Despite Strikeforce contract, Fedor Emelianenko can still compete in Japan

Despite Strikeforce contract, Fedor Emelianenko can still compete in Japan

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Aug 04, 2009 at 12:59 pm ET

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Although Fedor Emelianenko has been signed to a three-fight, one-year deal, Strikeforce officials will still permit the heavyweight fighter to compete overseas, including in Japan.

Strikeforce executive Mike Afromowitz confirmed with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Emelianenko (30-1), who signed with Strikeforce on Monday, will be permitted to fight outside the organization while under contract.

Emelianenko, a former longtime heavyweight champion of the now-defunct PRIDE Fighting Championships in Japan, competed in New Year's Eve shows in Japan every year from 2003 to 2007.

The 32-year-old fighter has often said the year-end tradition is one of his favorite parts of the fight game.

However, it's too soon to know if Emelianenko could compete in Japan this year on New Year's Eve. Although no specific date has been set, Emelianenko is expected to make his Strikeforce and Showtime debut "this fall," according to Strikeforce officials, possibly as soon as October. That debut is expected to take place in the U.S.

DREAM, an organizations born from the ashes of PRIDE, is the new promoter of New Year's Eve shows in Japan. The organization hosted its first NYE show in 2008 and is expected to do so again this year.

In fact, Strikeforce is expected to announce a formal partnership with the Japanese-based organization's parent company, Fighting Entertainment Group, in the coming weeks. It's not known if the two promotions would partner for a Dec. 31 show, but it does open the door for a potential Emelianenko vs. Sergei Kharitonov (16-4) bout.

On Monday Strikeforce announced a deal with Emelianenko that will put the famed Russian fighter on cards co-promoted by M-1 Global, which is run by Emelianenko's manager, Vadim Finkelstein. While Emelianenko and UFC officials were negotiating for a deal as recently as this past week, the co-promoting demands ultimately tripped up a potential contract offer from the world's most recognizable MMA brand.

The UFC ultimately caved into demands that tripped up previous negotiations, such as granting Emelianenko permission to compete in Russian Sambo tournaments and wear M-1 branded fight gear during UFC fights. However, neither side was willing to cave on the co-promoting issue, which ultimately led to the Strikeforce deal.







Ahhh poor ol UFC! Hello NYE!!:happy:happy

 

And if it does happen on NYE seriously who can complain? Thats why the whole affair is so laughable. Fedor MUST come to the UFC because big bad Brock Mir and Couture are there

 

I dont understand it either. :huh

 

Seriously mate you are a joke. How on earth you can call yourself a fan of MMA is beyond me. Prior to Fedor fighting Sylvia and Andre guys like you bitched and whined saying when is he going to fight Sylvia or Arlovski. Now that he has and he wiped the floor with both of them there now garbage wins. Find another sport to watch. Your not a fan of MMA.

 

If i recall as you clearly do not, Choi was to be Brocks first opponent in Hero's. That bout never came off because Choi failed a medical. Fedor fought Choi a 7ft 2 striker at NYE and arm barred him. But in your eyes that means nothing and is a freakshow even though Brock signed to fight Choi? Did that make Brock anymore of a freakshow? How about Fedor's bout with Semmy Schilt is that a freakshow too? Shilt is close to 7ft and one of the K1's best strikers. Fedor beat him too over 3 rounds let me guess another freak show? Matter of fact could not Brock Fedor be construed as a freakshow? Is there that much diffrence in weight between Brock Schilt or Choi? All are close to 300lbs or even more... Actually what about Mark Hunt who comes down from 300lbs?

Or do you mean his bout with Rei Zulu's son? The father of mixed martial arts and one of MMA's first and orginal stars.. But hey Zulu was big and fat and the size of a sumo. Fedor turned him into a turtle and made him tap through strikes but hey thats another freakshow right?

And no ones taking anything from 6 years ago. You're entire childish argument is riddled with more holes than swiss cheese. Last i looked the Sylvia and Arlovski fights were early this year and last year respectively. Both were annihilated. Both were top ranked heavyweights independantly. But now you rubbish these wins because all of a sudden they dont matter anymore because Fedor wouldnt do a deal with Dana and you're brain isnt capable of remembering as far back as 8 months ago.

You are everything that epitmoses the lip stick and gloss mentality that is the UFC fans. You lap up every piece of bull**** propoganda and spin that Dana feeds you and unwaiveringly never question it. And yet the gaps are clear as light is day in you're knowledge on the this great sport because all you know about is the UFC and the rest be dammed.





My bad thought this that Ryanty22 poster but it applies to you aswell Beebs. Time to deal with it. Theres life outside of the UFC point blank point simple.