Fedor: probability of fighting in UFC is high
Fedor Emelianenko: “We are continuing to negotiate with the UFC. We did not put a cross on the organization. The probability is very high [that I will fight in the UFC].”
After Fedor Emelianenko, the greatest heavyweight MMA fighter of all time, beat now 2-2 Singh Jaideep?, he said he wants a rematch with Fabricio Werdum. Werdum, now the UFC heavyweight champion, won the first fight.
“I would like to have a rematch against Fabricio Werdum,” said Fedor at the time. “I’ve told the UFC many times that I want and would accept that fight.”
Now Fedor is contracted to fight former UFC light heavyweight Fabio Maldonad at Fight Nights Global on June 17 in St. Petersburg, Russia. In a recent interview with sovsport.ru?, Fedor said the odds of his signing with the UFC are good.
“We are continuing to negotiate with the UFC,” said Fedor, as translated by Karim Zidan for BE. “We did not put a cross on the organization. The probability is very high [that I will fight in the UFC].”
However, in an interview with Sports-Express, Russian heavyweight Alexey Oleinik, who fights in the UFC, was critical of the Maldonado fight. Although Fabio Maldonado lost his last two in the UFC, he is a badass. That’s more than can be said for Singh Jaideep.
“This is the first time I heard the name Maldonado,” said Oleinik, as translated by Zidan for BE. “His is a name nobody knows. I then suggested that he has three defeats in his last four fights. He was fired from the UFC for being unfit. Of course, Fedor is a great option for him.”
“Let [Bellator heavyweight champion] Vitaly Minakov take the fight. Very strong, young man. Worthy opponent at a good level. Minakov is a Bellator champion, is healthy and technical. Fights better than Fedor. That would be cool and interesting. That same Minakov is better than Maldonado.”
“Emelianenko said he was ready for any opponent, including UFC champion Werdum. He said he was open to all suggestions, but he was not satisfied with the terms. I talked with the leaders of the UFC, and was told that Fedor was offered excellent conditions. Any fee that Rizin FF offered, UFC was ready to increase by a hundred thousand dollars.”
Fedor has hinted that signing with the UFC was predicated on getting a shot at Werdum, and presumably they could not come to terms. Right now, UFC 200 needs a headliner …