Is Fedor running scared from the UFC and Brock Lesnar?

**Gabetuno** · Posted On: 7/30/2009 9:02am

That assertion is dumb for two reasons: 1, Fedor has taken on much better fighters for a lot less in the past, and 2, Fedor is not calling the shots here, his organization is. To imply that Fedor has final say over a Russian Mob controlled fight organization is just silly.

**bigstu31s** · Posted On: 7/30/2009 9:02am

Originally Posted by Whacker

I don't think he's holding out for more money personally, I think it's his groupies and managers. I think they're trying to milk this to get a number of concessions for M-1.

I don't really have a lot of sympathy for either. For one, not many other big name promotions could afford Fedor and find worthy fights for him, so he could be potentially shooting himself in the foot. On the other hand, I think Zuffa is getting to be way too big for it's own good and needs some more real competition like Pride/Dream and Affliction. What they're pushing for would put M-1 on a more equal footing with Zuffa. Having one big, dominating organization is very bad for both fighters and MMA in general, in my view.

If anything because of that I'm going to lean more towards Fedor's camp.

So you'd prefer to have loads of different organisations with their own champions who never fight each other, like err.....boxing?
I like the fact that I can name every title holder in the UFC, I don't want to try and explain to someone that Brock Lesnar is the UFC HW champ and Fedor is the Dream HW champ and some big fat bastard is the Pride HW champ and not they have never fought each other but hell Fedor knocked out some fat **** the other day so he must be the best. **** that ****, I hope the UFC take over the world. Hell Dana White for President

**Wolf** · Posted On: 7/30/2009 9:08am

by the way. The source of the info is Dave Meltzer. So it should be reliable.

**madrigan** · Posted On: 7/30/2009 9:09am

Originally Posted by Gabetuno

That assertion is dumb for two reasons: 1, Fedor has taken on much better fighters for a lot less in the past, and 2, Fedor is not calling the shots here, his organization is. To imply that Fedor has final say over a Russian Mob controlled fight organization is just silly.

I don't know if the Russian mob is involved or not, but either way we don't know what is in the contract between Fedor and M-1. He may be contractually obligated to turn down deals that don't include co-promotion. He may not be allowed to accept or turn down deals at all. He wouldn't be the first athlete to sign a very disadvantageous contract, and that's assuming they don't have a literal or figurative gun to his head.

I think the more interesting question is why M-1 wouldn't take a deal like this... if there really was a deal like this on the table. The M-1 guys don't seem stupid, getting all that M-1 logo stuff on a huge PPV plus a cut of the cash for the event seems like the best deal they can hope for.

**8bit** · Posted On: 7/30/2009 9:45am

I wonder what percentage Fedor gets from that deal.

**Mega Leaf** · Posted On: 7/30/2009 9:56am

I dont know what Fedor is thinking
but I do know I want Fedor to whoop some Brock Lesnar ass

go FEDOR!!!

**Whacker** · Posted On: 7/30/2009 10:06am

Originally Posted by bigstu31s

So you'd prefer to have loads of different organisations with their own champions who never fight each other, like err.....boxing?
I like the fact that I can name every title holder in the UFC, I don't want to try and explain to someone that Brock Lesnar is the UFC HW champ and Fedor is the Dream HW champ and some big fat bastard is the Pride HW champ and not they have never fought each other but hell Fedor knocked out some fat **** the other day so he must be the best. **** that ****, I hope the UFC take over the world. Hell Dana White for President

No, I prefer a balance. Something that ensures that fighters have a good selection of organizations and that they're not necessarily limited to one, and enough self-sustaining promotional groups that will hopefully ensure that fighters don't become spoiled brats demanding ridiculous payouts like in other professional sports. Wishful thinking though, I must be hitting the crack pipe a bit too much lately. Finally Dana White needs to learn some goddamn tact and how to shut the **** up every once in awhile.