Report of Fedor Emelianenko finalizing a deal with the UFC "not true," says sour

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A recent report that top-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianeko and the Ultimate Championship are "finalizing a deal" and that the fighter will be introduced on Friday as the organization's newest signee is "untrue," a source close to M-1 today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Emelianenko had been slated to fight on Aug. 1 against Josh Barnett, whose failed drug test (due to alleged anabolic-steroid use) triggered a series of events leading to the cancellation of "Affliction: Trilogy" and eventually the demise of Affliction's entire promotional arm.

The cancellation was followed by a report from the L.A. Times stating that Emelianenko will sign with the UFC, but a source speaking on the condition of anonymity said no such deal is likely.

(Additionally, SI.com's Josh Gross spoke to M-1 Global executive Apy Echteld, who also said the report is "not accurate.")

Emelianenko and M-1 officials have a media call and press conference in Los Angeles planned for today. The Russian fighter and former PRIDE champion is expected to update the press on what the future may hold for him. (MMAjunkie.com will have a full recap from the meeting posted at approximately 4:30 p.m. ET today.)

The UFC may be an option, though multiple sources have told MMAjunkie.com that Emelianenko is unlikely to have his next fight under the UFC umbrella.

The UFC also has a press conference planned for this week. On Friday company president Dana White will "break all the latest news and developments in UFC," according to a UFC release. White is expected to announce some Affliction fighters, including Ben Rothwell and Chase Gormley, have been added to the UFC roster.

But for now, Emelianenko doesn't appear to be one of them.

Emelianenko (30-1), who's unsuccessfully attempted to negotiate a contract with the UFC on multiple occasions, has also reportedly drawn interest from Strikeforce. M-1's new "premium fight series," which debuts Aug. 28 in Los Angeles with "King" Mo Lawal vs. Don Frye, is also an option for the fighter. (M-1 President Vadim Finkelchtein is also Emelianenko's manager.)