JT42

I think we have seen that "warm-up fights" can ve very dangerous for any fighter, even if it is Fedor. I dont think feeding cans to him is the way to go. I really agree that having highlight shows of Fedors old fights is the way to pump him up. If they really wanted to market him they could. Dana has plenty of time to promote Spike Unleashed shows featuring Pride Fedor bouts and of course Rogan and Goldberg could talk about him during other PPVs.

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MMAmatt

hey i never said he cant do what he wants, but the demand is trival and that doesnt seem to me like the real reason for not taking the money.

as for fickle or uneducated i hope you dont mean me, and yah your right most people jumped on the mma bandwagon, thing is as i said before Dana see`s this and so hes right, UFC fans dont know Fedor.


ps. my understanding is that every fighter, every athlete wants to be #1, not many people play sports at a pro level and do it to be anything but #1, the difference is some have the ability and some dont. So i dont think what i said was baseless..

markdahl

If Henderson loses, Fedor's credibility as PRIDE champ will drop big time. The sad thing is that only the hardcore fans know Fedor, and hardcore fans are gonna buy ppvs whether Fedor is on them or not. The issue of whether Dana White will give Fedor what he wants has nothing to do with money. It has to do with what Dana said when Zuffa bought PRIDE. If he really wants to have the superbowl of MMA, he needs to make sure Fedor fights the UFC champ at some point in the near future. Dana's character is what's in question here.

Robopencil

It is a shame that the average UFC fan doesn't know who the greatest Heavyweight (and greatest fighter period if you ask me) in the world is. But I think that there are also quite a few hardcore MMA fans in the crowd who do realize who he is. I hope the UFC can give a little leeway with the contract. Let him fight in his annual Sambo tournament, and maybe let him fight in the occasional Russian MMA event, he's only trying to grow the MMA scene in his own country. Warm up fights are always entertaining, but I think he deserves a title shot immediately, which I think Dana White also believes. When he beats the then current heavyweight champ people will realize who Fedor is. I don't really think he's being unreasonable at all. He such a humble guy, and his credentials are more than enough reason to give him a few little perks. Long live Fedor!

Wayneraltman

I am suprised at some of you PRIDE snobs. Read an interview once in awhile and you will find out what the problem and the solution is.

This is FEDOR's manager blocking the move to the UFC. He wants the UFC to let him make the fights in RUSSIA, and Dana has told him there are NO PLANS to expand in RUSSIA. This has caused the problems between the UFC and FEDOR.

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Vladim is a shark that Dana White wants no part of. He probably feels he can wait out Fedor, and I agree. Remember when you were a kid, and one kid got mad and ran home, if he saw that all the other kids were still having a good time without him, he came back pretty quickly. Same dynamic here.

I could give a crap less if they sign Fedor. I have watched him fight most, if not all of his matches. I am impressed, but not blown away. I think Dan Henderson or Randy would find a way to kick his ass, so let him come.

Flame me if you must but PRIDE is still gone and is not comming back. I say good riddance to bad rubbish, it was corrupt, and needed to go. That is not MY opinion but FACT.

Robopencil

This is exactly why we need Fedor in the UFC. Don't get me wrong, Wanderlei and Henderson are both incredible fighters who are at the top of the pack. But you can trace back through the fighters who have lost to Fedor who have beaten fighters who have beaten those two. I do think Wanderlei would give Fedor a damn good fight. But Fedor beats CroCop, and CroCop gives Wanderlei his first loss in 7 years after he moves up to HW to find a good challenge.

Robopencil

As for whether or not Fedor can be waited out. I really don't think so. He has enough money, he's already stated that it's not all about the money. If it was then he would be in the UFC. He's already said that he's interested in a few organizations. If Dana doesn't give him a couple perks then he'll have to wait for Fedor's contract to finish with whatever organization he joins.

Wayneraltman

Or he does not fight anyone of any substance because they are all under UFC contract.

I mean look, this will happen, he will sign with UFC. It is too much at stake for him not to. I think you can get him without giving away the farm, and obviously so does Dana White.

Wayneraltman

I am not convinced that Fedor is the greatest HW in MMA. I do not know what the average UFC fan thinks, but I do suspect they would not know FEDOR if he were biting them in the ass.

I do not beleive Dana White thinks he deserves a title shot right off the bat, but you may be correct. I know I would be PISSED if he got one, but I would deal with it.

IF he beats the current HW champ, (and that is a BIG IF) he will deserve to be the champ for sure. Looking at his record there are some pretty big names he has defeated.... There are also some WHO THE **** IS THAT on there too.

It will be interesting to see how this shakes out, even though I am confident I already know..

PrideFan123

Casual fans won't know him, especially in the States. They're just ignorant to the important figures in MMA and only know UFC fighters. Fedor owns all.