VinceD

The following is an excerpt from an article on Gambling911.com:

MMA News: Fedor Emelianenko to Continue Fighting for Bodog

With the UFC purchase of PRIDE there were immediate rumors recently swirling that PRIDE heavyweight title holder Fedor Emelianenko could sign a long term contract with Bodog Fight. Emelianenko this week told CBS Sportsline that a contract extension he reportedly signed with Pride late last year was not officially completed.

Sports911.com can confirm that Bodog Fight has been given the same indication.

Calvin Ayre, founder of Bodog Fight, tells Sports911 "We have been told verbally and in writing that there is no binding contract between Fedor and Pride at this time. We are happy to have an opportunity to showcase Fedor's talents on BodogFight."

Last year's Forbes billionaire cover boy has been working on luring other top fighters to his organization as well. Seasons 3 and 4 of the BodogFight reality series just finished shooting in Playa Tambor, Costa Rica.

Fedor Emelianenko will fight Matt Lindland April 14 in Russia for the BodogFight organization.

UFC president Dana White at a press conference last Tuesday indicated that Emelianenko was locked in with Pride.

"He is signed with Pride," White said. "We're still figuring out all the details of that deal. We'll do everything we can to keep the Pride heavyweight champion intact."

Emelianenko is considered by many to be the sport's top pound-for-pound fighter. According to Emelianenko, an agreement with Pride was in place at one point but never finalized.

"Yes, we have agreement with Pride, but I and (agent) Vadim Finkelshtain have not come to terms with them," Emelianenko said.

Why Leave PRIDE?

Robert Rousseau of ExtremeSports.com has offered his own speculation as to why Emelianenko might want to leave PRIDE.

"Fedor Emelianenko was born in Luhansk, Ukraine and currently lives in Stary Oskol, Russia. Along with this, his homeland is very important to him. Important enough, in fact, to make sure that there was a clause in his PRIDE contract that would allow him to fight in his homeland of Russia, regardless of the organization putting on the show."

But what was billed in the press as a "one fight deal" is looking more and more like something entirely different. Fedor only has one fight left on his PRIDE contract.

"Fedor Emelianenko is no fool; and it's likely that his agent isn't, either. To lose their current heavyweight champion to an upstart mixed martial art organization would be a major blow to PRIDE," remarks Rousseau.

PRIDE has already shunned the Bodog organization, forcing fighters to remove any items that display the Bodog logo when appearing at events.

Bodog has also indicated that they are willing to pay their fighters top dollar.

"The UFC treats its fighters like a piece of meat," said one fighter in Playa Tambor.

The Bodog organization pays well and is known for paying to put up fighters, trainers and - in some cases - family members at top resorts across the globe. The beautiful Caribbean island of Antigua will be showcasing a future Bodog Fight event, Sports911.com has learned.

"Losing Fedor Emelianenko would be a major blow to the PRIDE organization," says Rousseau.

VinceD

What will this mean if it is true? What will happen to the Pride HW title? Will he just retire it or what?

Hawkdomination

Sounds like Fedor is leaving town before Tim Sylvia shows up.

tecnotut

Do you really think UFC is going to let Fedor off the hook that easily?

VinceD

LOL! Good one. Are you implying that Sylvia would beat Fedor?

CroCop#1UFCfan

Yeah, but in that interview, it basically states that Fedor and his agent are going to milk this for all they can. If you are the top pound 4 pound fighter in the world, and you are almost a free agent, of course you are going to say that other companies look good to you, that is how you pull the most money from your current employer. If he said, yeah I'll never leave PRIDE, then the Fertitta's can offer him shit and expect him to sign. In the long run, I don't see Fedor leaving PRIDE, I think it would be a ****ing insane move. It really won't pump Bodog's stock either, because unless you are a hardcore MMA fan, most likely you have no idea what Bodog is. The only thing it will help are ppv sales, but who would they have Fedor fight?? They had to bring in a middleweight to move up two weight classes in order to fight Fedor. Fedor will lose alot if he signs with Bodog, and as Dana White said, "If it's not PRIDE or the UFC, then they don't matter." I can almost guarantee you that this is a ploy to drain more money out of the Fertitta's.

While I was writing this a thought came across me. Before the Fertitta's bought PRIDE, we were almost 100% sure that Fedor was staying with PRIDE and heard nothing different. Then following the Fertitta purchase, this info comes out. Could this be strategy on Fedor's part to pull more money from a company that is better off financially?? I mean, I'm sure Fedor had much respect for DSE and would have resigned the deal for what they were offering, but now that there is a new managment team that aren't having financial troubles, maybe he sees that they can afford to pay him more than DSE ever could.

pt447

as much as i hate to say it... or accept it... MMA has changed, and if Fedor doesn't sign up with the UFC/PRIDE machine, then he might miss his chance to be at the forefront of the next generation of UFC and MMA in America/the World...

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Micheal Bolton

I sure hope so!!!!!!!!!!!!! So if fighter who want to prove they can beat him; they have to come to him and sign with Bodog. Bodog should give him all the money he wants becuse signing him; will get fighters to sign with Bodog. But at the same time; Bodog needs to have better promotions; they need to get rid of Biff naked and shit.

KTS1010

Wow, if he left that would be shocking! The HeavyWeight title holder just walking away.

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Leviathan

Damn I would hate to see Fedor leave I would still watch him in Bodog, but damn if anyone deserves the big bucks its Fedor. Give him a million per fight and PPV points. Fedor is the King of MMA

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