This past week it was reported that Fedor Emelianenko is considering a return to MMA with many speculating UFC and Bellator as the most interested suitors. The question many want to know is whether he’s worth it.
It has been almost 4 years since Fedor’s last significant MMA fight as you might recall Dan Henderson came back to KO Fedor at a Strikeforce event in late July 2011. That event drew only 571,000 with a peak of 778,000 Showtime subscribers which made it the fourth watched Strikeforce event of all-time. Earlier that year, a Strikeforce event featuring Bigfoot Silva versus Fedor scored the highest-viewed Showtime event with 741,000 viewers.
At 39 years old, Fedor would fit into a UFC Heavyweight division with many of its top fighters over the age of 30. But, many probably have concluded that he may sign with Bellator and Scott Coker. Since taking the reigns of the Viacom-owned property, Coker has designed events centered around fighters with past fame. Notably, Bellator 131 featured Tito Ortiz and Stephan Bonnar. June starred Ken Shamrock and Kimbo Slice. It also centered events around Rampage Jackson and just signed Josh Koscheck and immediately paired him against Paul Daley for a rematch of their infamous UFC fight.
The ratings for the tentpole events of 131 and 138 show that fans are drawn to the events. Coker is able to draw and past triumphs of fighters to grab attention in the present. Its an uncanny knack of the old making something out of nothing.
Despite being a recent brand ambassador for Bellator, Fedor’s camp is saying that it will not have any bearing on where he signs. But what will determine where he signs is the money. If he signs with the UFC, he will look for top dollar. This would likely include PPV upside. Since the UFC-Reebok deal, Fedor would lose out on that revenue stream unless he is able to strike an individual deal with the UFC’s official sponsors. Bellator would welcome him as he could easily be slotted into the main event at a tentpole event.
But could a Fedor fight improve upon the ratings he received in 2011? Certainly, he’d have more exposure as Showtime is limited to its premium subscribers.
Payout Perspective:
While Fedor’s representatives remain open to fighting anywhere, Bellator seems the most likely place for him to return. The landscape of MMA has changed and even though the UFC would be happy to take Fedor, past negotiations with him have proven to be difficult. Still, the UFC may be in the market to keep him away from Bellator. Of course, the UFC has passed on fighters in the past. We shall see where he ends up.
Fedor is the greatest Mixed Martial Artist of all time and an exemplary character in an environment dominated by meatheads and over-the-top loud mouths, he was the best of his generation and should remain retired to protect his legacy… he was already out of his prime when he retired and is now most likely rusty as hell with that long layoff–and at 39 years of age to say the least. The crazy thing is that the UFC heavyweight division is so lacking in talent that he could probably be competitive, but it’s best not to screw over your legacy as the GOAT. PRIDE Never DIE but the Emperor is no more and we all know it.
He’s too old and too small. He always relied on his speed and reflexes and those are the first to go. He has a reckless style that made him a fan favorite and he got away with it for a long time, but those days are long gone. Maybe he could fight at 205 and have a few exciting fights, but I don’t see him dominating.
Fedor, Like Cro-cop, like Wanderlei, was great in a fixed-fights promotion fighting mostly fake japanese wrestlers. Like the other two, as soon as he came to america he got his ass ended to him and he ran back to Japan to fight three more cans.
The only way ueen Fedor is coming back is with Bellator, fighting some shit fighter like Kimbo.
fucking pathetic! Fedor blew his nut a decade ago! Dana missed the chance too. But I’m sure he will be somewhat successful if he comes back. Goes to show the lack of any integrity in mma. and not saying that boxing is any better, however boxing doesn’t have to revolve the entire success of the sport on a wwe star, a women and some internet sensation!!!!
Saldaqueer.
For those that believe that the UFC is not a prime suitor for Fedor, I believe you are not looking at the bigger picture. Sure, Bellator will provide the more diverse contract or shorter stick, however, the UFC provides the biggest carrot.
When we access Fedor’s career, especially post Pride, he had continued to compete at an extremely high level. Two notable top HW fighters declined UFC contracts just to get a crack at fighting Fedor in Affliction. Fedor beat both AA and TS to cement himself as the greatest HW MMA fighter of all time.
Things changed quickly when he entered the “cage” at Strikeforce. His first fight with Brett Rogers exposed Fedor’s achilles heel, the fence. Although he won the match, he did appear to be off from a positional perspective. This can be debated, as he has in other forums, so I won’t get into this detail.
His legacy quickly took a bit of a hit, losing fights to Hendo, Silva and Werdum. Two of those fighters have since been discovered to be on banned substances, another is now the world HW champ in the UFC, so those losses don’t look as bad now as they did back 4 years ago.
With the history out of the way, let’s talk money. There are many appealing aspects for Fedor for fighting in the UFC.
Let’s start with Reebok. A deal with Fedor would be a major business move for the sporting company and the ability to make inroads in the Russian market. Fedor would also benefit immensely by signing an exclusive contract with Reebok and enter the realm of athletes with top brand sports sponsors.
Russia. We all know that the UFC wants to enter the Russian market. As it stands today, they only have Khabib Nurmagomedov as a possible draw (amazing fighter by the way). Fedor is obviously a huge name in Russia and would provide the UFC with exactly the fighter they need to enter the market successfully. Also, Fedor has worked as president of the Russian MMA Union. With his connections, a huge event in Moscow would become a reality.
Revenge. If Fedor is coming back to MMA, one would think that he wants to right the wrongs in a few of the losses on his record. One would think a fight with a “clean” big foot would sway the Russian’s way. Also, a fight with Hendo, who is also at the twilight of his career could come to frution. But most importantly, the man taht holds the belt in the UFC would make the biggets match up possible for Fedor. One can not ignore this aspect hwne dicussion Fedor’s return.
Money. THe organization that could provide the most money for Fedor is the UFC. Let’s be open about this. Fedor is coming back, but one would think at his age he will not be fighting more than than 2 or 3 fights before calling it a day. With the UFC, and PPV compensation, Fedor would be able to make the most money. In one fight in the UFC, he could match the money he could make in 3 fights with Ball
In the end, most believe Fedor will fight in Bellator (Tito Ortiz has said as much), however, the biggest opportunity to make money in the twilight of his career and his opportunity to right the wrongs by getting revenge against some of his losses sits with the UFC. From my understanding, Fedor is no longer committed to M1 or Vladim, so he is free to chose where to go, and this time there is no barrier towards going to the UFC.
Fedor only is coming back because he sees Bellator running circus fights like Pride used to. Bellator stopped trying to be legit and when for fights to make money. Fedor wont have to fight anyone good and will be protected. The UFC is always looking for the best and the fighters have to fight everyone and be willing to prove who is the best. Fedor didn’t sign before because he refused to give up control of cherry picking his fights. So he fought in the minor leagues until he got caught by Werdum. HE lost leverage and had to take fights he didn’t get to cherry pick and lost 2 more times and quit. Not he sees another promotion who will protect him.
If he signs with the UFC it will be to fight Mir who has a glass jaw. He will never fight the top guys there like Cain, Santos, Stipe, etc. He wants to fight people with huge holes he can exploit.
He has been ducking and manipulating the mma public for over a decade!
Good for Fedor!!!
BS, that actually may not be true at all- Finkelstein seemed like the UFC was the front runner when he was on the radio with Helwani today.
By the way, your analysis of Fedor’s lack of accomplishments are absurd. He is the greatest fighter to ever live. Nearly every legit contender he fought was roided up. He lost a few times when he was washed up- just like every champion that hangs around too long. He also didn’t sign before with the UFC because of the guys who had him by the balls were fucking his career up by using him to brand themselves. He would fight anyone. CroCop in his prime, Herring, Randleman, Coleman, Nogueira in his prime 2x, Fujita is a pretty impressive list of fighters. Then he destroyed Arlovski and Sylvia two ex UFC champs- and don’t tell me either one of them was a has been when those fights went down.
To be fair though, he should probably stay retired unless he is very motivated- his age is becoming a factor. If this is a money grab- he should reconsider it.
Fedor is half a fraud and was a puppet for the Russian gangs and their gambling, fought worked fights, did drugs, who doesn’t, and got his ass kicked for all of us to see live more then once. I would still go see him fight lol
Greatest fighters of all time were Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson.
Sal ranting incoherently.
Greatest boxers of all time were boxers like Ray Robinson and Ali.
Rocky Marciano boys! D wouldn’t know a decent boxer if he got slugged by one, but since D has never been inside a gym or competed in anything except x box he wouldn’t fucking know!!
Saldaqueef.
Some of the stuff you guys have posted is just rediculous. Fedor didn’t fight cans, you guys are tools for Dana Whites propaganda. Try thinking for yourselves for once. If you want to say dude got old, the fight game evolved past him, and so forth then fine. Those are fair arguements. To say he didn’t dominate the spot by beating the best of the best for nearly 10 years, your just being an idiot. Look at the list of former UFC champions he beat and guys that were thought to be the best when he beat them. I will give you a run down. Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Nogueira, Mirko “Cro Cop”, Mark Hunt, Tim Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski, and many others who at the time were top 10 HW fighters. Every time you turned around these guys were being called the best by the UFC or Legends and yet Fedor was beating cans? Yeah right! He losses to the current UFC Champion, losses to a guy in Silva that the UFC calls a top 5 guy and puts him against thier world champ in the next year, and Dan Henderson when he was on Testosterone when Henderson is considered a top light heavyweight at the time and win the Strikeforce title and all these losses are good losses to good fighters on the down side of Fedors career. Give me a break people. Is Fedor the best out there right now, ofcourse not, but he definetly was for a long time and I think he can still be very compeditive if his head is back in the game and his body has had time to heal. Atleast respect what the man has done, even if you don’t like him because if you can’t respect him who the hell can we respect in this sport!?