http://mmajunkie.com/news/19604/strikeforces-fedor-emelianenko-im-not-a-fan-of-the-ufc.mma Top-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko said today that he doesn't think much of the promotion that's so aggressively courted him for more than three years. "I'm not a UFC fan," Emelianenko said when asked if his June 26 headliner against Fabricio Werdum at "Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum" is more relevant than an a UFC title-unification bout between champ Brock Lesnar and interim title-holder Shane Carwin at UFC 116. "I would invite all the fans to watch our fight, which I believe is more important," he said through translator Steven Bash. The winner of Emelianenko (31-1 MMA, 1-0 SF) vs. Werdum (13-4-1 MMA, 2-0 SF) is expected to fight current Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem, who in May defended his title against Brett Rogers. Overeem and his managers have sparred in the press with Emelianenko's representatives over the potential bout and have traded accusations as to the the long-anticipated fight's delay. Emelianenko, who this past August signed a three-fight contract with Strikeforce after intense negotiations with the UFC, did not back off his statements when later asked to clarify. "I'm not a fan of watching [the UFC's] fights," he said. "Compared to a lot of the commercials and promotion in anticipation of their fights, and compared to a lot of the shows I've seen, there seems to be a lot of negativity involved in their shows. "So I'm just not a fan of watching their programs." It was the first time Emelianenko took a direct shot at the UFC's product. In the three years since the Russian became a free agent with the shuttering of PRIDE Fighting Championships, he shied away from criticizing the industry-leading fight promotion. UFC president Dana White alternately has blasted Emelianenko and coveted his services. "I've signed Brock Lesnar, who came from the WWE, James Toney from boxing he's a nut chasing me all over the place Tito Ortiz, whom I hated, and he hated me," White told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) in an interview following UFC 115. "I've kept Chuck Liddell, kept Matt Hughes, kept Rich Franklin, when they were all champions. Anderson Silva, I've dealt with all the crazy [expletive] with him. "But I can't sign Fedor? How is this possible that I can't sign this guy? It's not possible. These guys don't want to fight the best in the world." Emelianenko said his dislike of the UFC stems from how its fights are presented and the fighters it employs. "I think a combination," he said. "And also, in some ways, (it's due to) the actions and the behavior of a lot of fighters from the UFC. It takes away from the sport." In the past, Emelianenko's manager, Vadim Finkelchtein, has addressed White's claims. But today, the manager and M-1 Global president was silent. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said today that "Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum" has crossed the 10,000 mark in ticket sales, and he expects a full house at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., for the event.
Well its pretty simple, doesn't want to do business with White for very public reasons and seeing White prance around that fact with misinfrmation is hilarious.
Agreed. Fedor seems like a man of principals. If a fighter talked horrible trash about him he would just save it for the fight, make the guy pay and move on. Well Dana trashes him and his managment on a regular basis so why should Fedor go work for a guy whos talked about his likes hes the scum of the earth ? The UFC does not need Fedor but ill say this Fedor doesnt need the UFC either. Kinda reminds me of the wrestler Sting he didnt need the WWE hype machine to make him a legend in that form of entertainment he never sold his sole. Same with Fedor he busted his ass and became a legend 7 years ago everything since is just icing on the cake. Id rather Fedor never compete in the UFC TBH I think we might miss out of some good fights but I think it in the long run might teach Dana a lesson. These guys are fighters but human beings to they dont deserve to be treated like garbage.
Fedor has sid in the past that if he became champion he would NOT be able to leave. Essentially he'd be a slave to the title like Anderson Silva is and see how Anderson is dealing with it!
FINALLY this guy has atleast said SOMETHING negative about the UFC after all the **** and humilation he has suffered over the years..The ufc roster doesnt seem like well respected athletes showing and displaying there craft like in the pride days...RESPECTED by the fans.. the ufc seems like bunch of hardcore tattoo'd thugs wanting to break stuff...and thats EXACTLY how they present themselves.. theres a REASON why they havent been EVEN CLOSE to mainstream despite clearly being more consistant in payperview #'s compared to boxing...yet Kimbo BEFORE he went to the ufc was probably MORE MAINSTREAM THAN ANYONE in the history of the ufc not named ken shamrock..[shamrock went to the wwe and got huge..kinda like a certain current ufc champ..HOW ELSE does ufc guys get popular?? by going through Mcmahon..] what that means is this: the overall public and big business' dont give a crap about the representation of the ufc.. they'll have their audience and make profits and even out do boxing overall since they do a better job at making LESS THAN AVERAGE fighters/thugs....stars...the ufc is good at capitalizing on idiots who dont the difference between a left hook and a left jab.. Fedor PLEASE dont go to the UFC..just rip them apart after dana has no use for them..just like how u already are..thank you.
I can't believe people are buying this front Fedor is putting on. The man grew up in the USSR, you really think he gives a **** about what kinda **** Dana White is talking? You really think he even reads up on the kind of **** Dana White is talking? There is one reason Fedor isn't in the UFC and one reason alone; the greedy ****s over at M-1.