Why Fedor didnt sign with the UFC

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Fedor Emelianenko at center of a mixed martial arts Cold War

June 25, 2010|By Lance Pugmire
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/25/sports/la-sp-fedor-strikeforce-20100626
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The fighter (Fedor) says what previously turned him off from a possible UFC deal is that "money does not decide everything in this life."

The subjects that turned Emelianenko away from UFC, he said, were driven by the company's desire to maximize its profits instead of making the deal a priority. Clearly, UFC wasn't going to let M-1 join as a co-promoter on Emelianenko fight banners, as the Russians requested.

But Emelianenko said he was left frustrated by the UFC's unbending policy to force an automatic contract renewal for fighters who win or retain a championship belt. "The UFC said to me, 'Sooner or later, you'll come crawling back to us.' There's no understanding in that, being told, 'You'll come back anyway and accept our conditions.' I don't like hearing that."

Emelianenko's answer is that he's earned more respect with his staying power while UFC heavyweight champions have shrunk in defeat. "During my career, there's always been people they've wanted to see me against: Tim Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski, Randy Couture, Frank Mir, and now Brock Lesnar," Emelianenko said. "The UFC champions, they change."​

 

This is called the UFC champions clause.

For example:
If Fedor signed for a 3 fight contract with the UFC and wins the belt on his third and final bout. He wont be able to discontinue his contract and fight somewhere else, he would need to keep fighting in the UFC until he looses.

HOWEVER

If Fedor lost his first fight of that said 3 fight contract, the UFC has the power to reassess his payment and his employment. The UFC could cut Fedor's pay to any amount or cut Fedor all together.

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People continually blame M1 for controlling Fedor like a puppet. Its clear that Fedor knows exactly whats going on and choose not to fight in the UFC because he simply didnt like the deal they offered and the way they treated him. Frankly, I cant blame him.

 

Not quite. The UFC wouldnt even have a bar of a one fight deal with no strings attached and promoted by the UFC. This was proposed by M1-Global to have Fedor fight either Brock or Mir (who ever the winner).

 

Affliction = Affliction promotion basically disapeared because it decided to concentrate on its clothing line. The UFC made this happen, they were already in talks before the fight was cancelled. The UFC were more at fault than M1.

Pride = Pride's downfall started because of the Yakuza story. UFC promised to buy and continue to run Pride. After UFC acquired the video library and the fighters, the UFC renegged on its agreement. They basically fired all Pride employees and closed down the offices. Again the UFC were more at fault in Prides demise.