The never ending saga between UFC president Dana White and his white whale continues.
The reasons as to why former PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko never graced the Octagon depend on who you ask, but both he and White have spent years blaming the other for it never happening. Now, Emelianenko says his legacy isn’t worse off by never having fought in the UFC because he faced a higher level of talent in Japan.
“Well, the UFC didn’t want me to fight there, so what could I do? We were unable to make a deal,” Emelianenko told Michael Schiavello. “They offered unacceptable conditions. Actually, when I fought in PRIDE, we had the best fighters in the world. Back then the UFC had a very serious and big crisis. They were going through some hard times being able to get top fighters. All the best fighters were in PRIDE.”
Emelianenko concedes that the UFC has become the premiere MMA organization, but isn’t impressed by its bloated roster.
“Later on, when PRIDE ceased to exist, the UFC didn’t immediately pick up speed. Currently, the UFC is a ‘super organization,’ in the world, probably the best. There are several top fighters in every weight category and in general it is hard to see the whole picture, I’d say. So there are some fighters whom it is interesting to watch, but the rest of them, well, it’s not interesting for me.”
Describing his quest to sign Emelianenko as ‘an obsession,’ White claimed to have offered the Russian an astronomical contract exceeding anything the company had ever done. According to White, Emelianenko’s demands included the construction of a stadium in Russia, as well as other ‘stupid s–t, stuff that no normal f–king human being would do.’
5 MUST-READ STORIES
6 months. Andrei Arlovski could be sidelined into 2015 after knocking out Antonio Silva.
Reem. Alistair Overeem says he wants to fight again in 2014, as soon as possible. ‘I was not sleeping. I was just dazed, and Ben capitalized.’
‘Empty promises.’ Tito Ortiz says he had to ‘battle’ with Bjorn Rebney to get him to follow through on contract items. “[I said] ‘it’s in my contract, you have to.’ It came down to the last two weeks before fight and then he finally came through, he had no choice.”
‘No offense, but…’ Michael Bisping wants to make sure he’s not to be confused with Jon Jones. ‘You know I ain’t Jon Jones, you know what I mean? What you see is what you get.’
‘He got a bad hand dealt to him.’ Eddie Alvarez goes to bat for his teammate Thiago Silva.
Check out The MMA Hour featuring Alistair Overeem, Tito Ortiz, Jim Ross, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Court McGee, Liam McGeary and Guilherme Cruz.
MEDIA STEW
Great mini-doc on Takanori Gomi and a former PRIDE promoter discussing how to revive Japanese MMA.
Nice profile on Dustin Poirier since moving to American Top Team.
Emanuel Newton’s spinning back fist against Joey Beltran.
ALL ANGLES: Waterson vs Tamada.
Highlights from Cage Warriors 72.
Justin Gaethje tours the Grudge fighter house.
Renato Laranja Show: Episode 4 with Chris Leben & Josh Barnett.
Long watches.
Knuckle Up #400: Mike Tyson, UFC Fight Night, Bellator + Asses vs. Holes in the Ground
TWEETS
Congrats.
BREAKING NEWS!!! I am happy to announce I have finalized a deal with… http://t.co/CwxkOXVQzJ pic.twitter.com/tTN8qsYehK
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 16, 2014
Probably helps.
First double day of camp w/ the best team in the world @Cainmma @DC_mma @bunchthegreat @dcton… http://t.co/a8HeHepxFy pic.twitter.com/LY0BYL4COI
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) September 16, 2014
Cool.
Current SEAL class on base in San Diego. #truewarriors http://t.co/HgtGx0HlkL pic.twitter.com/ZHzJ4DmfqV
— chael sonnen (@sonnench) September 15, 2014
Tips.
Wanna see it?
Thank you Ronda Rousey for the respectful words. Hopefully this will be the first step in setting up a rematch!… http://t.co/KPrJSFE5DV
— Sara McMann (@Sara_McMann) September 15, 2014
Scary.
Thanks to God, My Savior for letting me walk away from this!!!! http://t.co/QdgFsizIcd
— Marcus Brimage (@Brim205) September 15, 2014
The elevator stopped on the wrong floor. Voice said, “There’s an earthquake. Please get out.” I got out & it was a big one. Thanks, elevator
— Roxanne Modafferi (@Roxyfighter) September 16, 2014
Bruce ‘Hover Hands’ Buffer.
iiiiiitttt’Sssssss timeeeee!!! #Top @brucebuffer @ufc pic.twitter.com/yeaDXYKYxN
— Jhenny Andrade UFC (@jhennyandrade10) September 15, 2014
He’s got nothing on Carlton.
— Randy Couture (@Randy_Couture) September 16, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Sept. 15 2014)
NA
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