MMAFightline is reporting that Fedor Emelianenko’s people are now in negotiations with the UFC to bring Fedor in for one fight.
I guess the presumption is that he would be facing Randy Couture, but why just sign him for one fight? If I were the UFC, I’d try and lock him up for at least three. If this deal does go down, it would be huge, as the talent war between the UFC and EliteXC looks to be heating up.
Written by Lex on Thursday, March 13th, 2008 in EliteXC, UFC.
Wow. That was quick. Just yesterday, Gary Shaw did an interview where he didn’t respond to Dana White’s recent belittling comments. Guess Gary hadn’t heard the interview yet. He did respond today when chatting with Wrestling on Tap (via MMA Fightline):
“Dana is the type of guy that if he owned a gas station, he wouldn’t want any other gas stations in America, that’s just the type of guy he is. That’s the type of ego he has.”
“As far as Dana saying that I was never a fan of mixed martial arts, ask him to produce articles or tape on me saying the things he said I said. It can’t happen. I was watching mma with my son back when Dana was selling used cars or whatever he was doing before the UFC. I never belittle any sport or organization, that’s not my style.”
I think Dana said all he had to do was “go and search Gary Shaw and mixed martial arts (on the Internet),” and you would find Shaw ” saying five years ago that mixed martial arts was a joke” When I Google “Gary Shaw + Mixed Martial Arts,” all that comes up for me are multiple interviews featuring Dana White bashing him!
This battle between UFC and EliteXC is getting SERIOUS. Now it looks like we might get a bidding war over Fedor Emelianenko. Shaw said this in the same Wrestling on Tap interview:
“We would love to have Fedor with our organization. But Fedor and his people need to be realistic about what they are asking for. He hasn’t had a top fight in awhile. He needs to get back to fighting top competition. In the United States out of sight is out of mind.”
So who wants to pay Fedor? Will EliteXC offer him more money, or will the chance of fight Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell lure him to the UFC, regardless of money?
You know, one other thought. A lot of people complain about White and Shaw sniping back and forth at each other. I’ve seen them called “babies” multiple places on the Internet. But think about it this way: how much more interesting does their bickering make things? Exactly.
Written by Lex on Wednesday, March 12th, 2008 in Boxing, UFC.
According to the Sun, Anderson Sliva wants Roy Jones Jr. in the Boxing ring:
Ed Soares, Silva’s manager, said: “Anderson would really love to fight Roy Jones Jr in a boxing match.
“It’s not just talk, we really would like to put that fight together.
“We respect Jones’ boxing ability and think he’s one of the best but we’re tired of different boxers saying that MMA fighters aren’t technical.
“Anderson would love to fight Roy Jones in a boxing match under boxing rules to prove that MMA fighters are technical too.
The paper notes that Dana White would probably never let the fight take place unless it was sanctioned by the UFC. I say, why not let it happen? Any publicity is good publicity. The only down side to this would be that Anderson Silva wouldn’t fight in an MMA match for several months.
My question is this: why challenge Roy Jones? Why not challenge someone in their prime?
Written by Lex on Tuesday, March 11th, 2008 in EliteXC, MMA, UFC.
Dana White was his usual talkative self in an a Boston Herald interview yesterday. White addressed several topics.
On EliteXC’s deal with CBS:
“The next company that was going to take me out has been coming for the last eight years,” White told the Herald last week. “Every time somebody puts something new together, it’s been ‘Oh, these guys are gonna kick Dana’s (expletive) and put his ego in check.’ There ain’t anybody kicking our (expletive). It isn’t going to happen this year with CBS and Elite XC or any year…”
“It’s a lot trickier than people realize,” White said. “The reality is that Elite XC didn’t sign a deal with CBS, that’s not what happened. CBS bought Elite XC — big difference. I don’t think it’s a great deal at all. I’ve talked to every network, including CBS. The thing is with me — I say it all the time — I’m not going to cut a stupid deal.”
Written by Lex on Tuesday, March 11th, 2008 in EliteXC, UFC.
In a recent interview with HollyScoop.com, Tito Ortiz bashed the UFC and Dana White. Here’s what he had to say:
“I’m done with the UFC, I’m done being taken advantage of I’m done being disrespected. I’ve been in the sport for eleven years. I gave them a third of my life and they give me no respect. They don’t ever put me on TV, they never do anything for me, they never go out of their hand to help me with anything and you know it just shows that the president Dana White is full of himself…his biggest victim is himself. And, I think he’s going to be a person who’s going to ruin the company…he treats fighters really horribly, and the fighters who have a problem here in the United States, those are the ones he takes advantage of.”
Wow. More venom from Tito toward the UFC. I guess it really is over.
Tito also talks Kimbo Slice and Frank Shamrock in the interview. Sounds like Ortiz to EliteXC is on. You can watch the interview right here:
Written by Lex on Sunday, March 9th, 2008 in UFC.
Chuck Liddell recently did two interviews with The Sun newspaper out of the UK. It looks like he’s got two guys that he’d like to face in the coming year–Fedor Emelianenko and “The Dean of Mean,” Keith Jardine. Chuck had a lot to say about the possibility of a fight with Fedor and a move up to the Heavyweight division:
“I think I could take him. I think I match up well with him.
“As far as I know he’s never knocked anyone out from his feet and I think he’d have a hard time taking me down.”
And The Iceman admitted a move up to the heavyweight division could happen once he has achieved his goals at light heavyweight.
He added: “A move to heavyweight is a possibility for me. If I’m done with everything at light heavyweight I might move up.
“The top guys up there aren’t all that big heavyweights. Randy was but I knocked him out twice.”
It sounds like Chuck would try and turn it into a stand-up fight with Fedor. He’s certainly got the knock out power to take him down. With Fedor now making overtures toward the UFC, this fight could happen sooner rather than later, although you’d have to think Fedor would get his fight with Randy Couture, first.
In the same interview, Liddell revealed that he wouldn’t mind taking on Wanderlei Silva again. That would be one rematch that people would be clamoring for.
In another interview with the Sun, Chuck said he’d like a rematch with Keith Jardine. Well, at least, after he gets a light heavyweight title shot at the Forest Griffin/Rampage Jackson winner. So if you’re scoring at home, Chuck wants to Rampage or Forrest Griffin fight for the light heavyweight title, Keith Jardine, Wanderlei Silva and Fedor Emelianenko. That’s all well and good, but Chuck better not forget about Rashad Evans at UFC 85. With the winner of that matchup likely getting the next title shot, I’d say Evans will be pretty damn focused.
Written by Lex on Sunday, March 9th, 2008 in UFC.
ESPN the Magazine has a piece up about Fedor Emelianenko’s current free agency situation. Fedor’s agent, Apy Echteld, had this to say on a potential move to the UFC:
“We’re open to a discussion,” says Echteld. “If everybody is willing to put a little wine in the water, then we have something to work with. There is space for this to happen.”
Dana White is also open to Fedor in the UFC, according to ESPN:
Would the head of the UFC be willing to enter the Fedor fray again? “Absolutely, 100 percent, in a heartbeat,” says White. “People think he’s the best—I don’t, not even close. But if it’s somehow possible, I would make it happen.”
This is getting to be quite the little soap opera between Dana White and Fedor. Just sign the guy already and get it over with. It would solve the Randy Couture problem, as well, and the fans would be getting what they want. Personally, I’d love to see Fedor get destroyed in the ocatgon.
Written by Lex on Friday, March 7th, 2008 in UFC.
I just had to post this–from MMA Fightline’s Jason Perkins:
Also, the former PRIDE Champion stated that he is surprised with his substitute, Rashad Evans. Despite Evans stature here in the US and his undefeated status in the octagon, the Brazilian fighter doesn’t know who he is.
You’re telling me Shogun honestly doesn’t know who Rashad Evans is? Does he even watch the UFC? Unbelievable. If you’re fighting in an organization, you’d think you’d pay attention to the top guys in your division.
Perkins also reports that Shogun will be back in the UFC in August.
Written by Ian on Thursday, March 6th, 2008 in UFC.
Well, less than 24 hours after my post about Rashad Evans possibly facing Chuck Liddell at UFC 85, mmaweekly.com is reporting that this match has been confirmed. It’s potentially huge for Rashad as a win could push his career to new heights. It’s not a particularly ‘glamorous’ UFC bout but it’s a fight I’d love to see. I truly hope Rashad comes out on top and moves into the top ranking light-heavyweights. How far would a title shot be with a win over the legendary ‘Iceman’?
I’m all set to buy my tickets for the show and hearing that this match is confirmed has boosted my hopes of yet another solid UFC card.
Written by Lex on Thursday, March 6th, 2008 in UFC.
UFC 83 will emanate from the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on April 19, 2008. The UFC has officially set the final card for the event, which has sold the most tickets for any UFC show in history. Here’s the full card:
As you can see, this card is pretty heavy on the middleweights. It’s also heavy on Canadian fighters, which makes sense considering it’s the UFC’s first foray into the Montreal market. The Canadian fighters will be WAY over with the crowd, and Matt Serra will be public enemy number one when he faces of against the Québécois (French for “Quebecer”, duh) St. Pierre. I’ll go out on a limb and say this could be the most raucous crowd in the history of the UFC.
