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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The ongoing saga that is Strikeforce's relationship with M-1 Global and heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko continues, as M-1 Global President Vadim Finkelstein said this week that Fedor's last fight on his current contract will come against Fabricio Werdum, and Werdum alone.
Finkelstein spoke with Championat.Ru (translated by LowKick), and laid out what M-1 and Fedor are planning at the moment.
"We plan to organize an interim fight for Fedor," Finkelstein said. "We are considering two options: Japan and Russia. We have a lucrative offer from the Japanese partners, who are interested in Fedor fighting on the New Year's Eve. This is the most interesting option for us. But we are also not exluding an option that Fedor Emelianenko will fight in Russia, sometime in December. "
"We have to organize another fight for Fedor, as Fabricio Werdum is currently injured and no one knows when he will come back. Strikeforce have absolutely nothing against the rematch, that's exactly why we are planning the last fight on Fedor's contract to be against Werdum."
Finkelstein also talked about the fights that they are most interested in for Fedor, and Finkelstein once again placed the blame on the UFC for Fedor not coming into the Octagon.
"Of course... Brock Lesnar [is the most interesting opponent]. But this fight will never happen," Finkelstein said. "UFC President Dana White will always delay the fight between Fedor and Lesnar, finding more and more excuses. They offered us a one-sided contract, under which all rights for Fedor will belong to the UFC. Of course, this turn of events did not suit us, so we tried to compromise by offering to organize a joint show. And you know how it ended. Now this fight can be only dream.
"Randy Couture is also a very interesting opponent - he's a living legend of MMA, as well as Josh Barnett. Well, of course, fight with Werdum, who, unlike all the above, will be required"
M-1 Global's stance continues to be co-promotion, and Finkelstein ran with that company line.
"We are ready to organize co-promotion with any organization that is ready to meet our demands," he said. "We have repeatedly expressed our desire to organize a joint show, even with the same UFC, but all in vain. We are ready to fight with the strongest and to co-operate with the worthy."
So while the offer was on the table for a fight with Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva for December in Strikeforce, it does not appear that the fight will come to pass.
Penick's Analysis: This is just getting ridiculous, as now Strikeforce has two fighters waiting on Fabricio Werdum and they're not going to give both men that fight. Finkelstein spelled out all that needs to be said about the leech promotion that is M-1 Global. "Any organization that is ready to meet our demands." Strikeforce is allowing themselves once again to be run over in negotiations with this organization and it's simply not worth it. At this point they're better off releasing Fedor and getting out of the M-1 Global business. If they give in to this and give him Werdum in 2011 they will not be praised for bringing that rematch together. This is setting M-1 up to have Fedor pick up a couple more wins to try to regain negotiating power with the UFC, and Strikeforce is being used to accomplish that goal. This saga is tiring, and unfortunately Strikeforce continues to play along with it.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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