UFC President Dana White seems to be working really hard to ink a deal with the Russian Sambo fighter Fedor Emelianenko, especially now that the Affliction MMA promotion recently ceased operations. Fedor was expected to take on Josh Barnett as part of the Affliction ‘Trilogy’ main event on August 1st. However, Barnett tested positive for steroids and it was all downhill from there. The entire event was fully canceled and now Fedor seems to be a free agent once again.
Fedor’s manager and M-1 Global President, Vadim Finkelstein, recently stated that they were willing to cooperate with the UFC in order to get Fedor to fight in the octagon. Finkelstein insists that the opportunity has always been there, but there is never a deal because of Dana White’s ultimatums. Nonetheless, White seems to be willing to do whatever it takes in order to satisfy both parties. If the UFC signs Fedor, White promises an immediate heavyweight title shot which could mean a super fight against current champ Brock Lesnar.
Snip from Dana White:
“My job is to put on the best fighters and to give you, the fans, the fights you want to see. I’ve been trying to get Fedor (Emelianenko) in the UFC. I want it because you want it. Believe me, I’m trying to make it happen. He’ll fight for the title first. What does he need, a tune-up fight or something? … To argue where this guy sits in the heavyweight division, we can argue that all day. Fedor has a ton of experience. The guy’s been around forever. But you can’t take anything away from Brock Lesnar … It’s an interesting fight. It’s a very good fight. Fedor’s got to come to a deal first. If Randy can go out there and cut that deal with Fedor, then Randy, get to work, buddy.”