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Fedor Being Considered to Compete in Final Strikeforce Heavyweight Bout

According to MMAJunkie.com, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, said that former Pride FC champion Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko is being considered to take part in a final heavyweight bout sanctioned by the San Jose-based company. The heav…

The heavyweight division is set to be dissolved once the Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament finale between Josh “The Warmaster” Barnett and Daniel “DC” Cormier takes place.

That matchup is slated for sometime in March of this year.

At the time, it was thought that the tournament finale would be the division’s swansong, though, not according to Coker.

“Showtime and Strikeforce put a lot of resources behind this heavyweight tournament,” he said. “I think it was a historical day in New Jersey last year with all eight guys there. I think that lineup was impressive. I think we had an amazing heavyweight division. [Showtime] put a lot of resources behind it, and so did Strikeforce. So they felt like, ‘Look, let the tournament final happen and have one more fight. That kind of puts an exclamation (point) on the division for Strikeforce.’ And then let them go to the UFC and have some good fights there,” Coker said.

With that said, most of the heavyweight employees of the company which was acquired by the UFC in 2011 are now set to make their transition to the outfit.

Alistair Overeem who was recently stripped of the Strikeforce heavyweight belt and also released by the firm, was the first of the big men to make that exodus to the Zuffa-based company.

Fabricio “Vai Cavalo” Werdum who was eliminated from the Strikeforce tourney, followed suit, and is already a resident member of the UFC and is scheduled to throwdown with Roy “Big Country” Nelson at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012.

On the other hand, Chad Griggs debuts for the promotion against Travis Brown at UFC 145 and Shawn Jordan is booked to meet Oli Thompson at UFC on FX 2, whilst Lavar Johnson is expected to lock horns with Joey Beltran at UFC on Fox 2 later this month.

That per se, threw a spanner in the works of an intended final finale.

“I had a few ideas, but they were just booked for UFC fights,” he said.

With that being the case, Fedor’s name was brought into the mix as a likely candidate for the aforementioned last heavyweight matchup, after the winner of the Barnett and Cormier fight has been determined.

“That’s interesting,” Coker said. “I’m not sure what Fedor has planned. I haven’t spoken to M-1. I know (M-1 executive) Steve Bash was in the audience tonight, but we haven’t had that conversation yet.”

Following several defeats to the likes of Werdum, Antonio “Big Foot” Silva and Dan “Hendo” Henderson, Fedor has recently found some sort of redemption, with successive wins against Jeff “The Snowman” Monsoon and Satoshi Ishii.

Nevertheless, whether that transpires or not, is dependent on UFC president Dana White and Fedor’s management, M-1 Global, putting their differences to one side.

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Dana White Guarantees MMA in NY in 2012

In a recent interview with MMAFightCorner.Com, UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) President Dana White voiced what all MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fans worldwide have been waiting to hear: The news that MMA will be sanctioned in New York. And not only t…

And not only that, White guaranteed it will happen in 2012.

MMAFightCorner.com: How close are you getting to having MMA sanctioned in New York?

Dana White: Real close. It’s going to happen and I guarantee it’s going to happen this year.

MMAFightCorner.com: Do you have a fight ready for when it’s sanctioned?

Dana White: No. It’s going to depend on when it happens, timing, and everything else. It would be nice to go in there with, probably, Jon Jones.

While most states in America have gone on to legalize MMA, New York has failed to follow suit.

Part of the problem that professional MMA faced, is partly due to the way in which the sport has been viewed by its detractors—that it assumedly sends out the wrong message, one of violence.

The same denigrators have even suggested that the UFC has an inclination towards homophobia, an allegation which has been unfounded.

Though the biggest stumbling block to the legalization of MMA in the state of New York has, in no small part, been due to the clout of the Culinary Union and politicians like Assemblyman Bob Reilly, who have fought tooth and nail to ensure that the world’s fastest growing sport never sets foot on its shores.

Nevertheless, some of those critics have changed their perception of professional mixed martial arts and have gone on to view it like any other sport.

That’s a discernment that could go a long way to help in the sanctioning of MMA in New York as well as the UFC’s push for a 2012 date.

White also shared his thoughts on a number of other issues, like Brock Lesnar’s retirement, The Ultimate Fighter Brazil and Women’s MMA.

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Why "Fedor’s Collapse" Was Simply a Fluke

Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko suffered a spate of ignominious defeats in his has last trio of fights for Strikeforce, the San Jose-based promotion. Following those losses, questions were asked as to the legitimacy of his credentials …

Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko suffered a spate of ignominious defeats in his has last trio of fights for Strikeforce, the San Jose-based promotion.

Following those losses, questions were asked as to the legitimacy of his credentials to being one of the best heavyweight mixed martial artists of his generation.

There was speculation that the evolution of the sport had passed him by—he was a relic of the once-lauded PRIDE organization—his past competition were low- to mid-tier fighters.

Concisely put, the accolades bestowed upon him were unwarranted—he was really never that good.

And so on and so forth.

Truth be told, the once indomitable aura of The Emperor has evaporated into thin air, never again to resurface in a ring or a steel cage.

To suggest, however, that his three-fight loss streak was tantamount to his inability to compete with the upper-echelon heavyweights is unjustified to say the least.

Fedor ruled the heavyweight realm of MMA for nigh on 10 years, and regardless of the label ‘cans’ associated with his wins, he did just that: win.

Prior to his loss to Fabricio Werdum, Fedor was riding a 27-fight win streak (the NC against Antonio “Big Nog” Rodrigo Nogueira not inclusive).

What should also be taken into account is that he was 31-1-1NC preceding that loss as well.

I’ll make the case that his three losses from 2010 to 2011 were as a result of complacency, which I’d like to refer to as flukes and nothing else.

Let’s take a look.

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Will Brock Lesnar Take Alistair Overeem’s Advice and Return to the Octagon?

Following his first round decimation at UFC 141, courtesy of Alistair Overeem, Brock Lesnar subsequently pronounced his retirement from mixed martial arts and the Zuffa-based promotion.
“I’ve had a really difficult couple of years with my diseas…

Following his first round decimation at UFC 141, courtesy of Alistair Overeem, Brock Lesnar subsequently pronounced his retirement from mixed martial arts and the Zuffa-based promotion.

“I’ve had a really difficult couple of years with my disease, and I’m going to officially say tonight is the last time,” Lesnar said.

“I promised my wife and my kids if I won this fight, I would get a title shot, and that would be my last fight,” Lesnar said. “But if I lost tonight … you’ve been great.”

Those were the final parting words of the man who took the UFC to the next level when he first made his foray into the Octagon back in February of 2008.

And even though he lost the matchup with Frank Mir, the next couple of years would turn out to be a resounding success, both personally and pecuniary-wise for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

With that said, the catalyst in his retirement, Overeem, was sympathetic towards Lesnar’s plight.

“I think he shouldn’t walk away. Because, love him or hate him, but it’s always something when Brock’s fighting, like Dana said. I mean, he’s a guy who goes for it. I think he achieved a lot in a short span and yeah, it would be a shame if he stops now. I think there’s still more to gain for him,” Overeem said.

Still, I doubt those words of advice will hide the embarrassment and disappointment Lesnar feels and I suspect is still feeling following his second consecutive defeat.

Add to the equation that his title aspirations went up in smoke as well, then that can only make matters worse for the former UFC heavyweight champion.

Lesnar alluded to the fact that his decision to retire was impacted by both a promise to his family and his stints with the disease diverticulitis.

It was great advice by the Dutch heavyweight to placate his fellow behemoth, however, Lesnar will not be taking any more steps towards the Octagon in the near future or any other time for that matter.

The former NCAA Division-I standout is more than financially secure, and it’s also quite obvious that he doesn’t possess the mental resolve to compete in such a harsh environment any more.

Finally, with regards to his pain threshold, Lesnar isn’t made from the same cloth akin to most MMA fighters.

And as that is the case, why venture back into a sport that’s brutal, unforgiving and could jeopardize his health even more, especially when you’ve got the whole world and everything in it?

He won’t, his decision is final, the next time we see Lesnar, it’ll be doing something that he does best—performing in his natural habit—the WWE.

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UFC 141: Brock Lesnar Generates Massive PPV Buys

According to The Wrestling Observer, Brock Lesnar has helped generate in the region of 750,000 to 800,000 pay-per-view buys for his UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) 141 showdown with Alistair Overeem. The former UFC heavyweight champion announced h…

The former UFC heavyweight champion announced his retirement following his first-round loss to former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Overeem in that main event.

Lesnar first won the belt back at UFC 91 in only his fourth professional fight as a mixed martial artist.

He went on to successfully defend it twice before losing the title to Cain Velasquez, which happened after he’d made a comeback from an operation to remedy a bout of diverticulitis.

That same disease reoccurred in early 2011, and he was again sidelined, only to meet his demise against “The Demolition Man” at UFC 141.

At present, there’s speculation that the former NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I standout could be returning to the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) where he first came to prominence.

That, however, is subject to whether the UFC hierarchy and President Dana White release him from his existing contract.

Since his arrival at the Zuffa-based promotion back in 2008, Lesnar has been the top PPV draw, which in no small measure has been due to the WWE contingent he brought with him to the firm.

To date, several of his matchups have generated some of the highest buy rates in UFC history—UFC 100: Lesnar vs. Mir 2 (1.6 million), UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin (1.16 million), UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez (1.05 million) and UFC 91: Lesnar vs. Couture (1.01 million).

These latest figures will place the UFC 141 event somewhere between 11 and 14 in the top UFC PPV’s of all time.

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Chael Sonnen and CM Punk: Another Smart Move from Chael Sonnen

Chael Patrick Sonnen is set to be accompanied to the Octagon by his doppelgänger (oratory-wise that is) CM Punk in his matchup with Mark Munoz at UFC on Fox 2 later this month. Ever since the lead up to and the aftermath of his failed attempt at U…

Chael Patrick Sonnen is set to be accompanied to the Octagon by his doppelgänger (oratory-wise that is) CM Punk in his matchup with Mark Munoz at UFC on Fox 2 later this month.

Ever since the lead up to and the aftermath of his failed attempt at UFC glory back at UFC 117, Sonnen the self-proclaimed “American Gangster” has upped the ante in ways other mere mortal combatants could only wish.

What emerged during that period was Uncle Chael the businessman and to boot, the entertainer.

His trash-talking and gift of the gab has placed him the public stratosphere like no other mixed martial artist, especially one who has achieved so little in his given sport.

For his troubles, he’s now a regular on Michael Landsberg’s show OTR (Off the Record), he co-hosted the 2011 World MMA Awards and in the fewest possible words, he’s just in constant public demand.

And what is his claim to fame?

Beating up on UFC middleweight champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva for almost five rounds, before succumbing to a submission via triangle armbar.

That loss, however, did nothing to shut the all mighty mouth that is Sonnen, if anything it spurred him on to the extreme—his antagonism towards Silva finally paid dividends and a second tilt at UFC gold looms ever so large.

Still, with three-weeks to go before his slated match with Munoz, this latest move by Sonnen, to have the WWE Champion CM Punk alongside him as he makes his entrance to the Octagon, isn’t just another smart move—it’s a stroke of pure Sonnen genius.

The publicity garnered with the announcement that one of the WWE’s most charismatic characters not only making an appearance at UFC on Fox 2, but will also be ushering in the most vocal and controversial of MMA fighters/personalities, will send both ticket and pay-per-view sales through the roof—and that’s a given.

Add to the equation that the event is happening in CM Punk’s own backyard of Chicago— then it’s a recipe for success.

Brock Lesnar has left the building and Georges St-Pierre still has the mass pulling clout, but Sonnen, he’s in a league of his own.

Perish the thought that by some sort of divine intervention, he should upend Munoz and do likewise to Silva—Sonnen will go viral both on a colossal monetary and publicity scale.

The wordsmith provocateur and entertainer personified is hell-bent on furthering his celebrity to new heights and beyond, and his next move is anyone’s guess.

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