Kiem
17-02-2009, 05:12 AM
February 16, 2009 by Sam Caplan
In a new interview with Adam Baker of DreamFighters.com, WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko reportedly stated that a meeting with UFC President Dana White is on the horizon.
“… Me and my management hope to get a chance to talk to Dana White in person in June to discuss a possible fight between me and Brock,” Emelianenko is quoted by DreamFighters.com.
Emelianenko competed last month during Affliction and M-1’s “Day of Reckoning” event in Anaheim, Calif. Headlining against Andrei Arlovski, Fedor recorded a first round knockout against the former UFC heavyweight champion.
Despite the quote attributed to Emelianenko, he still has one fight remaining on his current contract with Affliction. In order for Emelianenko to fight Lesnar before his contract expires, Affliction would have to consent and would likely asked to be involved as a co-promoter.
Even if Emelianenko becomes a free agent, M-1 Global still holds his promotional rights and the UFC would have to meet their demands in order to sign a match between Fedor and Lesnar. Since M-1 holds his promotional rights, they would likely desire a co-promotional arrangement as well. The UFC has typically shunned such arrangements in the past.
While attempts to bring Fedor to the UFC have not been fruitful in the past, there is always the possibility of a compromise. Despite having been publicly critical of Fedor in the past, White has expressed a more favorable opinion of the former PRIDE heavyweight champion in recent interviews.
“You can just tell when you see this guy — I will tell you, he’s a bad mother[expletive]. You can just tell by looking at him,” White said two weeks ago in an interview on “The Bubba the Love Sponge Show” on Sirius Satellite Radio.
“He’s been considered one of the best in the world for a long time,” White later added. “I’d put him in there against whoever’s the top guy at that time. I’d put him in against whoever the top guy is… There’s a lot of possibilities for Fedor.”
In a new interview with Adam Baker of DreamFighters.com, WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko reportedly stated that a meeting with UFC President Dana White is on the horizon.
“… Me and my management hope to get a chance to talk to Dana White in person in June to discuss a possible fight between me and Brock,” Emelianenko is quoted by DreamFighters.com.
Emelianenko competed last month during Affliction and M-1’s “Day of Reckoning” event in Anaheim, Calif. Headlining against Andrei Arlovski, Fedor recorded a first round knockout against the former UFC heavyweight champion.
Despite the quote attributed to Emelianenko, he still has one fight remaining on his current contract with Affliction. In order for Emelianenko to fight Lesnar before his contract expires, Affliction would have to consent and would likely asked to be involved as a co-promoter.
Even if Emelianenko becomes a free agent, M-1 Global still holds his promotional rights and the UFC would have to meet their demands in order to sign a match between Fedor and Lesnar. Since M-1 holds his promotional rights, they would likely desire a co-promotional arrangement as well. The UFC has typically shunned such arrangements in the past.
While attempts to bring Fedor to the UFC have not been fruitful in the past, there is always the possibility of a compromise. Despite having been publicly critical of Fedor in the past, White has expressed a more favorable opinion of the former PRIDE heavyweight champion in recent interviews.
“You can just tell when you see this guy — I will tell you, he’s a bad mother[expletive]. You can just tell by looking at him,” White said two weeks ago in an interview on “The Bubba the Love Sponge Show” on Sirius Satellite Radio.
“He’s been considered one of the best in the world for a long time,” White later added. “I’d put him in there against whoever’s the top guy at that time. I’d put him in against whoever the top guy is… There’s a lot of possibilities for Fedor.”