Author Topic: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1  (Read 1696 times)

Bluto

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FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« on: October 10, 2007, 02:43:49 PM »

PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko has committed exclusively to the new ownership of M-1 Mix-Fight Championship, which has been purchased outright by an undisclosed American entertainment-related company, according to a source close to the deal who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Established in 1997, the St. Petersburg-based M-1 held over 30 events under the ownership of Russian businessman Vadim Finkelstein, also the long-time manager of the much-sought-after Emelianenko. Finkelstein is also the proprietor of the Red Devil Sports Club, a facility and team that houses numerous Russian fighters, including PRIDE veteran Roman Zentsov and former UFC middleweight Andrei Semenov.

The source confirmed the new ownership has infused a substantial amount of capital into the organization. Finkelstein and others will stay on to assist in running the company, which will continue to promote under a variation of the M-1 name. The new M-1 will take more of a global stance, and Emelianenko (26-1) will headline its inaugural event as early as January or February, possibly in the U.S., the source said.
On March 27, Ultimate Fighting Championship majority owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta bought the assets of PRIDE, only to discover Emelianenko had previously signed a non-exclusive, non-transferable contract with its former owners, Dream Stage Entertainment.

As late as September, UFC president Dana White had insisted a deal with Emelianenko was imminent, though repeated negotiations between Finkelstein, colleague Apy Echteld and the Las Vegas outlet could not produce an agreement to bring the Stary Oskol resident to the famed Octagon. A major point of contention was White’s insistence Emelianenko sign an exclusive contract with the American promotion, which would exclude Emelianenko’s participation in Sambo competitions. Emelianenko is a three-time World Combat Sambo champion and ambassador for the sport in his homeland.

Undefeated in 24 fights (including one no contest), Emelianenko is widely received as the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter. The 31-year-old former Army firefighter rose to the top of PRIDE’s ranks by besting standouts like Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (30-4-1) and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (22-6-2). Emelianenko submitted 2000 Olympic Greco-Roman silver medallist Matt Lindland (20-5) at Bodog Fight “Clash of the Nations” on April 14 in St. Petersburg, Russia. He has not competed since.

A formal announcement of the purchase, as well as plans for the new organization’s first event, is expected by the end of this month.
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Bluto

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #1 on: October 10, 2007, 02:46:17 PM »
Guess we will still need to get the above rumour confirmed... but it's the biggest news to hit the Internet today.

Discuss
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danielson

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #2 on: October 10, 2007, 02:46:20 PM »
That sucks. I wanted to see him in the UFC.
E

Geo

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #3 on: October 10, 2007, 02:48:08 PM »
bummer

Mark Kerr

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #4 on: October 10, 2007, 03:47:20 PM »
Is this a deal with Mark Cuban involved?

Geo

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #5 on: October 10, 2007, 05:00:00 PM »
Is this a deal with Mark Cuban involved?

Quote
Established in 1997, the St. Petersburg-based M-1 held over 30 events under the ownership of Russian businessman Vadim Finkelstein,

Al-Gebra

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #6 on: October 10, 2007, 05:04:14 PM »
to the new ownership of M-1 Mix-Fight Championship, which has been purchased outright by an undisclosed American entertainment-related company, according to a source close to the deal who spoke on the condition of anonymity.


Geo

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #7 on: October 10, 2007, 05:13:42 PM »
however the unreported and undisclosed person that purchased M-1 is not Mark cuban because geo dos'nt think so and geo is a pretty reliable source for any and all MMA news

SinCitysmallGUY

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #8 on: October 10, 2007, 07:44:26 PM »
Does this prove that Fedor is ducking the best competition in the world. Why wouldn't he come to the UFC even if the money wasn't the best a 2 fight deal and then to make them re-sign him or he leaves. I don't get this shit. Who the hell is he gonna fight in this orginazation?

Geo

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #9 on: October 10, 2007, 08:29:38 PM »
Does this prove that Fedor is ducking the best competition in the world. Why wouldn't he come to the UFC even if the money wasn't the best a 2 fight deal and then to make them re-sign him or he leaves. I don't get this shit. Who the hell is he gonna fight in this orginazation?

who knows,maybe whoever bought M-1 has a plan for building M-1 into something bigger than the UFC,it is possible to coax a lot of these guys dana's underpaying over if whoever it is that bought M-1 has the initial capital to start out with, and personally I can't think of a better fighter to get to build instant credibility for the organization than a guy like fedor

if this rumor is true it sounds like fedors gonna get paid very well for taking M-1 on his back as far as trying to make M-1 a legit organization

SinCitysmallGUY

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #10 on: October 10, 2007, 08:33:22 PM »
who knows,maybe whoever bought M-1 has a plan for building M-1 into something bigger than the UFC,it is possible to coax a lot of these guys dana's underpaying over if whoever it is that bought M-1 has the initial capital to start out with, and personally I can't think of a better fighter to get to build instant credibility for the organization than a guy like fedor

if this rumor is true it sounds like fedors gonna get paid very well for taking M-1 on his back as far as trying to make M-1 a legit organization
 

I just don't see anyone taking over the sport. Not even a bill gates. Dana has the hook up with spike and shit they have the big names and cmon as if the ferttitas don't have the money to throw down. The sport can only make so much money. This isn't the NFL or NBA. I just see Dana and the Fertitas holding down this sport for a while.


Geo

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #11 on: October 10, 2007, 08:37:35 PM »
with what dana's paying some of these guys NOW that will be major players in each division in the not too distant future ?


I see all kinds of ways for someone to move in and take a piece of the pie.....

money will always talk louder than promises !

Havenbull

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #12 on: October 10, 2007, 09:13:08 PM »
with what dana's paying some of these guys NOW that will be major players in each division in the not too distant future ?


I see all kinds of ways for someone to move in and take a piece of the pie.....

money will always talk louder than promises !

sort of like the PDI  ::)

Geo

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #13 on: October 10, 2007, 09:20:32 PM »

Havenbull

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #14 on: October 10, 2007, 09:32:20 PM »
what's PDI ?

startup bb league promising more money... appears to have already failed.

You know this

Geo

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #15 on: October 10, 2007, 09:40:10 PM »
startup bb league promising more money... appears to have already failed.

You know this

I agree and you can throw the world football league and the USFL in there with that too, and I'm not saying it WILL work but I can see how someone could get the idea that it might given enough time with the money to back it up

Havenbull

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #16 on: October 10, 2007, 09:46:37 PM »
Boxing has too many belts as it is... look how hard it is too unify the belts.  Its a rarity nowadays

I'd like to see a pure World Champion in MMA.  If you have some other startup coming around, just gonna make that much more difficult.

Rules should be the same across leagues, rings can remain different... but let's get a true champion.

SinCitysmallGUY

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #17 on: October 10, 2007, 10:11:51 PM »
Boxing has too many belts as it is... look how hard it is too unify the belts.  Its a rarity nowadays

I'd like to see a pure World Champion in MMA.  If you have some other startup coming around, just gonna make that much more difficult.

Rules should be the same across leagues, rings can remain different... but let's get a true champion.

Damn good post. Couldn't have said it better myself. Except I say put everyone in a cage. I was never a fan of the ring. I don't think it's the same to be stopped and get put back in a possition.

Mark Kerr

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #18 on: October 11, 2007, 08:05:36 AM »
Does this prove that Fedor is ducking the best competition in the world. Why wouldn't he come to the UFC even if the money wasn't the best a 2 fight deal and then to make them re-sign him or he leaves. I don't get this shit. Who the hell is he gonna fight in this orginazation?

No.

It proves Fedor will be the highest paid MMA fighter in the world. I don't blame him for his decision.


Bluto

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Re: FEDOR COMMITS TO M1
« Reply #19 on: October 11, 2007, 08:34:50 AM »
There's no shortage of guys he can fight that isn't under contract with UFC, some of them would be top contenders for the tittle if they were.
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