In comments designed to win back mixed martial arts enthusiasts who are angry that the biggest fight in the sport's history won't take place, Fedor Emelianenko apologized on Thursday that his negotiations with the UFC failed to result in a superfight with UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.
On a conference call Thursday to formally announce his signing with UFC rival Strikeforce, I asked Fedor to respond to the fan backlash that has sprung up against him since hs spurned the UFC's offer of a contract that included a heavyweight title unification fight with Lesnar.
"I really feel very sorry that fight could not happen," Fedor said. "I feel really sorry that my fans won't be able to see the fight with Brock Lesnar in the near future. But I hope they will be able to see another fight with a great opponent."
Fedor's business partner, M-1 Global boss Vadim Finkelchtein, was less apologetic that the fight with Lesnar fell through and more strident in his insistence that Fedor will face a great opponent in Strikeforce. In fact, Finkelchtein suggested that Brett Rogers is a better fighter than Lesnar, noting that Rogers is 10-0 while Lesnar is 4-1. What Finkelchtein did not mention is that Lesnar's four wins include three against high-level opponents, Heath Herring, Randy Couture and Frank Mir. Rogers has one win against a top-line opponent, Andrei Arlovski.
Finkelchtein also said Lesnar was a product of the UFC's hype machine, and he said that given time, M-1 could make a name for itself just as the UFC has made a name for Lesnar.
"One thing about Brock Lesnar, nobody knew him a year ago," Finkelchtein said. "So give us some time and M-1 Global and Strikeforce will be able to show to everybody what we are able to achieve together."
Those comments might lead some fans to turn their backlash away from Fedor and toward Vadim. But Fedor himself said that fans should know that he's the one calling the shots."I would like to say," Fedor said, "with all my fights, I make the decisions."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-06-2009 @ 4:02PM
hendofan13 said...
Fedor is Vadim's pawn. Sure he has stake in M-1, but he's gotta see it's holding him back. So now he fights Alistair? Big deal. Keep screwing your fans and lose them. Plain and simple.
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8-06-2009 @ 4:17PM
ak2life said...
Who cares if he is sorry. I sure don't care to he went to strikeforce to fight more low class fighters. Enjoy your time beating up more losers. Im done with fedor and m1.
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8-06-2009 @ 4:18PM
gillygodfried said...
guess he decided lesnar out-manned him
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8-06-2009 @ 4:29PM
keithstbird said...
Fedor is a coward he is scared to fight anyone in the ufc strikeforce is full of second rate fighters that could not make it in the ufc I think he should have is pound for pound best fighter in the word title removed since he is not fighting the best pound for pound fighters in the world he knows he will get his ass kiced from Lesnar Couture Mir Nogera and the list goes on Fedor have fun beating the guys that could not cut it in the best mma organization in the world
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8-06-2009 @ 4:36PM
mike said...
Time to step up to the plate and he backs out. What an athlete. Who is he going to fight next royce gracie or tank abbott. Because he beats former ufc champs from 15 yrs ago.
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8-06-2009 @ 4:43PM
retrojoke said...
Fedor is a waste of talent and time. He is not as important as the hype behind him. Brock has many opponents to fights that will be interesting.
Screw Fedor.
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8-06-2009 @ 4:54PM
richardbikle said...
brock would dominate rogers, but would't make it out of the first round with fedor, certainly not the second.
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8-06-2009 @ 4:55PM
jay said...
People have known Lesnar for a good 5 years if not longer, from his WWE days (for better or for worse). Is he insane?
I would have loved to see him come to the UFC though. The M-1 BS needs to stop. It's insane to ask one promotor to make money and promote another.
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8-06-2009 @ 4:56PM
jay said...
***Make money and spend it on another promoter. My bad
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8-06-2009 @ 5:42PM
mmorpgcook said...
Fedor no matter where he fights is still the #1 fighter in the world. I see on here someone mentioned that Fedor is affraid of fighting uc talent such as Nogera? Fedor has already beaten him two times and when he was a much better fighter. Lesner is bad for the sport I mean he fliped off the crowd after beating mir and got in mirs face and disrespected him and you guys are lesner fans? That is not class you want to see class go to youtube and check out some fedor vids. even after destroying everyone he has fought he still shows class after the fight. Fedor is the true champ and he shouldnt have to fight someone with no class that has only won a couple fights to prove it. Lesner would not even make it out of the first round with fedor. I mean fedor is basically 30-0 and what is lesner? After lesner has a decent record then you can start to claim he is any good until then I will side with fedor.
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8-06-2009 @ 6:16PM
howdy said...
rogers better then lesnar???????????
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
lesnar is way better then rogers.
in a fight between lesnar and rogers.
lesnar would just take rogers down right away and ground and pound his way 2 a easy win.
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8-06-2009 @ 7:14PM
Jeff said...
Fedor and Strikeforce Suck. Dana Did All He Could To Bring Fedor To The UFC. Until Fedor Fights In The UFC He Is No Number 1 Heavyweight To Me!
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8-06-2009 @ 7:17PM
itsmejwb said...
What Finkelchtein did not mention is that Lesnar's four wins include three against high-level opponents, Heath Herring, Randy Couture and Frank Mir. Rogers has one win against a top-line opponent, Andrei Arlovski.
I have a hard time believing that Heath Herring is a high level opponent for anyone
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8-06-2009 @ 8:21PM
tseka23 said...
This is such stupidity on M-1's part. I'd love to see what happens when Fedor actually loses his first fight. Then what? The entire company goes down the drain the second he drops to the canvas. As much as I always believed he was hands down #1 in the world, we all know it's inevitable that one day he will lose just like every other great champion...but what happens to M-1 the day after that happens?
Every time he wins, it's like a blood-sucking douche-bag festival erupts in the ring and everybody gets to stay rich till the next event...one day, he will lose and we'll see where those people end up!!!
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8-06-2009 @ 8:31PM
Niv said...
Sorry but I can't believe the delusional comments that Lesnar beat high-level opponents. I think each of the three guys he's beaten in the UFC were great fighters at one point, but all of them are has been's.
Yeah, that's right has been's! Frank Mir was fed to Lesnar as a hand picked opponent that the UFC fully expected to him to beat. After the tragic loss to Mir he is handed Heath Herring a former top fighter who they knew would be easy for Lesnar to handle and yet he shows no ability to put the guy away. This warrants a title shot somehow? Then Randy Couture who's last win came against a washed up Tim Sylvia (UFC fan's opinion, not mine) and a year + layoff at 45 years old gets beat by Lesnar. I don't know how many times I can write this but UFC bias is off the charts if you think Lesnar has proven anything.
As a matter of fact Finklestink is absolutely right when he says Lesnar is the product of a great hype machine, and all of you guys have bought it hook line and sinker.
If Fedor's win in 36 seconds over Tim Sylvia is nothing how can you guys applaud Couture for beating him in five rounds? When was Couture's last meaningful win, Gonzaga? Another guy who looked better than he really is by beating a washed up has been, what has he done since his win against Cro Cop? As a matter of fact Gonzaga was never in Couture's league even with Couture in his 40's.
Again who does Brock have a win over that isn't a has been, and not only that he has a loss against a has been as well something no-one wants to consider.
Keep praising the hype machine guys, I just hope you guys actually become MMA fans so we can support all of these organizations to grow, not just one to become a monopoly.
By the way if Kimbo does well in TUF do you think it'll take long before we see Lesnar vs Kimbo in a title fight? I'm sure that'll legitimize both of these guys.
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8-06-2009 @ 9:03PM
smakdownmacdaddy said...
Fador is the MAN.. Don't be haters. He can and will make the big man fall when they finally do meet. Brock is bad but Fador is his Daddy...!
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8-06-2009 @ 9:32PM
dracopunisher said...
Fedor is the best heavyweight in the world. I don't know Y people R getting so wet over him not signing with the UFC. He only signed a one year deal with Strikeforce. He wants his business 2 B successful. What is wrong with that?
Besides, Lesnar is a bitch! Fedor and Lesnar both beat Herring...Lesnar is 1-1 against Mir...and the only reason he beat Couture was because he weighed 50 lbs more than him. Let's C what happens when he fights Velasquez, Carwin, Gonzaga, or maybe even Cro Cop.
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8-07-2009 @ 2:16AM
JoJo said...
Fedor is a sissy ass coward M-1 sucks!
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8-07-2009 @ 7:00AM
Jerry said...
Brock is the latest Mark Coleman.....big, strong, unstoppable ground and pounder. I predict he'll leave MMA with a losing record just like (S)Tank Abbot.
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8-13-2009 @ 9:06PM
Mike Huey said...
The people commenting on here that Brock Lesnar isn't a legitmate fighter are stupid. If you haven't noticed, the majority of successful fighters in MMA have a strong wrestling background and have adapted with learning stand up and BJJ. Lesnar was a Division 1 National wrestling champ and 3 time All American. Combine that with his athleticism, desire to win and train hard and you have a champion MMA fighter.
That takes nothing away from Fedor. I love to watch him fight. However, I don't know that he could beat Lesnar. I would love to see them fight because I think Fedor's a stud. I do have to question why he wouldn't want to be part of the largest, most successful organization in the world with the best competition.
I also wonder why Cung Le doesn't want to join and take on George St. Pierre. I'd love to see that one too.
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