Fedor Emelianenko signs two-year, six-fight contract with M-1

[Bluto]

Fedor Emelianenko announced that he has signed a six-fight, two-year fight contract with M-1 Global — a new mixed martial arts organization — today at a press conference at Marc Ecko Enterprises in downtown Manhattan.

At this time, no opponent or date has been set for the debut of the Russian superstar under the M-1 banner. However, M-1 is searching for a television partner and is eager to stage an event as early as February 2008.

In the next 10 days, M-1 will reveal its stable of fighters who will join Emelianenko on the new roster. In addition, Jesse is passing along news that Emelianenko’s contract will allow him to fight in the UFC if a deal can be struck between the two organizations.

Furthermore, M-1 representatives indicate that the winner of the bout would earn a $1 million payday.

    * UFC turned down an offer to match Emelianenko up against Tim Sylvia when both were champions in there respective organizations.

    * Fedor mentioned that his brother, Aleks, was offered a “low ball” contract to fight inside the Octagon. The goal is to sign him to an M-1 contract as soon as possible.

    * M-1 will follow PRIDE FC rules for the most part and not include elbows.

    * Fedor rejects the “number one pound for pound fighter” in the world label because he hasn’t fought and defeated all the best fighters in the world.

[Bluto]

"UFC turned down an offer to match Emelianenko up against Tim Sylvia when both were champions in there respective organizations."

i wonder why they turned that offer down 

it will be very interesting to see who else will sign up with this new organization, we can start speculating allready 

[Mark Kerr]

However, M-1 is searching for a television partner and is eager to stage an event as early as February 2008.

I wonder if this is where Mark Cuban comes in?

[20inch calves]

fedor vs sylvia would be a slaughter and dana knows that

[Bluto]

yes the ufc heavyweight was weak for many years. but for the first time, at least on paper, randy has a chance. so i hope they can agree on fighting, they could market that fight like never before... just as we've seen done in heavy weight boxing over the years
would be stupid to let that chance slip away...

[Bluto]

what do you mean "was" ?


heavyweights still suck !

are you suggesting they all lose some weight and fight in 205 

[chixlegs]

It will be interesting to see how this unfolds.  The organization could be a bust, like the USFL or Vince McMahon's bodybuilding venture.  They're throwing cash at Fedor but who will he fight?  Even if they get Randy, which looks unlikely without lots of legal wrangling with the UFC, let's say Fedor beats him.  Then what?  They're gonna have to get a lot of talent real fast to make it interesting.  Nobody wants to just see Fedor beat the shit out of a bunch of professional bouncers.  Like it or not, the best guys are fighting in the UFC right now.

[Bluto]

It will be interesting to see how this unfolds.  The organization could be a bust, like the USFL or Vince McMahon's bodybuilding venture.  They're throwing cash at Fedor but who will he fight?  Even if they get Randy, which looks unlikely without lots of legal wrangling with the UFC, let's say Fedor beats him.  Then what?  They're gonna have to get a lot of talent real fast to make it interesting.  Nobody wants to just see Fedor beat the shit out of a bunch of professional bouncers.  Like it or not, the best guys are fighting in the UFC right now.

barnett i hope...

[Fury]

    * M-1 will follow PRIDE FC rules for the most part and not include elbows.

Best news I've ever heard!

[SinCitysmallGUY]

Best news I've ever heard!

It made me wonder will we see the foot stomp come back? How about the soccer kick?

[Fury]

It made me wonder will we see the foot stomp come back? How about the soccer kick?

I hope so. I'm so tired of seeing all these queefs trying to win fights through opening cuts with crappy elbows. Nothing beats a good ol' CroCop soccer kick to the face or Shogun's flying stomps in terms of sheer awesomeness.

[SinCitysmallGUY]

I hope so. I'm so tired of seeing all these queefs trying to win fights through opening cuts with crappy elbows. Nothing beats a good ol' CroCop soccer kick to the face or Shogun's flying stomps in terms of sheer awesomeness.

Wandy and the ropes is always a classic.

[Bluto]

cuts always destroys the fun... that being said, belcher had some great standing elbows...

[nuyork143]

Best news I've ever heard!

AGREED!!!!!  Elbows are for bitch fights!

[Bluto]

more from the press conference:

-Monte COx talks about how big this could be for the world of MMA.

-M-1 has had many offers to work with other organizations.

-M-1 is as popular in Europe as the UFC is here in North America.

-Fedor thanks everyone for coming out.

-He is very happy to be part of the M-1 organization.

-Fedor is asked why he made the decicsion not to sign with the UFC. He said that M-1 is going to be an open company and not closed which means he can compete with all champions.

-Does not feel like the UFC is open.

-M-1 is looking for television partners. Depending on what happens that would determine a lot more things.

-First show should be in February.

-Fedor was asked about the possibility of a fight with Randy Couture. He said that he was pleased to hear how highly Randy thought of him. He has great repsect for Randy and has admired him for a long time. Said it would be an honor to fight Couture.

-A stable of fighters should be announced within the week.

-M-1 wants to work with other organizations. If Fedor is M-1's champion it doesn't mean he cant fight for someone else. They want to make the best fights between every organization.

-There will be events all over the world.

-Fedor talks about how there was a proposol to fight Tim Sylvia but one of the parties refused and he does not know if it was the UFC or Tim himself.

-Im not sure who this guy was but he was talking about how Europe has a lot of great fighters that are unknown to the U.S. fans. What M-1 wants to do is bring in fighters from all over the world to showcase everyone.

-Cox talks about how they want everyone in the USA to know who Fedor is.

-They believe that when a lot of the UFC fighters contracts run out, they will be looking for an organization that will treat them better as fighters.

-The current M-1 rules are basically Pride rules. They will be trying to establish a set of rules to take everywhere in the world.

-They would love to do an MMA event in Madison Square Garden.

[Fury]

This league sounds better and better!

[nuyork143]

Im liking it too.  Modeled after Pride!!!!

[Fury]

Im liking it too.  Modeled after Pride!!!!

Greatest league ever made. Nothing would make my day more than to see the UFC take a hit due to some competition again. I miss the old days of it struggling to stay afloat while all the top fighters were amassed in one organization, one not consisting of TUF queers.

[nuyork143]

Greatest league ever made. Nothing would make my day more than to see the UFC take a hit due to some competition again. I miss the old days of it struggling to stay afloat while all the top fighters were amassed in one organization, one not consisting of TUF queers.

I with you bro, finally someone who actually knows what going on here.  Bluto and his TUF NOOB buddies can swing from the UFC's nuts.

[20inch calves]

barnett i hope...

a good possiblility. i think barnett is probably no. 2 in the world right now.

[nuyork143]

a good possiblility. i think barnett is probably no. 2 in the world right now.

Not quite

[BDsauce]

Pride neva die!

I hope when some of the Pride fighters contracts expire in the UFC....they jump ship to M-1.

[nuyork143]

Its just a matter of time!!!!!