http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=5076 FEDOR COMMITS TO M-1 PRIDE Heavyweight Champion To Headline First Show Under New Ownership By Loretta Hunt (loretta@thefightnetwork.com) 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.
I think your exactly right... Why not let Fedor compete in those sambo fights? Why put a leesh on his neck.. The man is an icon in MMA sports.
Crazy. His style is probably even more suited for the UFC than Pride. Fedor would own the current UFC heavyweight class. Even Nogueira who has already lost twice to Fedor will probably win the current UFC heavyweight class.
The Emperor of MMA is Fedor. he is too damn good, those UFC guys dont stand a chance. I would love to have seen him in the octagon, as well as the Fireball Kid Takanori Gomi, just so i could see two former PRIDE guys own the lightweight and heavyweight division. Last week, the guy with the lamest nick name in all of mma, "The irish hand grenade" Jason Mcdonald had the gall to call out Gomi. god i would love to see the Fireball Kid punch a hole in his face.
