The more and more info we hear regarding Fedor Emelianenko’s current and future contract status, the more it becomes obvious that Vadim Finkelstein has the final word.
Finkelstein, Fedor’s manager and president of M-1 Global is the absolute final authority in all things Fedor.
Two years ago, it was widely assumed that the UFC was at fault for not signing Fedor to a contract after the collapse of PrideFC. If you had asked me then, and most other MMA fans and critics, it was the UFC refusal of certain contract stipulations that kept Fedor from stepping into the Octagon.
Fast forward two years, and once again we are contemplating Fedor’s future after the collapse of yet another MMA promotion, this time Affliction Entertainment.
The situation and language coming out of both parties this time seems to be much different and the general MMA media seems to be looking at Vadim and M-1 Global as the party unwilling to budge.
If Fedor does not sign with the UFC this time around, it is my opinion that Vadim Finkelstein will be solely to blame.
True, I’m not privy to the whole negotiation process and what the contract discussions are really like, but from all outward appearances, Vadim is the one who will sink any talks with Zuffa.
The UFC (meaning Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta) have said they definitely want Fedor this time around, and who doesn’t believe them. A Fedor vs. Brock Lesnar main event would surely be one of the most anticipated matchups of all time and a cash-cow for the UFC.
Vadim Finkelstein appears set to defend to the death his desires to only work with the UFC on a co-promotion basis. Meaning, any time Fedor fights in the UFC it is on a co-promoted fight between the UFC and M-1 Global. Much like every Affliction show was “in association” with M-1 Global, Vadim wants the same from the UFC.
From where I’m sitting, the UFC is wise and correct not to do any sort of co-promotion. Like it or not as a “hardcore” MMA fan, the UFC does not NEED Fedor and they definitely don’t need any sort of assistance from M-1 Global.
Fedor, as expressed on today’s conference call, is confident and completely trusts Vadim and the M-1 Global team. Despite his brother Aleksander’s recent comments to the contrary, Fedor seems willing to be Vadim’s puppet in the whole contract negotiation process.
As a manager, Vadim is not looking out for the best interests of his client. If it comes down to money, the UFC clearly is in position to offer the best contract possible to Fedor. If it comes down to quality opponents, the UFC clearly is in position to offer the best possible fighters.
There is nothing that any other promotion can offer better than the UFC, other than what Vadim wants the most – a way to promote his own company of M-1 Global.
At the moment, Fedor is a hostage of Vadim Finkelstein and it is looking more and more that we will never see Fedor fight the “best of the best” for the remainder of his career.
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Amber
eric
capt.ADK'er
Yael Grauer
itzFORT
Singh is King
Fizzlesticks
WTFH
Studog
I agree with Dr.J and Amirs comment from the UFCs perspective, but you have to see it from Fedors side too. Although Finkelstein is whispering in Fedors ear about him missing the gravy train etc.. Fedor is still a partner in M-1 himself, so the financial gain would be great for Fedor aswell.
I personally think that since Pride, Fedor has made more money making one deal at a time and using his own promotion to gerenate even more money was a very smart move. Also ofcourse the freedom to compete in sambo and anything else he wanted to do in his life without asking the UFC for permission.
In this particular case, obviously i dont know whats in the contract but i can speculate, im guessing they offered Fedor something like an 8 fight deal for 4 years at a decent rate with some points on the PPV. For any fighter that should be acceptable but Fedor finds himself in the unique position of being the #1 fighter in the world atleast according to the harcore fans. Theres alot of demand there and therefore a lot of leverage at the negotiation table, they may be a bit greedy but i dont think we should crucify these guys for trying to get the most money they can.
As a fan i think it sucks and i wanna see Fedor in the UFC too, but like Doc said, the UFC doesnt NEED Fedor, but in my opinion, Fedor doesnt NEED to be in the UFC either. He carrys whole promotions on his shoulders, his fight didnt go through and they shut down the whole operation lol. Its like all the other fighters and trainers and hundreds of people involved are just riding on Fedors coat tails.
Unless the UFC concedes (which i wouldnt expect them to, and i wouldnt if i was them) and decides to hold some special event in russia signing fedor for a one fight deal co-promoting with M-1… its not gonna happen.
im still waiting for MMA to go the route of the music industry, a lot of artists where getting sick of being treated like slaves by the labels and managers so they started repping them selves and starting there own labels. this sort of thing needs to happen in MMA, someone like Randy needs to start repping fighters because he knows the ins and outs of the business. its always bugged me a bit that managers make a good living for selling someone elses talents, especially in a business like MMA where most of the fighters are educated and could probably do there managers job just as well as they could. i understand that having a manager to take care of your career affords you more time to do the things to keep your career going (training, appearances, ect.) but if your manager is not doing his job right all the training and P.R. in the world is not going to help.
I read an article somewhere on the Web which said that for the Fedor vs. Arlovski fight, Arlovski made $1.6 million, while Fedor made only $300,000. Yeah, Finkelstein is really looking out for Fedor! LOL! Fedor is a great fighter, but he is being used by his manager. He needs to drop that greedy fool and just sign with the UFC, or his legacy as a great fighter is toast. Nobody wants to see Fedor beating up nobodies like Overeem or Werdum. And once he destroys them, who else is Fedor going to fight in Strikeforce? They have nobody but Fedor! It’s sad that a great fighter like Fedor is being used by a greedy manager who clearly does not have Fedor’s best interests in mind.
Actually that was just the disclosed payout, not including any win bonus, points on the ppv, his cut from the M1 co-promotion side, etc..
The money Fedor actually took home has been reported as low as 2 mil and as high as 3 mil.
just FYI
Doc, RE: Fedor signing session today in NYC. I just got back…it was messy, sticky, hot, but very informative. I got some great pics and videos of “The Last Emperor” and was able to hear Strikeforce/M1 breaking news that Fedor’s first opponent will be:
Brett Rogers
(and I see there’s already a posting to my right…lol)
Anyway, still had a great experience and got pics