"While nobody will say this publicly, a lot of the issues regarding Fedor Emelianenko coming back here have to do with M-1 Global coming to the conclusion that 50% of the profits for a Strikeforce show weren’t going to make them as much money as the flat money they’d earn in UFC (which wasn’t bending on idea he’d be paid like everyone else, well, except more, and no co-promotion deal). Dana White’s cryptic smiles regarding Fedor in recent weeks was because he believed Emelianenko wasn’t going to fight here again because M- 1 came to the conclusion they could make more money. However, M-1 had a contract with Strikeforce for three fights and nobody wanted to risk the potential lawsuit since CBS and Showtime would be backing the suit. There is belief in the UFC camp that Emelianenko will do his last two fights here, and then go to UFC. A lot can happen, because there are no guarantees in the heavyweight division where landing one punch can end the fight. If Emelianenko goes unscathed, fulfills his contract (at which point M-1 will no doubt play both sides against each other), and goes to UFC, he would probably be able to walk in and get a title shot in his first match. Lots of ifs there."
Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter (May 27, 2010)
