UFC offers FEDOR BIGGEST DEAL EVER, SO LETS SEE IF HE MANS UP

[Guest baseball25]

The UFC offered Fedor a six-fight, 30 million dollar contract (based on Zuffa’s projections of future PPV revenue).

The UFC offered Fedor an immediate title shot.

The UFC offered M-1 Global a cut of the championship PPV on top of Fedor’s purse anticipating Lesnar vs. Fedor as the biggest PPV in MMA history.

Fedor was free to wear as many M-1 sponsored items as he wanted.

The UFC would grant Fedor the ability to compete in combat Sambo tournaments

From his July 29 press conference:

“The offer which was made by the UFC is not interesting for us. I completely trust Vadim and I completely trust our team in M-1 Global.â€

Most of the mixed martial arts community has been screaming for some sort of forced intervention. What’s ironic is that most negotiations fall through because the star being courted is demanding an obscene amount of money.

In this case the negotiations are falling through because he’s rejecting an obscene amount of money. Welcome to bizarro world, where Finkelchtein is the anti-Boras.

Lest anyone think the MMA fan base has reacted inappropriately by storming the M-1 castle with torches and pitchforks, Fedor’s younger brother Aleksander Emelianenko has also called into question the true motives of Finkelchtein and whether or not he’s serving Fedor or himself.

From his native Sports.ru:

“You can deal with UFC, I know that they have flexible contract system. All these talks about “strict†contract terms with signing with UFC, come ONLY from Vadim Finkelstein, who wants to push his owns business projects through Fedor’s fights.â€

The M-1 camp quickly labeled him as a black sheep, lost in his brother’s shadow and unable to focus on his own career. But how much of that is bitter pie and how much of it is actual truth, like most things, doesn’t faze Fedor.

Also from his July 29 presser:

“Well I think that Aleksander unfortunately has no idea about the contracts. He didn’t have a chance to read the contracts and I did. I have a good relationship with Aleksander and not long ago we trained together, but sometimes I cannot understand [his] actions.â€

If it’s of any consolation to Aleks, sometimes the mixed martial arts community cannot understand Fedor’s actions either.

Maybe we’ll see him inside the Octagon one day, maybe we won’t. Until then, it’s back to the speculation board as we try and figure out who the best heavyweight fighter in the world might be.

[Guest baseball25]

FEDOR and HIS MANAGEMENT IS FLAT OUT RETARDED

With rumors and speculation surrounding Fedor Emelianenko reaching a fever pitch since the recent cancellation of Affliction “Trilogy†and the subsequent disintegration of the company’s promotional arm, Fedor and his management team at M-1 Global on Wednesday held a press conference to make a few announcements and clarify the status of the No. 1 ranked heavyweight’s future.

Vadim Finkelchtein, the president of M-1 Global, expressed appreciation for the UFC’s latest attempt to sign Fedor, but also stressed that it is thus far not acceptable and the two sides are far from closing a deal. “If we had such an offer two years ago, such as we got yesterday, maybe we would agree, but not in today’s situation. We would not accept that offer.â€

The sticking point is still the UFC’s refusal to agree to a co-promotion, while M-1 Global remains steadfast that co-promotion is a must.

“I am not a person who came into the business two years ago and started working it because I saw that was good business. I started in MMA in 1997. I invested a lot of money and a lot of effort and energy into the development of that sport,†said Finkelchtein.

“Today we’ve got enough energy and finance to be able to develop that sport. That’s why I cannot understand the policy of the UFC. The UFC won’t be able to control the whole world. Let’s work together.â€

[venom33]

Everyone seems to be looking at the surface numbers and saying:

"Wow.....6 fights 30 million?  That's 5 million a fight!  Fedor's an IDIOT not to take this!  Vadim is dumb!"

What you guys are missing are the operative terms of Zuffa contract, particularly the high end ones, are often not the headline number of fights and dollar amount, by a long shot.

They're the OTHER terms - like voidability in the event of a loss, perpetual image rights forfeiture, the amount of time the contract lasts, therefore how long they can "freeze out" for, exclusivity, etc.  The information leaked regarding Fedor's contract did not include any of the information. 

Is the contract voidable in the event of a loss?  Can Fedor void it if he wins 3 straight and has better options?  Does it last for 5 years so he can be frozen out for the rest of his competitive life if they get in a dispute?  Is his image and name become property of Zuffa for eternity?  Nobody is commenting or asking.

Look at the list of high-profile/salary fighters who have had problems with Zuffa once they've had a contract- 

Tito Ortiz (freeze out)

B.J. Penn (exclusivity)

Fabricio Werdum (voidability)

Jon Fitch/ Other AKA fighters(likeness rights forfeiture)

Randy Couture (freeze out, exclusivity, lack of hard bonus money)

Chuck Liddell/John Hackleman (potential freeze out)

Roger Huerta (freeze out, lack of payment for marketing support)

Andrei Arlovski (freeze out)

Surprise Surprise.  None of the disputes rise out of the hard number of fights and dollar per fight.  They all ended up with disputes with Zuffa because of the other terms found in their contract.

Zuffa has a documented history of problems with high-profile fighters, all over the other terms in their contracts.  So its naive to just look at "6 fights, $30 million" and say "Great contract Fedor, Take it!!!!!" It's likely it includes some or all of the clauses that ran all the above fighters into trouble.  And as the world's greatest fighter, maybe Fedor doesn't want to be subject to a Zuffa freeze out or lose the ability to license his own image to whomever he wants.

[silentassasin]

Great points venom33. I know that I for one look at the numbers and say man I would not pass on it. But then again I am not making my life as a fighter. Fedor on the one hand should want to do what is best for MMA if he wants to help the sport to grow and continue in the direction it is now going. NOT A FAD LIKE BUC THINK!!!!!!!!!

But on the other hand this is his life and he has to look out for his rights and what he feels is okay and acceptable for him to submit himself too. If Fedor does not like the contracts then he can choose to fight elsewhere and true MMA fans like myself will continue to watch. The UFC is obviously not hurting without him, so if they can't land him then so bet it. BUt I am proud of Dana trying to get Fedor. But Dana is not going to bow down to anyone because he is as much or more headstrong than Fedor's camp is. I guess we won't see the fight against Lesnar like we want for now, maybe some other place or time.

But kind of like the Brett Favre stuff, I am sick of hearing about this crap anymore. I will try and vow to now post any more on Fedor, other than how good I think he is, and UFC contracts until the announcement goes out that he signs.

[Guest baseball25]

no where near the bret favre stuff lol come on man, Favre is one of the top 3 best qb's everrrrr, he can do anything he wants, if he wants to come back tom he can.

[silentassasin]

And Fedor is one of the best fighters ever in most opinions of the fans. Why does a good career allow someone to constantly play with the emotions of the fans that support them. It shouldn't. Favre is a great player but the meaning of the post was that I am sick of hearing "I still want to play" " No I want to retire."

Poop or get off the pot is more to the point I am making with both Favre and Fedor. Make up your freakin mind what you want to do and do it. Then the rest of us will adjust accordingly depending on our involvement.

[Guest baseball25]

NFL has been around for how long lol , and mma has just gotten popular like 5 yrs ago lol I mean you cant compare lol, how manyfootball players are there compared to fighters lol ..

[venom33]

i dont think hes comparing the sport, i think hes comapring the situation.... its a pretty accurate analogy.

[Guest baseball25]

its not even close lol, u can't compare the two guys lol..