The fighter who many consider the number one heavyweight in the world, Fedor Emelianenko, was to have walked out wearing a TapouT t-shirt tonight (pictured above) for his fight against Fabricio Werdum at the “Strikeforce and M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Werdum” event, but will instead be wearing clothing supplied by Dan Henderson’s Clinch Gear.
Several MMA news sites have quoted several sources including a post by M-1 Global President Vladim Finkelchtein from M-1 Global’s web site (translated by MMAFighting.com).
I’m afraid to disappoint the fans, but it seems that Fedor’s shirt will never be available. Just today I got the call from TapouT, and was told representatives of the UFC threatened to break all contracts with their organization and categorically demanded TapouT discontinue the Fedor Emelianenko T-shirt line. That Dana White has displayed such an attitude toward Fedor shows they are trying to hinder us even in such things that do not pertain directly to the UFC. So the Fedor TapouT shirts probably will remain obscure, and fans will see them only in photographs. Say thanks to the UFC and their policy of monopoly.
While BJPenn.com is reporting that TapouT withdrew their support from Fedor because they were threatened with a lifetime ban by the UFC.
…while spending time with very legitimate sources close to the situation, I was advised that certain parties within the UFC halted TapOuts participation in the event and threatened a UFC lifetime ban, if Emelianenko came out wearing their line.
Similarly, In Fedor’s last outing he came out wearing the ever popular RVCA clothing line which resulted in the UFC’s temporary ban from the Orange County based lifestyle Apparel Company. We witnessed evidence of said ban when UFC star BJ Penn did not come out in his traditional RVCA gear during his title fight against Frankie Edgar.
Since the UFC has been unable to woo the Russian into their fold with large sums of money in the past, we’re sure that scaring off potential sponsors to Fedor’s camp, won’t go far in gaining Emelianenko’s respect or that of his management at the negotiating table.
Fedor’s walkout T-shirt for tonight’s event is below, which you can own for $32.00 at Clinch Gear plus a whole range of other Fedor branded clothing.
