Fedor (photo) is considered one of the greatest fighters in the history of MMA. Photo: Disclosure
Three years after coming out of retirement and returning to MMA fights, the legendary Russian fighter Fedor Emelianenko He has a great chance of signing a contract with the UFC. This is what the fighter's manager, Vadim Finkelchtein, guarantees, who considers that the main barriers that prevented an agreement between the parties in the past are no longer an obstacle.
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Emelianenko was, for a long time, considered the top heavyweight fighter on the planet. However, the UFC was never successful in signing the Russian, as M-1 Global, a fight organizing company whose presidents are Finkelchtein himself and Emelianenko, imposed as a condition that there be a partnership in promoting the events in which the Russian fight, which Ultimate never accepted.
In an interview with the “Submission Radio” podcast, Finkelchtein assured that such an agreement would not be necessary today. “As for M-1, we are not interested in co-promoting right now. M-1 is a well-established promoter in Europe and doesn't need this kind of thing anymore. At that time [of the first negotiations], the situation was completely different. We had financial problems. Now, I’m not going to sell M-1 because we are growing and establishing ourselves”, explained the businessman.
“I think the UFC has a great chance of signing Fedor. It depends on what offer they make. If Dana [White, UFC president] is not the only one to talk [in the negotiations], but also do some things and make a good offer to Fedor, they have a good chance”, added the businessman.
The UFC president, in fact, is one of the biggest critics of Emelianenko and his managers, whom he has accused in the past of demanding absurd conditions for the agreement to be signed. For Finkelchtein, disagreements would not be a problem either.
“Dana talked a lot about Fedor, about me, and said bad things. But Fedor understands that it was all public relations. He doesn’t have a bad relationship with Dana, and he has nothing against him”, he guaranteed.
And, if Fedor actually signs with the UFC, Finkelchtein guarantees that the Russian would be able to shine in the biggest MMA organization on the planet, since, despite being 38 years old, he considers the fighter to be in excellent shape.
“Before deciding to retire, Fedor had been working hard, training and fighting throughout his career, and was tired, both physically and mentally. So, he decided it was time to stop. It was a joint decision and I was doing my best to make him come back. Now he decided to go back, but he never stopped training. He always taught classes, did sparring and things like that. So, his physical shape is great now. He didn't lose anything. He just needs time to prepare, because I see fire in his eyes. Mentally, he's ready. He just needs to train a little and he will be able to beat the strongest fighters in the world”, concluded the businessman.
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