Just five days before his second MMA fight in 2007, Fedor Emelianenko He decided once and for all to open up about why he didn't sign with the UFC. The Russian was contested in several events shortly after the end of Pride, as he was considered the best heavyweight in the world. After Dana White's failed attempts to bring him to America, the top hat shot at the Russian, saying he wasn't even among the top five.
Fedor will take to the ring next Monday to face K-1 giant Hong Man Choi at the event called Yarennoka, promoted by M-1 Global in conjunction with former Pride employees. The show will also feature the presence of Murilo Bustamate, who will fight Makoto Takimoto, and Luiz Azeredo who will face Tatsuya Kawajiri. The big absence on the official card was that of Gesias Cavalcanti who was injured and will not face the Japanese Shinya Aoki.
“I never met Dana White, I never spoke to him on the phone or via email. However, your emails to Vadim (manager) were disappointing. The contract presented by the UFC was impossible to sign. If I won, I would have to fight eight times in two years. If I lost a fight, the UFC would have the right to rip up the contract. If after the contract ended I was undefeated, it would automatically be extended for an unspecified period of time for the same money,” said the Pride champion.
“Basically I couldn't go out undefeated, I couldn't give interviews, appear in films or commercials, I couldn't fight samba, which is my national sport. I couldn't do anything without the UFC's consent. There were many clauses, it was an 18-page contract in which I had no rights and the UFC could tear up the contract at any time. My lawyer said it was impossible to sign this document”, added Fedor in an interview with the Sherdog website.
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