Fedor Emelianenko’s manager, Vadim Finkelstein spoke out again denying their being any sort of negotiations happening with the UFC to bring his fighter to the American promotion.
Speaking to AllBoxing.ru, and translated by FightersOnlyMagazine.co.uk, Finkelstein had this to say.
“It’s stupidity. We are not conducting such negotiations. Right now we are in active negotiations with Showtime on a contract extension, and perhaps we will renew it. But the UFC does not offer such opportunities and imposes its monopoly conditions. They believe that everyone should be in the UFC.”
“We would love to fight with Lesnar, and Velasquez and all but why should we give up all these undertakings, all the years spent on Fedor’s development will go to them? Fedor did not grow in the UFC, right? So why should he go to the UFC?
“Fedor is now ready to fight. He is 34, he feels fine and is ready to work. He is ready to sign a contract for five or six fights, and do the job very well. He always says he’s ready to act. We need to protect our interests.”
Fedor has only one fight left on his Strikeforce contract with both sides, M-1 Global and Strikeforce, still at the negotiating table trying to work something out. Fedor and his management walked away from the second CBS event last Spring, so the feelings between the two camps can’t be all that warm.
We don’t think Fedor will sign with the UFC as M-1 and Finkelstein would be giving up whatever negotiating leverage they posses if he loses there. Expect to see him fighting in Japan one or two more times before Fedor retires and moves into full politician mode.
We could be wrong, but his enthusiasm, or maybe his managements enthusiasm, to face the best in the world is a bit lacking so we don’t expect him to face anymore tough challenges before he fades into the sunset.