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THE FEDOR-STRIKEFORCE DEAL; UFC COMMENTS (UPDATED)
Monday, August 03, 2009 - by Steven Marrocco - MMAWeekly.com
Joost Raimond, Chief Operating Officer for M-1 Global, said the deal to sign Fedor Emelianenko to Strikeforce was completed Monday morning, just before a press release was sent to media outlets. Details of the agreement were finalized in recent days.
Emelianenko, the top-ranked heavyweight fighter in the world, will make his debut for the San Jose, Calif., based promotion sometime in the fall, his first time fighting inside a cage. Strikeforce Director of Communications Mike Afromowitz told MMAWeekly.com that Emelianenko is contracted for three fights.
The news came as an abrupt about-face to earlier reports that Emelianenko and his team were in the process of fielding offers from multiple promotions, including a lucrative proposal from the UFC, which clamored for the Russians services last week.
UFC president Dana White had just landed in the United Arab Emirates for the 2009 Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling Championships when he heard the news.
"Fedor is a fucking joke, he turns down a huge deal and the opportunity to face the best in the world to fight nobodies for no money!" White commented to MMAWeekly.com via email through a UFC representative.
"I feel sorry for the real fight fans. I wanted to make the deal, but it takes two and it is VERY obvious Fedor doesn't want to fight the best, and doesn't give a fuck about the fans," added the brash UFC executive.
Raimond said Strikeforce met M-1 Globals chief demand to co-promote events which Emelianenko fought on.
It was a good opportunity, said Raimond. (The co-promotion) is a substantial part. The whole set-up for the deal is to have co-promotion partners, and of course, Fedor is an important part of that construction. But the co-promotion deal is of great importance.
Raimond declined to say whether the financial side of Emelianenkos deal with Strikeforce was comparable or better to other offers.
All the assumptions flying around about the offer are assumptions made by various people, and are quite unsubstantiated, he said. The financials behind his deal are based on a large number of factors, which include the co-promotion and co-branding activities, and Fedor is a part of that total deal.
When asked whether Emelianenko would fight on CBS this fall, Raimond said, It would seem that way, yes.
However, he amended his statement shortly after.
The timing for that cannot be confirmed, he continued. But of course, because of the broadcasting deals Strikeforce has, these things all become very possible.
Kelly Kahl, Senior Executive Vice President for CBS Primetime TV, said he wouldnt rule out a Strikeforce show on CBS late this year. He said his network had no direct hand in the Emelianenko deal, but stood to gain from it with options the network held to broadcast Strikeforce events.
This was, quite frankly, a straight Strikeforce deal, he said. I dont believe anything was represented on the part of CBS. Strikeforce and, I would assume, Showtime, get all the credit.
In the press release issued Monday morning, Strikeforce stated Emelianenkos first fight would be broadcast on Showtime. Afromowitz said a press conference announcing details on the new relationship was forthcoming.
Raimond said the new deal included plans to co-promote shows with Strikeforce overseas in Europe, where M-1 has conducted most of its shows. He said other M-1 fighters were Strikeforce bound as well, but did not name any names.
We have a much more international view on the entire business, and Strikeforce is very U.S. domestic oriented, and we have always been much more internationally minded.
Emelianenko, who returned to Russia Wednesday following a press conference in Anaheim, Calif., said he was happy to have a home again.
I am looking forward to going back to work and fighting at the highest level, he said.
Monday, August 03, 2009 - by Steven Marrocco - MMAWeekly.com
Joost Raimond, Chief Operating Officer for M-1 Global, said the deal to sign Fedor Emelianenko to Strikeforce was completed Monday morning, just before a press release was sent to media outlets. Details of the agreement were finalized in recent days.
Emelianenko, the top-ranked heavyweight fighter in the world, will make his debut for the San Jose, Calif., based promotion sometime in the fall, his first time fighting inside a cage. Strikeforce Director of Communications Mike Afromowitz told MMAWeekly.com that Emelianenko is contracted for three fights.
The news came as an abrupt about-face to earlier reports that Emelianenko and his team were in the process of fielding offers from multiple promotions, including a lucrative proposal from the UFC, which clamored for the Russians services last week.
UFC president Dana White had just landed in the United Arab Emirates for the 2009 Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling Championships when he heard the news.
"Fedor is a fucking joke, he turns down a huge deal and the opportunity to face the best in the world to fight nobodies for no money!" White commented to MMAWeekly.com via email through a UFC representative.
"I feel sorry for the real fight fans. I wanted to make the deal, but it takes two and it is VERY obvious Fedor doesn't want to fight the best, and doesn't give a fuck about the fans," added the brash UFC executive.
Raimond said Strikeforce met M-1 Globals chief demand to co-promote events which Emelianenko fought on.
It was a good opportunity, said Raimond. (The co-promotion) is a substantial part. The whole set-up for the deal is to have co-promotion partners, and of course, Fedor is an important part of that construction. But the co-promotion deal is of great importance.
Raimond declined to say whether the financial side of Emelianenkos deal with Strikeforce was comparable or better to other offers.
All the assumptions flying around about the offer are assumptions made by various people, and are quite unsubstantiated, he said. The financials behind his deal are based on a large number of factors, which include the co-promotion and co-branding activities, and Fedor is a part of that total deal.
When asked whether Emelianenko would fight on CBS this fall, Raimond said, It would seem that way, yes.
However, he amended his statement shortly after.
The timing for that cannot be confirmed, he continued. But of course, because of the broadcasting deals Strikeforce has, these things all become very possible.
Kelly Kahl, Senior Executive Vice President for CBS Primetime TV, said he wouldnt rule out a Strikeforce show on CBS late this year. He said his network had no direct hand in the Emelianenko deal, but stood to gain from it with options the network held to broadcast Strikeforce events.
This was, quite frankly, a straight Strikeforce deal, he said. I dont believe anything was represented on the part of CBS. Strikeforce and, I would assume, Showtime, get all the credit.
In the press release issued Monday morning, Strikeforce stated Emelianenkos first fight would be broadcast on Showtime. Afromowitz said a press conference announcing details on the new relationship was forthcoming.
Raimond said the new deal included plans to co-promote shows with Strikeforce overseas in Europe, where M-1 has conducted most of its shows. He said other M-1 fighters were Strikeforce bound as well, but did not name any names.
We have a much more international view on the entire business, and Strikeforce is very U.S. domestic oriented, and we have always been much more internationally minded.
Emelianenko, who returned to Russia Wednesday following a press conference in Anaheim, Calif., said he was happy to have a home again.
I am looking forward to going back to work and fighting at the highest level, he said.
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