http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/8/1/972339/mike-chiappetta-the-ufcs-attempt Speaking to Luke Thomas on MMA Nation today on 106.7 The Fan, AOL Fanhouse MMA writer Mike Chiappetta said that the UFC's urgency to sign a deal possibly set the deal back. I'm too lazy to transcribe, but here's the gist of what Mike said: This is an excellent point and it really brings home just how unusual these negotiations have been. The UFC brass has been especially impetuous, even by Dana White standards. It is pretty amazing that they have managed to get the fans this riled up and angry at Fedor for not rushing into a deal, no matter how lucrative it is. The question I'm wrestling with right now is this -- have Dana and the UFC managed to make Fedor an even hotter property? Coming off of UFC 100, there is unprecedented interest in the UFC and MMA. While ESPN has not been giving the Fedor negotiations attention, the dramatic increase in traffic to the MMA media has got to have some impact on the marketplace. If the UFC has succeeded in making Fedor an even hotter property, they'll be the ones to suffer the consequences. Many in the comments are dismissing Fedor's importance, but if he didn't matter the UFC wouldn't be offering him the world. If Fedor signs with Strikeforce and gets on CBS, he's a game changer. If Fedor aligns with a major boxing promoter (say Golden Boy) and they get him on HBO, he's a game changer. If Fedor goes to Japan and fights Satori Ishii on live network TV, he's a game changer. If Fedor signs with the UFC, they have the top fighter in each division according to the USAT/SBN Consensus MMA rankings. At that point UFC = the major leagues of MMA.* Until they have Fedor, or he loses, they're just the best promotion by a very wide margin. If they get Fedor on board, they become a black hole at the center of MMA, pulling all who want to be considered among the world's top fighters into their orbit. *It can be argued that DREAM and WVR/Sengoku have lightweight divisions that are comparable with the UFC's but no single fighter has put together a case to match that of B.J. Penn's for being the best lightweight fighter in the world.
None of that matters. The UFC will offer him a better deal than anyone else can offer. He will also become a much bigger star in the UFC. All of it comes down to Co-Promotion... and M-1 Global has absolutely no ground to stand on. M-1 Global's Co-Promotion is absolutely worthless to the UFC. Basically... they would be handing them money just for being M-1 Global.... and giving M-1 Global the biggest advertisement that they will ever see... while paying them to do so. It makes no sense.
Hard to argue with any of these comments. If I owned the UFC I certainly wouldn't let a fighter go down this path, if you do, it's the beginning of the end. Cause then GSP and Silva and others are going to want similar deals down the road. Money is one thing, put issues like co-promotion are entirely different. And the current UFC management has all the expertise in this area, so they'd only be giving buckets of money away with no upside. Unless M-1 wanted a portion of the Russian revenues and they could argue they could grow that market, then it may make some sense on that level.
****ing absurd, Fedor does not want to fight the best in the world, end of discussion. He is the best fighter, but he is completely unwilling to prove it, so go fight ****ing freak shows in orgs that disappear in a week because of your currupt ****ing M1 co promotion which ruins every show it touches. Hows Bodog? Oh thats right, you fought a MW and they are bankrupt? Hows Affliction? Oh that's right, they are done. **** it, he wants nothing to do with fighting the best, he wants to fight hand picked opponents and bankrupt companies. Go do that, you are no longer relevant.
that's what I have been saying lately, people think that having fedor part of their org is a "game changer" well he is not...at least yet, he's not a big name yet in north America and therefor will not bring in big ppv numbers if he's not in the UFC and especially if he fights a chump. And then they have to pay Fedor big bucks and then they have to give Finkel half the show. And then when they are done with org they will move on to another.
Who's fought better apponents than Fedors last 2 fights and the one that fell through? Come talk to me when you find the answer. Or were you just quoting Dana?
Yes his past is great. Nobody is denying that. Although I would say Mir is better than Sylvia, which is proven. I would also say Couture is better than Arlovski, look what just happened to Arlovski? But yes, those were very good fights for Fedor, no question. It also has **** all to do with him continuing to do it. Champions prove they are the best by fighting top contenders every single fight, and doing it as often as they can. By turning down the UFC, and insisting on bankrupting another org, it appears Fedor wants no part of continuing to do what a real champion does. If he wants to just ride off into the sunset or have some freakshow fights with fly by night orgs, fine, but it means he is irelevant to the present, the now, not the (insert time period in the past here).
Tim Sylvia was number 4 on sherdog at the time of the fight. Arlovski was #2 and Barnette #2. You're looking at it in hindsight. It's not "oh as it finds out they didn't deserve to be #2 or #4" or w/e. It doesn't work like that. Ranks constantly change and Fedors opponents WERE ranked high. Look at it this way, say Fedor is looking for a good opponent, and as we see Lesnar is #3(or so) right now, Fedor beats him, and than Eddie Sanchez beats Lesnar in a minute with a flash KO. Does that mean that Fedor is picked easy opponent again? They picked highest possible ranked opponents available, they happened to be #4 #2. Lesnars was #3 and $3. Looks pretty ****ing even to me. In fact considering Barnett was/is #2 Fedor easily wins the "who has been facing better competition" debate. He IS relevant to the present because he's the best. You're looking at this **** from UFC perspective again. Why doesn't Lesnar do what real champion does and fight Fedor? Fedor is #1, you wanna crack at him, come and get it. Couture tried, but was tied down. I guess Lesnar just doesn't do what a real champions do eh? You know, chasing to prove himself against the best? Fedor still has good competition outside of the UFC while still being able to promote the sport for Russia. I think it's clear that he cares about the fact that he's constantly facing good opponents(at least as of late), but promoting the sport for Russia(even if it's by promoting a Russian org.) is his top priority. So he'll give up "opportunity" to fight the higher ranks for an opportunity to do what is in his best interest. Sounds pretty productive and reasonable to me. That said, I again stress the fact that it's the lower ranks who chase higher ranks not the other way around. A number 50 is looking for an opportunity to fight number 40 or 45(to shoot up in ranks) same way a number 3-4 should behave like a champion and look for an opportunity to fight #1. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. What he is doing right now is giving up a silly, unneeded chase after lower ranks to promote what is in his best interest(promoting sport in Russia or w/e). Fedor is the champion, fighters challenge HIM, he's the king of the mother****ing hill. He sits there until someone tries ****, he has NEVER backed out of a challenge when such has been proposed. Someone challenge him. I bet you all I got, if any of those fighters from UFC were to undo their contract right now and challenge Fedor, M-1 will make that **** happen.
Shoot this explains it! Fedor and M1 taking their time fielding offers from various orgs. I mean why not test the market. Theres even a rumor that a rival outfit can guarantee Fedor over 200k PPV buys.
