Does Strikeforce need Fedor Emelianenko to take the next step as a promotion?
by Geno Mrosko on Dec 22, 2010 1:54 AM EST
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Not according to the head of the company:
"Do we need him to take the next step? I would say no. But was it a good move for the company? I would say yeah because he's a guy that will move the needle. When you're a promoter, these are the four things I look for: Do you have drawing power at the gate? Do you move the needle for TV ratings? Can you obtain media? Are you going to be able to create the buzz for a big event? Fedor does all those things. He moves the needle in the TV ratings, for sure. He moves the needle as far as the gate goes. I personally think that next year (2011) will be a big step for him even though he's been fighting for such a long time and you and I know him, I used to watch him fight in PRIDE back in Japan when I was working in K-1, so the guys a legend in the sport but a lot of the everyday fans here don't know who he is yet. So, by the end of 2011, people will know who Fedor Emelianenko is here in America."
In an interview with MMAFighting.com, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker lets it be known that while he enjoys having Fedor Emelianenko on the roster, he doesn't believe he needs him for the goals he has set forth for his organization. Sure, the legendary heavyweight "moves the needle," but does his perceived lack of exposure in the U.S. hurt his value? "The Last Emperor" suffered his first loss in 29 fights back in June and negotiations to get him back in the cage are ongoing. According to Coker though, once the wily Russian does return, he'll be putting himself on the map -- if they can come to an agreement regarding his contract. However, the question remains -- has (arguably) the greatest fighter of all time become expendable?
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He wont be popular on a huge scale because unless you are hardcore mma you will never of heard of strikeforce …FACT!! An example is my friends here in Scotland, they are just getting to grips with the ufc, they know nothing of strikeforce!
Strikeforce will be fine either way, but fedor needs for his ‘Greatest ever’ status, to get that ass in the ufc and start fighting the best, because the reem will be in the ufc soon enough!
Coker and his statements...
Coker feels the rankings are unjustified because Werdum beat Fedor so he thinks he should be #1. What he doesn't realize is that Fedor was only considered #1 for the fact that there was no clear cut stand out in the UFC's HW division at that time and with Fedor ducking top competition the rankings still must be set. Someone had to be placed in that #1 spot so because of this and of his longevity he stayed there from his Pride days. The guy had not proved he was still the #1 HW since those days when he's not facing top 5 guys unlike other #1 ranked fighters in their divisions who clean them out.
EXACT OPPOSITE
Strikeforce needs to drop Fedor to take it to the next step.
Quit wasting time and energy
Just because he will go down as the greatest in history
Doesnt mean he is right now
I want to fuck.... I want tooo fight, with Chuck...here. FUCK CHUCK! - Wanderlei Silva
I'm from Scotland too and not a lot of people ...
have heard of Strijeforce. The UFC yes, it’s the famous mma brand and it’s got a large following here. Personally I was a fan of mma before ufc got big. I used to watch vale tudo and was a big fan of Pride (best organisation in my opinion) so the real fans of mma will be the only ones going ape when Fedor signs with either promotion, either way.
"In the future, I will fight my clone!" - Anderson Silva, Fan Expo 2010.
"Fedor would kill Brock" - the voice in Dana's head.
by The Grecian Glaswegian on Dec 22, 2010 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
First off.
Fedor is not a draw, Strikerdave and John G. might argue that even though it’s not a knock on him at all it’s just the truth. Second, The greatest of all time is a guy who loves to Axe Murder his opponents.
So glad we don't have to see James Toney's fatass anymore.
War Wanderlei and Fedor!!
What I like about both fighters is the excitement both their styles bring! If you like them or not you have to respect their relentless style and animal instict they keep you on the edge of your seat no matter who they’re fighting. Also people will bash Fedor because of his fans but really I only see about few fans here and there building him up as God-like nowadays. A couple years ago yes there were a lot more. Today id say GSP fans are the more annoying fans hahaha!
by Samoans.dont.need.horsemeat on Dec 22, 2010 3:36 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I agree, he isn't a draw and doubt he ever will be outside the UFC.
Probably not inside the UFC either bc IMO he won’t win a lot of his fights there. Strikeforce doesn’t need Fedor, but Fedor needs them bc he doesn’t want to fight in the UFC.
Anderson Silva is by far the number one P4P king!!! Even when he is losing a fight he still comes back and finishes for the win! GSP dominates the whole fight and still can't finish! LOL
this is a dumb thread! Its like asking if micheal Jordan is good for the NBA, or is tiger woods good for golf!!
The GOD aka FEDOR is good for any organization in the world…
The world would go literally insane if he ever stepped foot in an octagon…..yet because a few clowns on this site dont agree with his career choices, you write him off!
willing to bet a UFC card with Fedor on it would BREAK RECORDS!!!!
Fedor does not have nearly the marketability of MJ or Tiger
Fedor is more like the Tim Duncan of MMA. Tim Duncan was the best player in the NBA for about 10 years, but he was never really that popular to the everyday person. Everybody knows who MJ or Tiger is. More people know about Tito Ortiz than Fedor. Those are just facts.
by Patrick Daryl on Dec 22, 2010 7:41 AM EST up reply actions
Ehh...only thing I don't like about this analogy is that Fedor is an exciting fighter. Duncan isn't an exciting player.
While I agree he doesn’t have mainstream appeal, with the UFC marketing him, I think he would become a legit draw.
"I'm not superstitious, but I am a little stitious."-Michael Scott
The UFC owns all the PRIDE highlight footage, and by running it on all their promotional shows they run leading up to PPVs they could easily make a lot more of the mainstream aware of just what a badass Fedor is. Strikeforce simply can’t do that.
Our lives change like the weather, but a legend never dies.
Depends on who he fights
He would need to have a top 5 fight right out of the gate. Maybe Cain or JDS (whoever doesn’t wold the belt), Carwin or even Mir or Big Country who aren’t top 5 fight but it would still be a solid match up. Fedor will beat any other HW currently in the UFC including Brock.
Plus, the UFC has a marketing machine and will hype the shit out of his debut.
Current MMA Record: 1-40-0
by CenturyCity90067 on Dec 22, 2010 8:52 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Both of you have piece of the picture.
Fedor vs a big name opposition would break records. That’s why at one point a Fedor-Brock Lesnar matchup was by far and away the biggest promotion opportunity period aside from mayweather pacquiao. But even in Pride Fedor didn’t really move the needle. Affliction proved that. As far as Fedor being good for a promotion – of course he’s good for a promotion that can put him in fights but all the contractual bs is crippling SF’s ability to put together matches. To the point where it’s forced to make convoluted matches with their other contenders and champions which devalues the title itself. So yes and no is really the answer. Next year will be a ton better than this and we will see the other side of the coin that is “having Fedor.” It’s either the whole thing turns into a gongshow like it did this year or it can potentially be awesome.
BIG NOG for Life
One Step closer to Gleison Tibau @ 145
If the round is too close, it's 10-10, NOT flip a coin 10-9 or late takedown FTW.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Dec 22, 2010 10:09 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
+1
Since 7/08: Fedor has fought 4, agreed to fight 5 times, Brock has fought 5, Cain has fought 6, Big Nog only 3, Mir has fought 5, Carwin has fought 4, Werdum has fought 4, JDS has fought in 6, Silva has fought in 6, and oddly, Overeem has been the HW workhorse fighting 7 MMA fights in that span (plus several k1). Theres the top ten. I love how people say that Fedor never fights...he is right on average with the rest to the top 10 in the HW division. Fanboy perception is wrong again...shocking.
@ JOHN G
he didnt seem to break records when he fought for affliction
by Nightmare83 on Dec 22, 2010 10:56 AM EST up reply actions
Apples vs. Oranges
That FREE Strikeforce card had more viewers than some UFC PPV’s, Think about that for a second.
by Patrick Daryl on Dec 22, 2010 7:42 AM EST up reply actions
It did better numbers than all UFC PPV's. Actually it did better numbers than the top 3 UFC PPV's ever combined.
However, you’re correct that it was free and it was on a major network.
"I'm not superstitious, but I am a little stitious."-Michael Scott
Casual fans here will know who he is...
Once Overeem caves in his skull.
Casual fans will get an awakening on Overroids if he ever fights in Cali, guaranteed it will never happen.
by Edgecrusher71 on Dec 22, 2010 10:07 AM EST up reply actions
i'm TOO IMPATIENT for strikeforce!
You know if strikeforce would put on a great show every month like UFC does then maybe they’d have more respect from MMA fans. But I’m tired of waiting once a year to watch Fedor fight.. Or once every few years to watch Overeem fight. UFC keeps giving the fans what they wanna see. EVERY MONTH! Coker talks wasy too much and needs to work on keeping up with the fans desires to watch their favorite fighters fight! I say shut the door on the open door policy. Its bullshit the way allistair was champion and hadn’t fought for years cause he was too busy fighting in other organizations. BULLSHIT!
by justanotherfightfan on Dec 22, 2010 4:11 AM EST via mobile reply actions
agreed
Maybe once a year strikeforce can even come up with enough fighters to even make a card, much less one with any actual talent on it
All of you chumps are gonna bow when i whoop him, all of ya, i know you got him, i know you got him picked... but the man's in trouble...i'm gonna show you how great i am - Muhammad Ali
by i hate jake shields on Dec 22, 2010 4:20 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
this is new....
Coker talking about Fedor in the future tense? That’s a first.
Coker better prepare to take the next step without Fedor
I think Fedor is closer to retirement than fighting after 2011.
Edson Barboza and Charles Oliveira are gonna stir up the pot at 155!
by robinhorobson on Dec 22, 2010 7:26 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Im sure this has been pointed out
Is it me or does M-1 and Fedor remind you of Drago and his manager from Rocky IV ?
Current MMA Record: 1-40-0
by CenturyCity90067 on Dec 22, 2010 8:58 AM EST via mobile reply actions
sick of this drama
i dont even f’in care anymore. make him fight or release him. jesus. same with overeem he is the champ make him fight. god this is what makes strikeforce #2. eventually it will fail and be absorbed by the ufc
Ha.
Sorry brother. BUT.. I could be doing a feature every Saturday night in the near future.. and it will be op-ed time. No promises though.
Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.
MMA Mania
by Geno Mrosko on Dec 22, 2010 10:58 AM EST up reply actions
It's not so bad.
Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.
MMA Mania
by Geno Mrosko on Dec 22, 2010 12:47 PM EST up reply actions
why do it on the weekend? It'll fall off the front page by the time everyone logs on monday.
also in the full video he keeps talking about fase 2, was that the grand prix announcement or something else?
"People say that marijuana smoking is going to get in the way of my career. I say to them that on the contrary, my fighting career is getting in the way of my marijuana smoking." -Nick Diaz
by DetroitDrew1980 on Dec 22, 2010 1:11 PM EST up reply actions
Weekends are my time, sir.
And right now, nobody has any reason to want to come to Mania on Saturday night. Well, I’m gonna give it to ’em.
Don’t want to speculate on what he meant. Have an idea but not sure.
Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.
MMA Mania
i understand that the weekends need something, i love that part,
but most of us have been begging for a few op-eds to be put up by you guys and it just seems odd that the weekdays won’t have any but the weekends will, at least fan post it so it has the opportunity to be rec’d and stay up longer…
"People say that marijuana smoking is going to get in the way of my career. I say to them that on the contrary, my fighting career is getting in the way of my marijuana smoking." -Nick Diaz
by DetroitDrew1980 on Dec 22, 2010 5:45 PM EST up reply actions
great quote from coker
“Do you have drawing power at the gate? Do you move the needle for TV ratings? Can you obtain media? Are you going to be able to create the buzz for a big event?”
Really? Nothing about being able to actually fight? Isn’t that up there in importance? Say #1?
This is the type of mentality that saw Kimbo Slice maineventing….
i noticed that too...
"People say that marijuana smoking is going to get in the way of my career. I say to them that on the contrary, my fighting career is getting in the way of my marijuana smoking." -Nick Diaz
by DetroitDrew1980 on Dec 22, 2010 1:12 PM EST up reply actions
who is this guy?
is he like a fighter or something?
never have any regrets, because at the time, thats all you wanted to do
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