Dana White: Fedor’s team ‘not laughing now’

Fedor Emelianenko recently hinted that he was coming to the UFC, saying in an interview with Sportbox.ru I can tell you the timing of my next bout right now. It’s going to be June or July… At the moment, the strongest and most respected MMA organization is situated in America. It’s the UFC. Therefore, I have to go to the US in order to face the strongest opponents.

In 2009 White and Fedor’s management negotiated extensively for a Fedor vs. Brock Lesnar superfight, but were unable to come to terms. White, who had vowed to bring ‘The Last Emperor’ to the UFC, offered “a ton of money, everything that he wanted. He could go fight in sambo every f—— Thursday night if he wants to.”

Talks ultimately died over the insistence of Fedor’s management, M-1 Global, to co-promote the event. “I put my money where my mouth was and laid everything out and tried to make this thing happen,” said White. “And they’re coming up with unrealistic s—.”

At today’s UFC 146 kickoff press conference, White was asked if Emelianenko was on his radar.

“Not even a little bit,” White replied. “That was a guy who was made an incredible offer, and they laughed at it. They aren’t laughing now.”