fedor would win. As much of a good fighter Randy is, his just a little old. Fedor would overpower him and just beat him down.

Fedor’s contract includes a clause that allows M1 to offer Randy Couture $1 mil more than what UFC would put on the table, just to fight Fedor. Look deeper and you will see that is likely the reason why Randy is resigning… not retiring from the UFC. He is leaving UFC to cash in on a fight with Fedor at M1. A further validation of his intent is the fact that Randy has been complaining about how much he receives per fight.

Finally, it is ridiculous to think that Fedor is afraid of the competition in the UFC. It was Fedor who challenged Tim Silvia when they were both champions only to have the UFC say no. I often read on blogs like this referencing how Pride fighters are not as good. Keep in mind that Rampage was a Pride fighter for years before he left for a very brief time to a smaller organization, where he was then picked up by the UFC. Rampage is a product of Pride and he stepped into the cage with the best the UFC had to offer and KNOCKED OUT the Iceman. Not enough proof? How about Anderson Silva? Two of his last three losses were at Pride. Immediately following his defeat in Pride, he went to yet a different venue and then to the UFC where he continues to maul his opponents.

As for Shogun. It wasn’t his skills (or what some may claim the lack thereof) nor was it Forrest’s fighting abilities that handed him a loss. It was Shogun’s own lack of cardio training. Anyone who watched the fight could see that Shogun lost because he ran out of gas after the first 3-4 minutes. He simply did not prepare well for the fight.

Back to Fedor… He doesn’t have to prove he’s the best. He has already done so. As the long time champion, he has earned the right to decide on his career and it doesn’t make him a coward or any less of a fighter. Bottom line is, wait until Fedor and Randy meet up. Then we’ll see who the best in the world is. My bet is on Fedor.

fedor took for ever to get a win over crocop, kongo and gonzagas did him in good.
fedors sloppy style would lose to couture

[quote comment=“172404”]this is awful. Why M-1? Fear of competition? I think so.

Fedor will kill anyone currently fighting in UFC including Congo and anyone else.Anyone who thinks differently simply has not been watching. This guy has only been slightly challenged twice and still won. If you think i am wrong i am willing to put my money were my mouth is.

heres the thing that everyone is forgeting fedor started in sambo tourtements and that is what he loves to do dana white the cocky, shady piece of shit that he is told fedors people that he would nolonger be able to fight in those tourtemnts if he signed to the ufc. which in my opion is a good thing cause as of late, dana has turned the ufc into professionl fucking wrestling its to bad that they bought pride.

and one more thing if you were a fighter and you had one guy tellin you that he will pay you 2 million a fight and another tellin you that he will pay you 10 million a fight wehere the hell would you be going has nothing to do with comp thats alot of cash man. And im not sure but i hear that out side the U.S. M1 will be using pride rules and that is what he is used to

on his own website there is a picture of his next opponent does any one know who hes fighting

look all i can say is i watch ufc and find it is the most professional out of all the fighting organizations. quality fight cards, good presentation, oh and lets not forget they have a huge roster of quality fighters which is continuing to grow. Ive never felt that any of the fights were rigged like some people have said, thats just silly. If fighters like fedor dont join its ok, there are plenty of other great fighters who may even be better than fedor that dont cost $10 million. The light heavy division alone has some of the deadliest strikers, and submission experts in the world. In fact i think the top ten light heavys are in the ufc. Also have u noticed when big names come from elsewhere and get in the cage the ufc guys stomp them, like randleman vs liddell,hua griffin or better yet gonzaga vs cro cop, who lets not forget after knockin the living shit out of cro cop got his arse beat the fuck up by randy couture. I think ufc is the premium brand and in order to be recognised as the best u have to fight the best, you are only as good as the opponents youve beaten. Hes either ducking randy and the ufc cos he knows he wont survive there or he is just really stupid and cant see that if he joined the ufc and became champion there would be no questioning his pedigree. who cares about more money if people think your a bitch whos ducking the best! randy couture has lost a few times but the majority of his fights have been against quality opponents in championship fights (5 rounds)and the guy just seems to get better with age…… in short fedor is scared of a 43 year old man, but so am i!

Fedor scared? Fedor looking for ez opponents? Look at the list of people he beat…including Noguera which will soon become the new ufc no.1.Who thinks that if Lindland would have got his takedown, he would have finished Fedor is a fool of course !!That fight was 100% dominated by Fedor.Lindland even said: my elbow popped and crackelled, I never had that happen to me…
Couture is fed up with ufc too, so the 2 best fighters in the world will not fight in the ufc, which makes the ufc heavyweightcircuit meaningless…
So let the ufc fighters come to M1 to try and beat the best, after they practiced a little in the ufc ( second league )!!

A fighter that was scared and picking his oponents was of course your ´hero´the iceman…and that is supposed to be a legend.. whahahahhaha…

If the ufc wants to be the best organisation, they should change the rules quickly,allowing kicking, stamping, kneeing grounded oponents, they still have the girl´s rules…Pride was a lot more exiting to watch.. By the way, the only fighter that got crippled or even died was in the ufc, Tra Telligman.. They kept that out of the news of course…And Dana White talks to much shit anyway.What about his fight against Ortiz, the boxingmatch? He got scared, made some excuses, and we never heard anything of it again… Pussy…

UFC was a cool organisation untill they erased PRIDE, I hate them for that !!

He is number 1 and will always be number one. He’s is getting paid way more and has a stake in the new company. He’s not young anymore so he has to think about his future after he’s done whupping everyone’s ass!