MMA Nation - The UFC And MMA At The Cross Roadshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/33343/mma-icon.png2011-08-04T14:44:52-07:00http://mma.sbnation.com/rss/stream/21040612011-08-04T14:44:52-07:002011-08-04T14:44:52-07:00Where Do Fedor Emelianenko And M-1 Global Go From Here?
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<img alt="Scott Coker, Fedor Emelianenko, Dan Henderson, Vadim Finkelstein before Strikeforce parted ways with M-1 Global. Photo by Forza LLC via Getty Images. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/f_Mz2NBFyXkZh65ZhlJai3EemJg=/0x1:1000x668/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/assets/675159/120076200.jpg" />
<figcaption>Scott Coker, Fedor Emelianenko, Dan Henderson, Vadim Finkelstein before Strikeforce parted ways with M-1 Global. Photo by Forza LLC via Getty Images. </figcaption>
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<p>What's next for Fedor Emelianenko and M-1 Global, his promotion/management company after his release from Strikeforce. </p> <p>Well the suspense is over. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/promotion/strikeforce" class="sbn-auto-link">Strikeforce</a> has parted ways with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122490/fedor-emelianenko" class="sbn-auto-link">Fedor Emelianenko</a> after he posted a 1-3 record with the promotion, losing to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122505/fabricio-werdum" class="sbn-auto-link">Fabricio Werdum</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122502/antonio-silva" class="sbn-auto-link">Antonio Silva</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122555/dan-henderson" class="sbn-auto-link">Dan Henderson</a> in three straight fights. </p>
<p>UFC President Dana White told the press today that Strikeforce was cutting Fedor. The UFC acquired Strikeforce in the spring of 2010.</p>
<p>M-1 Global responded that Zuffa never had a contract with Fedor, that his deal is with Showtime. That deal was struck last fall after Strikeforce and M-1 struggled to come to terms following Fedor's first loss to Fabricio Werdum in June, 2010.</p>
<p>"M-1 is moving forward with M-1 Challenges as we have been the whole year," M-1 Director of Global Operations Evgeni Kogan told MMA Nation's Jonathan Snowden. "We are also going to be moving forward with Fedor's future."</p>
<p>It's unknown if M-1 Global is talking to Golden Glory, but a potential Fedor Emelianenko vs Alistair Overeem bout is now the biggest possible fight outside of Zuffa's purview.</p>
<p>"It is totally fair to say that contract issues were not unexpected following the Fedor v Hendo fight," Kogan told MMA Nation. "However we feel that there is more unfinished business (should Fedor decide that he'd like to continue fighting) and Showtime has been a great partner for Fedor and for M-1. We will do everything that we can to continue that relationship and grow it, both for us as a promotion and Fedor as a fighter."</p>
<p>As for whether Fedor will retire, M-1's Evgeni Kogan commented yesterday: "Usually, Fedor deals with such decisions without unnecessary comments from other people"</p>
<p>"As soon as he makes his choice, he will let Vadim Finkelstein know, who will share the news with the whole team. But overall it is he who shall make such decisions, and in this case, I still can not say. I do not know what he will decide. "</p>
<p>"I think that the M-1 has evolved as an organization this year, we held tournaments in the U.S. and Russia, and I hope that the media and fans have a clear understanding of the separate activities of M-1, which has traditionally been considered first and foremost a team responsible for the management of Fedor , and M-1 Global as an independent organization. So I can say that the M-1 as an organization does not make any official statements about Fedor's future."</p>
<p>Dave Meltzer in the <a href="http://www.f4wonline.com/newsletter-archive/wrestling-observer/21596-august-8-observer-newsletter-three-straight-for-the-former-baddest-man-alive-verano-de-escandalo-review-capital-punishment-and-destination-x-numbers-tons-more" target="_blank">Wrestling Observer</a> (subscription required) wrote:</p>
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<p>Emelianenko and his camp really have no leverage as far as being able to sign for that kind of a money figure now. He is still very popular and has some drawing power. The show did a 1.7 rating, the sixth highest rating for an MMA event on Showtime, with 571,000 viewers on average, and with Emelianenko vs. Henderson peaking at 778,000 viewers. Those are good numbers, but not far off what Herschel Walker drew at a far lower cost, and significantly behind what Emelianenko drew in his previous fight (2.1 rating; 741,000 viewers, peak of 1.1 million) against the lesser-known Antonio Silva in February.</p>
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<p><span style="line-height: 15px;">Fedor being free from any obligations with Strikeforce gives M-1 Global a much more compelling headliner for any future Showtime events.</span></p>
<p>Their first Showtime event, M-1 Global Challenge 24 Damkovsky vs. Figueroa drew 189,000 viewers in on March 25, 2011. They had to use <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight/796/m-1-global-challenge-26-patrick-bennett-vs-kenny-garner" class="sbn-auto-link">Patrick Bennett vs. Kenny Garner</a> as headliners for July 9th's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/77729/m-1-global-challenge-26" class="sbn-auto-link">M-1 Global Challenge 26</a>. when <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/130545/guram-gugenishvili" class="sbn-auto-link">Guram Gugenishvili</a>, the fighter <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/4/21/2124571/does-m-1-global-have-the-sports-next-big-thing-ready-for-their-next">heavily touted as the next big thing</a> (#1 heavyweight on Bloody Elbow's world scouting report) got injured before the event and the Bennett vs Garner rematch was booked in its place. </p>
<p>That event did 161,000 viewers for Showtime on July 8th, a 14.8% decrease. Their next Showtime event will be in October. It remains to be seen what a potential Fedor Emelianenko vs. Alistair Overeem bout could realistically pull on a network with a proven MMA subscriber base, but without backing from the world's leading fight promoter.</p>
<p>It's very unlikely that M-1 could afford Fedor and Overeem on their own. The Strikeforce: Fedor vs Henderson tab came to over $2.3 million and did 571,000 viewers. </p>
<p>It's also not outside the realm of possibility that the UFC could make Fedor an offer, possibly one he won't be in a position to refuse as they're the only MMA promoter in the world right now making the kind of money to pay for Fedor.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.f4wonline.com/newsletter-archive/wrestling-observer/21596-august-8-observer-newsletter-three-straight-for-the-former-baddest-man-alive-verano-de-escandalo-review-capital-punishment-and-destination-x-numbers-tons-more">Meltzer</a> had more thoughts on Fedor in the UFC:</p>
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<p>Emelianenko has no Strikeforce fight worth the money he's making. He's only worth it if he can headline a PPV show, which means UFC. But UFC is a big problem because even there, who can he headline against with three losses in a row. Maybe Frank Mir would be worth it. Without a doubt from a purely one-night financial basis, Brock Lesnar having his comeback fight early next year against Emelianenko would be a big draw where Emelianenko would probably (not definitely but I'd bet on it) be worth what he's getting. But if you're a matchmaker in UFC, to me, Lesnar vs. Emelianenko makes no sense because it's not a win-win. Emelianenko's three straight losses mean he's not going to be getting a title shot any time soon. Lesnar, with one win, can get a title shot since he hasn't lost since dropping the title, plus he's the guy the public will pay to see in a title match. However, if you put Lesnar against someone that could cost him his title shot, it would be better to be a guy like Mir, If Mir beats Lesnar, you've created a viable top contender while eliminating a top contender, but that's the law of the jungle. If Mir beats Lesnar, he can reasonably get the next shot, as he'll have had consecutive wins over Mirko Cro Cop, Roy Nelson and Lesnar. With Emelianenko you are risking the biggest money fight possible (Lesnar challenging for the belt), and the loss of a contender without building a contender. So even if you argue for the night, Lesnar vs. Emelianenko makes more sense and people would want to see it more, long-term booking would say Lesnar needs to face someone in the position of being able to get the next shot, even if it'll draw less money on the night.</p>
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https://mma.sbnation.com/2011/8/4/2344877/where-do-fedor-emelianenko-and-m-1-global-go-from-hereNate Wilcox2011-08-03T13:32:42-07:002011-08-03T13:32:42-07:00Where Does Golden Glory Go From Here?
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<img alt="via <a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/1654078/GLORY_large.jpg">cdn2.sbnation.com</a>" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rrlK0toFTu040ZVDLlS56726DuU=/0x138:450x438/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/772985/GLORY_large.jpg" />
<figcaption>via <a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/1654078/GLORY_large.jpg">cdn2.sbnation.com</a></figcaption>
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<p>What is next for kickboxing/MMA gym and promoter Golden Glory?</p> <p>Last week <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/promotion/strikeforce" class="sbn-auto-link">Strikeforce</a> announced they were cutting their heavyweight champion <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122499/alistair-overeem" class="sbn-auto-link">Alistair Overeem</a>. Today Overeem's gym Golden Glory announced that three of their other fighters under contract to Zuffa (<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122593/marloes-coenen" class="sbn-auto-link">Marloes Coenen</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129245/valentijn-overeem" class="sbn-auto-link">Valentijn Overeem</a>, and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/130176/jon-olav-einemo" class="sbn-auto-link">Jon Olav Einemo</a>) were all cut. Coenen and Overeem were Strikeforce fighters and Einemo had just won Fight of the Night after losing his UFC debut to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129821/dave-herman" class="sbn-auto-link">Dave Herman</a> at <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/73882/ufc-131-carwin-vs-dos-santos" class="sbn-auto-link">UFC 131</a>. </p>
<p>The only remaining Golden Glory fighter in either of Zuffa's promotions are heavyweight <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/128654/sergei-kharitonov" class="sbn-auto-link">Sergei Kharitonov</a> who's got a semi-final berth in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. Of course Alistair Overeem had earned a semi-final berth too.</p>
<p>Golden Glory requires that all fighter purses are paid directly to GG's manager Martijn De Jong and not the fighters. Forza/Zuffa asked that to be changed, as it has a direct payment to fighters policy. De Jong wouldn't change the policy so his fighters were cut. It's unclear how that impacted Einemo who was presumably being paid direct as a UFC fighter. </p>
<p>Golden Glory is publicly saying they're completely surprised by the moves. </p>
<p>So why is Zuffa doing this? </p>
<p>Well veteran <a target="_blank" href="http://mma.sbnation.com/2011/8/3/2342051/zuffa-golden-glory-cuts-marloes-coenen-alistair-overeem-loretta-hunt">MMA writer Loretta Hunt says</a> it's because Golden Glory is looking to promote fights in the U.S. market, but there's more going on than that. </p>
<p>Golden Glory is primarily a kickboxing gym. Alistair Overeem is the champion of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/promotion/k-1" class="sbn-auto-link">K-1</a>, the Japanese promotion that has been kickboxing's major league for almost 20 years. Unfortunately, K-1 is a victim of the Japanese combat sports implosion that killed Pride, Dream, Sengoku and has even mortally wounded Sumo wrestling. </p>
<p>It's not just Japan either. Holland, home of Golden Glory has cracked down on kickboxing events in Amsterdam due to a variety of reasons. Cultural shift to the right is one. But alleged linkages between kickboxing figures and organized crime is possibly another. </p>
<p>It was announced last week that K-1 had been <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/7/28/2300775/k-1-and-dynamite-sold-to-japanese-company">purchased by a Japanese real estate company</a>.</p>
<p>It was also announced last week that Alistair Overeem had been cut by Strikeforce and that <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mmamania.com/2011/7/27/2299304/alistair-overeem-set-to-return-in-mma-bout-at-united-glory-event-in">his next fight would be in Moscow</a> in an event promoted by Golden Glory, er <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/71073/united-glory-mma-kickboxing-world-series" class="sbn-auto-link">United Glory</a>, a promotion owned by Golden Glory boss Martijn De Jong.</p>
<p>I'm sure it's all just a bunch of coincidences and I certainly have no inside sources, but keep your eyes on Golden Glory. </p>
https://mma.sbnation.com/2011/8/3/2342538/where-does-golden-glory-go-from-hereNate Wilcox2011-08-02T11:16:48-07:002011-08-02T11:16:48-07:00Where Does Strikeforce Go From Here?
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<img alt="Scott Coker, Fedor Emelianenko, Dan Henderson, Vadim Finkelstein. Photo by Josh Hedges, Forza LLC, via Getty Images. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/f_Mz2NBFyXkZh65ZhlJai3EemJg=/0x1:1000x668/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/assets/675159/120076200.jpg" />
<figcaption>Scott Coker, Fedor Emelianenko, Dan Henderson, Vadim Finkelstein. Photo by Josh Hedges, Forza LLC, via Getty Images. </figcaption>
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<p>A look at all the balls in the air with MMA promotion Strikeforce. Two champions have left the promotion and two more stars are free agents following last weekend's event. </p> <p>Everything is up in the air for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/promotion/strikeforce">Strikeforce</a>. Six months ago they were the UFC's only remotely serious competitor. Now that they have been purchased by the UFC's parent company they are being slowly assimilated into the Borg. </p>
<p>The UFC has promised to honor all of Strikeforce's existing contractual relationships with Showtime and the various fighters in the promotion. But once those contracts are up, it's anyone's guess what will happen. And a couple of very big contracts are up. One of the headliners of Saturday's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/77733/strikeforce-fedor-vs-henderson">Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson</a> event -- Dan Henderson -- has now completed his current contract and the other could very well be cut with one fight left on his deal. Things are going to get very very interesting. </p>
<p>The fact is, Strikeforce is already being stripped of its biggest assets -- its stars. </p>
<p>Let's look at the major roster changes that have happened since the Zuffa acquisition:</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Strikeforce welterweight champion <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122575/nick-diaz">Nick Diaz</a> leaves SF to get a title shot in the UFC</b><br>Diaz' Strikeforce contract allowed him to box professionally and Zuffa didn't want him boxing. Diaz seemed frustrated by the limited possibilities for opponents and big paydays in Strikeforce as well.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Strikeforce heavyweight champion <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122499/alistair-overeem">Alistair Overeem</a> is cut </b><br>This was a shocker. Overeem had earned a berth in the semi-finals of Strikeforce's Heavyweight Grand Prix. The promotion wanted him to fight in September, he wanted to wait until October. Things got heated and Overeem got cut with one fight still left on his contract. It will be very interesting to see what happens with Strikeforce's relationship with Golden Glory, the Dutch MMA/kickboxing team that manages Overeem and also fellow tournament competitor <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/128654/sergei-kharitonov">Sergei Kharitonov</a>. With Japan's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/promotion/k-1">K-1</a> kickboxing promotion under new ownership, it's possible Overeem will be returning to defend his K-1 title sooner rather than never.</span></li>
</ul>
<p>There is more turbulence just over the horizon as the two headliners of <i>Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson</i> have both completed their current contracts:</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Light heavyweight champion <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122555/dan-henderson">Dan Henderson</a> is a free agent</b><br>Henderson came to Strikeforce when he couldn't come to terms with the UFC. There was much talk of Henderson wanting a "seven-figure signing bonus" but it's unconfirmed what his actual asking price was. We do know that Henderson's Clinch Gear clothing line was banned as a sponsor for the UFC during the bitter negotiations. We also have reason to believe the UFC offered Henderson headlining fights on two cards during the negotiations: UFC 103 and UFC 109. He's coming off an impressive 3-1 Strikeforce run and should be in demand. He's the test case to see if Zuffa really can bury the hatchet with fighters that left for Strikeforce because of difficulties working with Zuffa in the past.</span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>The Strikeforce/Showtime/M-1 Global deal that brought Fedor to Strikeforce could end<br></b></span><span style="font-size: 12px;">When Affliction's ill-fated venture in fight promoting came to an ugly end, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122490/fedor-emelianenko">Fedor Emelianenko</a> was the most in-demand free agent in MMA history up to that point. The UFC offered him the best deal they could come up with, but Fedor's management team M-1 Global insisted on a co-promotional deal. Strikeforce gave them what they wanted. Later, after they re-negotiated his contract Showtime sweetened the pot by agreeing to air some M-1 Global events. I believe there's one more event on that deal, but I can't imagine that Showtime will continue airing M-1 fights. Fedor has one more fight left on the contract he signed back in March, but you'd have to think Strikeforce will cut him after 3 losses. Scott Coker has said he wants Fedor Emelianenko back, but we'll see if he can come to terms with M-1. The bigger question is can M-1 Global come to terms with the reality of Fedor's greatly diminished asking price and their utter lack of leverage?</span>
</li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson lost a lot of money</b><br>When the fight was announced originally it was planned as a pay-per-view to cover the combined $2.5 million pay days of Fedor and Henderson. That fell through so they put it on Showtime. There is no way that Showtime paid out enough to cover that tab, that's more than the average payroll for an entire UFC pay-per-view. The ratings weren't all that great either, just the fourth best in the promotion's history on Showtime. </span></li>
</ul>
<p>That leaves one last big question mark regarding Strikeforce's future: women's MMA. It's no secret that Dana White is no fan of women's MMA. Recently he's softened his stance to say there just aren't enough top female fighters to put together a division. What that means for Strikeforce champs <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/129822/cristiane-santos">Cristiane "Cybrog" Santos</a> -- <a href="http://fcfighter.com/post/breaking-news-manager-for-cristiane-santos-confirms-new-strikeforce-deal" target="_blank">who may</a> or <a href="http://mmajunkie.com/news/24309/strikeforce-rep-no-update-on-champ-cris-cyborg-santos-contract-discussions.mma" target="_blank">may not have</a> just renewed her contract after almost a year in limbo -- and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/130035/miesha-tate">Miesha Tate</a> is anyone's guess.</p>
https://mma.sbnation.com/2011/8/2/2339155/ufc-strikeforce-zuffa-fedor-emelianenko-dan-henderson-alistair-overeemNate Wilcox