UFC
Vadim Finkelchtein thinks the UFC has a "big chance" to sign Fedor Emelianenko
Jul 20, 2015 - 4:00:11 PM Vadim Finkelchtein thinks the UFC has a "big chance" to sign Fedor Emelianenko

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

With Fedor Emelianenko returning to MMA, the conversation has turned to where he'll end up. To that end, his longtime former manager Vadim Finkelchtein said this week that he thinks the UFC may wind up being where he fights next.

"Well I think UFC have a big chance to sign Fedor," said Finkelchtein in an interview with Submission Radio. "It depends on what offer they will make. If Dana would not only talk, but do some things [and] will make a good offer to Fedor, they have a big chance then."

Though negotiations have failed between the two parties in the past, Finkelchtein doesn't think any of that would play into new negotiations in 2015.

"I don't think that story can influence somehow Fedor's decision to choose UFC or any other MMA promotion," Finkelchtein said. "If they will make a good offer to him that will be good for himself, then he can accept this. Also Bellator can make a better offer. So I don't think that situation can influence it somehow.

"Dana talked a lot. [He] talked a lot about Fedor, about Vadim, and he talked bad. But Fedor understands that it all was just PR. He's not in a bad relations with Dana and he doesn't feel anything bad about him."

Penick's Analysis: Fedor in the UFC would obviously be the biggest possible spot for him to return in 2015, but it's one of those things no one will believe until they actually see it. Would it make sense? In some ways, yes, especially in the current heavyweight landscape where so many veteran fighters are finding newfound success. If Emelianenko's looking for the biggest potential fights, that's where he'll go. That may even be where the biggest potential payday is, depending on what the UFC sees in him in terms of value. Something to think about, for sure, and it could very well come to fruition. For now, we'll have to wait to see what move Emelianenko makes.