News
03/08/09 - Fedor signs for Strikeforce (updated)
Strikeforce has announced former PRIDE FC and Affliction MMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko to a “multi-fight” deal.
"I am looking forward to going back to work and fighting at the highest level," said the 33-year-old Emelianenko. "Strikeforce is a top fight promotion that houses some of the greatest fighters in the world, I am prepared to fight any of them."
The surprise announcement puts paid to any remaining hopes that Fedor would join the UFC heavyweight division. Strikeforce released a statement today announcing the signing. The statement reveals that events headlined by Fedor will be “co-promoted” by M-1 Global.
"We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with M-1 Global and Fedor," said Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker.
"Fedor has been the reigning king of MMA's heavyweight division for quite some time now so being able to work with M-1 and Fedor will substantially increase the level of competition amongst the athletes in this weight class."
He will make his debut in autumn and his fights will be aired on the Showtime network. Although he has 31 fights under his belt, with a record of 30-1, it will be the first time Fedor has fought in a cage.
"I am very happy and excited about the upcoming collaboration with Strikeforce," said Vadim Finkelchtein, President of M-1 Global.
"We are very pleased that we found a reliable partner and I feel that Strikeforce and M-1 can support each other on many things. This will create big opportunities for both parties to test their fighters against worthy opponents."
Fedor holds wins over Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mark "The Hammer" Coleman, Tim Sylvia and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic.
The news that he has signed for Strikeforce will be disappointing for UFC fans but not unexpected. Reports earlier this week indicated that the UFC had made Fedor a generous offer which was rejected on the grounds that the UFC was unwilling to co-promote with M-1 Global.
When M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelstein insisted there would be no deal without a co-promotion arrangement, any prospect of Fedor heading to the UFC all but vanished.
John Joe O’Regan
John.fightersonly@gmail.com
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