Fedor Emelianenko: ‘I’m Not a UFC Fan’

Filed under: Fighting, UFC, Strikeforce, M-1 GlobalPre-fight conference calls are generally quite routine affairs. They serve a purpose: getting quotes to reporters to pass on to the fans, but often it’s a lot of words with little meaning. The fighter …

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Pre-fight conference calls are generally quite routine affairs. They serve a purpose: getting quotes to reporters to pass on to the fans, but often it’s a lot of words with little meaning. The fighter always has had “the best camp of my life,” is in the “the best shape of his life,” and has plans to win.

A few colorful characters sometimes stray from the script, but every once in a while you get something unexpected. Heavyweight MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko dropped one of those moments during Friday’s Strikeforce call leading up to his fight with Fabricio Werdum on June 26. Asked by MMA Fighting why their fight was more relevant than the upcoming UFC heavyweight championship bout a week later, the usually soft-spoken Emelianenko explained that the two fights featured four world-class talents. Then, he let out a rare, pointed comment.

“I’m not a UFC fan,” he said through his interpreter, Steve Bash.

Alistair Overeem Says Bout with Fedor Emelianenko Has to be Next

Next weekend Fedor Emelianenko will gun for his second Strikeforce win against Fabricio Werdum, and when you have a dude whose last loss occurred when people still used the term ‘Y2K’, it’s pretty understandable why almost everyone is expecting Fedor to win. This despite the fact, that, sorry “Last Emperor” die-hards, the Russian has looked beatable […]

overeem

Next weekend Fedor Emelianenko will gun for his second Strikeforce win against Fabricio Werdum, and when you have a dude whose last loss occurred when people still used the term ‘Y2K’, it’s pretty understandable why almost everyone is expecting Fedor to win. This despite the fact, that, sorry “Last Emperor” die-hards, the Russian has looked beatable in his last couple of outings against Brett Rogers and Andrei Arlovski.

Of course, if Fedor does win next Saturday, then one would think (and pray) that Strikeforce will make the logical and fiscally promising choice, and roll with Emelianenko vs. heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem. Especially in light of the fact that finally, newbie fans who don’t follow MMA abroad, actually got to see who this so-called Overeem was when he beat down Rogers last month in St. Louis (it was the Dutch fighter’s first fight in North America since 2007). Overeem recently spoke with MMA Bay, and had this to say about who Fedor should fight next, provided he takes out Werdum.

“My number one priority is to defend my belt at Strikeforce and keep fighting as much as I can. For me the fight with Fedor makes the most sense. If Strikeforce has the number one fighter in the world then it’s crazy that its belt holder (me) is not fighting him. I know the fans want it so therefore I want it. I would love to fight the man that’s considered by most people the best in the world.”

We agree Alistair. Not putting together Overeem vs. Emelianenko- that’s effin crazy talk. To bet on the June 26th Strikeforce head here.