http://www.eckotv.com/video/M-1Global/fedor_emelianenko_signs_with_m1_global Theres the video and heres the recap: -Monte Cox the long-time manager of mixed martial artists such as former welterweight champion This content is protected was was named President and CEO of M-1 Global. -Monte Cox stated at the conference that they are looking for the best oppentents in the world to fight Fedor. Theres a couple guys who we heard became free. I dont know. Its just a rumor. said Cox, in a thinly veiled comment directed at This content is protected . During media events this past weekend at UFC 77, White said he will not release Couture from his contract. Couture has two fights remaining on the deal, and White hinted that the matter will likely have to be settled by the courts. -At this time, no opponent or date has been set for the debut of Russian superstar Fedor Emelianenko under the M-1 banner. -M-1 is searching for a television partner and is eager to stage an event as early as February 2008. -In the next 10 days, M-1 will reveal its stable of fighters who will join Emelianenko on the new roster. -UFC turned down an offer to match Emelianenko up against Tim Sylvia, Fedor isn't sure if Sylvia turned it down of if the UFC turned it down. -Fedor mentioned that his brother, Aleks, was offered a low ball contract to fight inside the Octagon. The goal is to sign him to an M-1 contract as soon as possible. -M-1 will follow PRIDE FC rules for the most part and not include elbows. -Fedor rejects the number one pound for pound fighter in the world label because he hasnt fought and defeated all the best fighters in the world. -M-1 has had many offers to work with other organizations. -M-1 is as popular in Europe as the UFC is here in North America. -Fedor is asked why he made the decision not to sign with the UFC. He said that M-1 is going to be an open company and not closed which means he can compete with all champions. He does not feel like the UFC is open. -Fedor was asked about the possibility of a fight with Randy Couture. He said that he was pleased to hear how highly Randy thought of him. He has great repsect for Randy and has admired him for a long time. Said it would be an honor to fight Couture. -M-1 wants to work with other organizations. If Fedor is M-1's champion it doesn't mean he cant fight for someone else. They want to make the best fights between every organization. -As part of his new deal, Fedor requested and received a special clause in his contract that requires M-1 Global to offer the UFC heavyweight champion $1 million more than what the UFC offers for a fight with Emelianenko. Emelianenko specifically mentioned that clause when a reporter asked him about rumors he was unwilling to fight certain opponents, such as Tim Sylvia, if he were to sign with the UFC. I hope (that clause) demonstrates how I am not afraid to fight anyone, Emelianenko said. -There will be events all over the world. -M-1 says Europe has a lot of great fighters that are unknown to the U.S. fans. What M-1 wants to do is bring in fighters from all over the world to showcase everyone. -Cox talks about how they want everyone in the USA to know who Fedor is. -They believe that when a lot of the UFC fighters contracts run out, they will be looking for an organization that will treat them better as fighters. -They would love to do an MMA event in Madison Square Garden.
This should improve peoples' perceptions of Fedor. Let's hope that everything they say they are going to do will happen.
You might wanna edit that. He said CURRENTLY M1 follows Pride rules but they haven't decided what rules they want to have in the future other than they want to make it so any organization would be able to participate without problem.
Also, I think that 2 mil is not overprice. Remember, the whole success of the organization rests on Fedors shoulders.
That is kinda crazy, resting the whole organizations credabilty on 1 fighter. What if Fedor loses his first fight? What happens to M1 then? It will go down the shitter thats what.
Doesn't matter.. MMA will do better as an international sport, instead of an Americentralized one. This is something that Pride had some trouble with, in that they did favor some Japanese, and fighters of other than Japanese nationalities.. MMA, and America as its platform isn't the best. Rules are pretty difficult to negotiate.. No soccer kicks in the U.S. No kicking while opponent is on the ground. The Cage IMO gets lame when you have GNP practitioners using it as a weapon, plays right into their strategy. Maybe if there were cage matches as well as ring matches, I would be happy... Think about this.. A coin flip.. If a fighter wins the toss, he gets to pick the environment for championship fights.. Other condender fights could be either way, one side of a coin could be cage, other a ring.. Would like to see elbows allowed with pride rules basically, with cage and ring as optional. This couldn't be done in the U.S. Pride rules, allowing fighters to be penalized for not really fighting.. There you go.. Thats what I would like to see.. I think M-1, if their intentions are true is going to be great.
The cage is the right environment for MMA. rings are good for standup fighting, but not practical for MMA and ground fighting. The cage keeps the fighters in....no need to stop the action for fighters getting pushed under the ropes.....which is just annoying.
