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Sergei Kharitonov: I’m currently negotiating with the UFC, Bellator and Glory

2K views 21 replies 10 participants last post by  kantowrestler 
#1 ·
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2015/12/21/10633322/sergei-kharitonov-negotiations-ufc-bellator-glory-kickboxing-mma-news



Sergei Kharitonov could be the latest Russian fighter to sign with the UFC in 2016.

The veteran heavyweight fighter revealed that there is a current sweepstakes between the UFC, Bellator, and Glory to determine who will enlist Kharitonov's services in 2016.

"I was contacted by three organizations: UFC, Bellator and Glory," Kharitonov told MMABoxing.ru. "I will conduct negotiations with them and will soon will make a decision about where I will perform."

Kharitonov is a veteran of promotions such as PRIDE Fighting Championships, DREAM and Strikeforce, where he holds wins over the likes of current UFC champion Fabricio Werdum, as well as Andrei Arlovski, Alistar Overeem and Pedro Rizzo. He is currently on a four-fight win streak dating back three years. His last loss took place under the Strikeforce banner against Josh Barnett in the heavyweight Grand Prix semi-final in 2011. His most recent win took place earlier this month in the form of a quick TKO win against Kenny Garner.

Over the past two years, Kharitonov has fought for M-1 Global, Tech-Krep Fighting Championships and even dabbled in kickboxing for Glory. Given the contractual freedom to fight wherever he pleased, Kharitonov was cautious about signing away that freedom by joining the UFC during that time.

"As for me, I am 35 years old, I am no longer a young athlete," Kharitonov recently told MK. "If I sign a contract with the UFC, they will give me one fight a year. And now, in the previous two years, I've had almost seven bouts. Therefore, I believe that I chose the right position. I stand where I want and where I am given the opportunity. I fight at the same time with worthy men."



It will be interesting to see if the UFC will be able to persuade the Russian to sign on the dotted line.
 
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#2 ·
Sounds good. Hope he signs with UFC. He's got the opportunity to be fast tracked with a 1-1 record against Overeem and a more recent KO win, and he also has a decision win over the current champ. He'd be able to avenge his loss to Josh Barnett too, or at least get the opportunity.

For guys like him, they kind of get blown up money to beat nobodies so the UFC might not be the most viable option for him but if he's interested in fighting outside of M1 then maybe he wants to chase a legacy. You have to think a professional mixed martial artist wants to fight in the UFC. Outside of Fedor, not many fighters are able to build a legendary career without ever stepping into the cage in the best promotion so he has to want that some day. For you guys who always bring up "Lol have fun on $2 from Reebok", most of these guys really care about their legacy. It's like in pro wrestling how guys give up making a fortune on independent circuits to go and earn much less in the WWE in the hopes of that one WrestleMania moment.
 
#4 ·
I don't think he'd do well in the ufc at all. he may only be 35 but in kickedintheheadyears he's at least 50. He should go to japan where his name is bigger and the competition is easier. All he needs is a win over some jap and rizin has it's Championship fight for fedor.:fighting:
 
#7 ·
I'd like to see him and Overeem both go to Bellator. It was great having legitimate rival promotions to the UFC like PRIDE and Strikeforce were... Right now we lack deep talent outside of the UFC.


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#9 ·
@John8204, yeah, if he's lucky he'll get to fight Kimbo Slice. You're one of those guys who rallies against UFC and thinks whoever the opposition are is the better choice....but Tito made 300k and McGeary made 50k. Francis Carmont made 17k for 2 fights in one night while he made 30k for a losing effort in his last UFC fight. You can talk sponsors if you want but Joey Beltran said he's never made anything close to 20k in sponsorships so fk knows if Carmont is.

I'd like to see him and Overeem both go to Bellator. It was great having legitimate rival promotions to the UFC like PRIDE and Strikeforce were... Right now we lack deep talent outside of the UFC.
I can't remember what I was watching, I think Strikeforce with Robbie and Melvin (off of the card which made me an MMA fan) and I was thinking "Bellator can't be this". Something about Bellator, it just doesn't click. Maybe it's because it doesn't have the most prestige behind it's past or something, I don't know, but Bellator just can't ever be UFC. With Jon Jones and Conor McGregor, it'd still feel like the B League. I kind of wish Bellator could dissolve and Scott Coker could be picked up by a major network to create his brand new original mixed martial arts organisation.

There's still a lot of talent outside of the UFC, and Coker isn't beyond doing some shady under the table deals to get guys from Eastern Europe or Japan over to compete for him. WSOF can't hold onto their guys so a Coker org could likely pick up Shields, Fitch, Okami, Palhares, Gaethje and whoever else I don't know about and put on a proper solid show. Bellator to me just doesnt feel like it can do that, especially in recent years when they've went overboard on the freak fights and put more attention on Ken Shamrock and Kimbo Slice than any fight Will Brooks has ever had.
 
#12 ·
I don't think any of them have figured out a good name yet including strikeforce but there are organizations out there with potential. The WSOF (another terrible name) had a highlight show on NBC last sunday hosted by Bas Rutten and Chael Sonnen. They had a lot of good fights and of course Bas and Chael talking them up.

I think ONE has potential too.
 
#16 ·
He got 17K for being an alternate, Thomson got 10, King Mo got 15, Vassal got 30, and Davis got 125. I'm sure being in the main event he got a cut.

Beltran was brought back after one fight in the indies, so yeas they did let him fall to 3-6-1.

Sergei doesn't trust that the UFC will give him fights plenty of fighters are sitting home right now because the bookers don't want to give them fights, and plenty of them are sitting for personal reasons. Why does the UFC pay Cyborg 100K to fight for Invicta...to keep her off the free market. Bellator let's fighters make money outside the company and treats them like independent contractors.

As for the quality of fights, lets see I could watch Phil Davis finish Carmont in less than a minute, or watch Francis wall and stall for 15.
 
#17 ·
Are you trying to say that Bellator is both a better org to fight in and an org with a higher quality of fights?

Guys literally make 2k to fight on a Bellator card. It might even be lower than that.

Phil Davis wasn't able to knock out his UFC opponents. Lowering the bar isn't how to make fights better.

You say you like the sport, not the organisation. I feel that's the way I am. I like every company because they all put on fights which I like to see. I don't really care how much Marvel's Agents of Shield pays their actors because I like the show. That being said, I don't feel that's your outlook. It's not that you aren't a UFC fan, but you completely hate the promotion. You'd defend Kimbo Vs Dada before Holly Vs Ronda. I'm split down the middle. UFC can be a bit annoying with rematches but just have a quick scroll through 2015, we got some of the best fights ever through that promotion. I wouldn't mind a bit of competition out there, but as it stands for the majority of fighters, the UFC is both financially and in terms of legacy the best place in the world to fight.
 
#21 ·
@John8204 didn't see your comment up there. I'd be interested to see if you could do a "good / stunk" rating for Bellator :laugh:. You might have to find something lower on the scale than stunk.

Bellator is looking awesome this year. I hope they continue to make these big signings. I'm split on Overeem. I want him to get a shot at the UFC belt but at the same time, it would be one of the biggest switches in a LONG time.
 
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