M-1 Global has scheduled a media conference call today with Fedor Emelianenko at 4pm ET / 1pm PT.
According to the media release:
Former PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko will address the media for the first time since Affliction’s decision last week to cancel “Trilogy.” Fedor will discuss his reaction to the news while also talking about his potential future options. Additionally, the press conference will also include a Q&A session with reporters.
MMA HQ will be on the call and will be updating here with live notes as the call progresses.
- Jerry “My real name is Gary” Millen is first to speak (lucky us) – only to let us know the call is starting 15 minutes late
- “Jerry” introduces Vadim, Fedor and an M-1 Global lawyer
- Vadim is next on the mic via a translator and says they have been negotiating with the UFC and other promotions
- “Jerry” Millen announces that Fedor will “headline” the upcoming EA Sports MMA video game. Mousasi and “Babalu” Sobral will also be in the MMA game
- Fedor is next on the mic giving lip services to how honored he is to be included in the video game
- Vadim says they are weighing all their options “about” how to handle the Affliction even cancelation
- Vadim says there are plans to develop an M-1 Global video game and they are still negotiating with the UFC regardless of the “ban” on fighters in the EA game
- Fedor’s attorney says they are exploring all legal options regarding Fedor’s contract with Affliction. “If something was done wrong, someone will be held responsible” Fedor’s attorney says regarding any possible misdoings by Affliction.
- Fedor says he still has not had an opportunity personally to meet with Dana White in person, but they have spoken via the telephone
- Vadim is still sticking to his requirement of some sort of a “co-promotion” with the UFC and M-1 Global to share profits. The UFC has made a different contract offer
- Vadim says the UFC called them “crazy Russian’s” for their contract counter-offer
- Fedor has spoken with Strikeforce and they are still looking into all possible options
- Negotiations with the UFC two years ago were so “miserable” that they thought a deal would never happen. If they had received the same offer from the UFC they received yesterday, things may have been different two years ago.
- Vadim says the M-1 Global co-promotion is important for developing MMA all over the world. Fedor is a partner in M-1 Global and as such, a partnership is important to Vadim and Fedor
- Fedor says the offer made by the UFC was “not interesting” for them, but would not explicitly say they definitely will not fight in the UFC without a co-promotion
- It seems every question that is asked, Vadim doesn’t really answer the question directly but rather spouts the exploits and importance of the M-1 Global brand “all over the world”
- Vadim says they will not wait on the UFC; they need to move forward
- Vadim now says the are willing to work ONLY on co-promotion contract situations
- Fedor says when he got on the plane from Russia to head to the US, he didn’t know who he would fight, just that there were two candidates: Vitor Belfort and Brett Rogers
- When asked about Aleksander Emelianenko’s recent comments, Fedor said his brother has no idea what the UFC contracts are like as he has never had an opportunity to see them. Fedor says he has a good relationship with his brother Aleks.
- In closing comments, Vadim says “the UFC will not be able to control the whole world, so let’s work together”
- Fedor says he completely trusts Vadim and the M-1 Global team
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Caesar Gracie
John
Yael Grauer
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Tyler Johnson
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Ben Cartlidge
Not really sure where this is coming from, I mean did Dana call them “crazy Russian” again? because that’s what happened 2 years ago, unless it was brought up today. If it was, that’s a clear indication of their resentment for the UFC if that still bothers them.
Regardless, as a huge Fedor fan I have to say that if this deal doesn’t fall through once again, he should be stripped of any
#1 status/ranking he has anywhere. There is no reason for the UFC to simply hand over a share of their profits and stake as a brand in America and worldwide just for some upstart foreign company to benefit.
If Fedor has any pride or respect for the sport of MMA and it’s fans, it’s up to him to make concessions and agree to fight, even if it’s for only 1 or 2 fights. After all, it is he who will have everything to gain financially from the UFC exposure. Otherwise, he can go back to being that guy who doesn’t have an organization to fight for, cause I surely don’t think Strikeforce will be able to keep paying him those big salaries for long.
You said it all,Fedor needs to distance himself from this “management team”.He says it has nothing to do with money yet were still having these negotiations.M1 global is trying to make a name for itself and using Fedor in the process….what does he stand to gain from M1?
James, Fedor is a part owner of M-1 thats what he has to gain. Ofcourse M-1 is not a money making machine like the UFC but its his promotion and its made him more money than he ever would have made fighting in the UFC since the fall of Pride.
Fedor has invested his own money into M-1, the only reason it still exists is because its Fedors promotion and hes the posterboy. From what ive read, Fedors plans are to make money from M-1 after he retires from fighting, so he wants it to be as big and successful as possible. He would be sinking his own promotion by agreeing to exclusive UFC contracts, likeness rights and who knows what other clauses are in there…
Again, as a fan its disappointing, but i dont fault the guy for doing what he thinks is the best financial move for him and his family.