“At the moment we are in negotiations with a number of organizations who have put offers on the table. I’ll be blunt in saying that the UFC offer is the most financially attractive one. However they are very harsh in their terms and are not very flexible in actually negotiating them. Fedor has now been the PRIDE heavyweight champion for four years and I think we have earned the right to negotiate a contract that suits both parties. Instead we are faced with a blunt “you are either in or you’re out.” This does not really suit us. If the negotiations continue in a similar manner, we’ll prefer to fight for less money but with an organization which is more flexible. The problem is that Fedor is the face of Combat Sambo in Russia. His popularity is at a level where he is acquainted with president Putin himself, in part because he is so successful and well known for Combat Sambo here. Combat Sambo is a Russian sport that’s not at a level of difficulty of MMA, but is hugely popular with our public. Fedor must represent Russia in Combat Sambo and at world championships, specifically the ones coming up in September. All we want him to do is compete something like once a year in Combat Sambo. But the UFC is not happy with that. Their proposal has all kinds of clauses, all kinds of fines etc. that do not suit us. The UFC is not really that eager to communicate and negotiate. The negotiations are still continuing, and we will try very hard to get our demands met, if not Fedor will simply not compete in the UFC, even though that will be unfortunate as they currently have one of the, if not the, strongest, heavyweight divisions in the world.“
– The manager for PRIDE FC Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko, Vadim Finkelstein, provides Sherdog.com with some perspective from the Russian camp. UFC President Dana White has indicated recently that a deal is close but never went into much detail about the sticking points, which are detailed above.
125 Comments »
It will suck if he can’t fight in the UFC because he is unable to gain a contract that lets him fight in national sporting events.
Remember, this is Sherdog reporting this. Take it with a grain of salt.
Give this man whatever he wants! Throw in twelve virgins, thrity six goats, and lifetime service to amped mobile. He has to fight in the UFC NOW! This waiting for the inevitable has to stop.
[quote comment=”113379″]Remember, this is Sherdog reporting this. Take it with a grain of salt.[/quote]
It’s an interview with his manager in which he is quoted directly. It’s not like it’s some rumor. The man actually spoke those words.
This isn’t that surprising. All the rumors surrounding a Fedor-UFC deal have hinted at there being a problem with his fighting in other events. We just assumed it was other MMA shows. Zuffa rightly believes he’s got a good chance at becoming their HW champ and they can’t afford to have him get tied up (”Sorry, Fedor can’t fight Barnett in Vegas next month, he’s busy competing in the Russian Sambo Nationals in Vlodovostok”). Or worse what if he gets hurt or injured in a Sambo match. That shit ain’t pattycake. You think the Yankees would let A-Rod take up semi-pro football on the side?
Totally agree with you NateseZen. If he wants to fight on more than one front, let him.
That is kind of whack how the UFC is telling FEDOR he cannot participate in atleast one or two events that seem to be really important to him, if the UFC lets Fedor walk away it will not look good for them…..
It’s going to be hard to forgive the ufc if they lose fedor on some minor details that need to be ironned out. I realize that this deal is far more complicated then his manager has discussed but to not reach the terms on some level would just be ridiculous. I ask you this though is the ufc bigger then Fedor?? or vice versa?? Will it make them the solidified elite organization or are they missing a few pieces still?
I don’t think it would be a matter of contract. I’m willing to bet that DW will give Fedor any sum of money that he wants. He is a major part of the dream cast for the UFC in my opinion.
The HW division is going to go flacid when he gets there though. He will run through everyone and all title shots will be pointless, unless GG steps his game up and submits Fedor. Which I would love to see. None of the BJJ people that Fedor has fought have had the size and strength that GG LOOKS LIKE he has. Not saying he is way stronger than all other BJJ people he has fought, just looks like he is. Regardless, HURRY THE FUCK UP DANA!
[quote comment=”113383″]This isn’t that surprising. All the rumors surrounding a Fedor-UFC deal have hinted at there being a problem with his fighting in other events. We just assumed it was other MMA shows. Zuffa rightly believes he’s got a good chance at becoming their HW champ and they can’t afford to have him get tied up (”Sorry, Fedor can’t fight Barnett in Vegas next month, he’s busy competing in the Russian Sambo Nationals in Vlodovostok”). Or worse what if he gets hurt or injured in a Sambo match. That shit ain’t pattycake. You think the Yankees would let A-Rod take up semi-pro football on the side?
Totally agree with you NateseZen. If he wants to fight on more than one front, let him.[/quote]
If he just fights once a year in Sambo championships I don’t see how it is a huge deal but you have a good point from the UFC’s perspective.
If I was a mediator I would suggest allowing Fedor to fight in Combat Sambo BUT wouldn’t be aloud to do so X-months before a fight.
[quote comment=”113390″]I don’t think it would be a matter of contract. I’m willing to bet that DW will give Fedor any sum of money that he wants. He is a major part of the dream cast for the UFC in my opinion.
The HW division is going to go flacid when he gets there though. He will run through everyone and all title shots will be pointless, unless GG steps his game up and submits Fedor. Which I would love to see. None of the BJJ people that Fedor has fought have had the size and strength that GG LOOKS LIKE he has. Not saying he is way stronger than all other BJJ people he has fought, just looks like he is. Regardless, HURRY THE FUCK UP DANA![/quote]
Wow, I should read more than the bold print. If Dana loses Fedor over a annual tournament in Russia, he needs shot.
[quote comment=”113387″]It’s going to be hard to forgive the ufc if they lose fedor on some minor details that need to be ironned out. I realize that this deal is far more complicated then his manager has discussed but to not reach the terms on some level would just be ridiculous. I ask you this though is the ufc bigger then Fedor?? or vice versa?? Will it make them the solidified elite organization or are they missing a few pieces still?[/quote]
In my eyes, if they didn’t sign Fedor it wouldnt “make or break” the UFC, everyone would still buy the PPVs and watch it all the time, Fedor is just icing on the cake. It would be great to have him.
The HW division right now is solid. With or without Fedor.
[quote comment=”113380″]Give this man whatever he wants! Throw in twelve virgins, thrity six goats, and lifetime service to amped mobile. He has to fight in the UFC NOW! This waiting for the inevitable has to stop.[/quote]
Good comment.
If that is true then Dana is a peice of crap, its not like Fedor wants to fight in Bodog also, or another MMA organization. He wants to compete in Sambo for Crying out loud, who cares! Dana should stop trying to own People.
If this is whats stoping Fedor from comming over, then Im gonna get a freakin petision together. Ill stop buying the damn Pay per views if this is true.
Dana, u better get that man in an Octagon sometime befor Christmass!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When will new Pride DVDs b released?
This whole issue is stupid. The UFC has let Frank Mir, Babalu, and others participate in submission grappling contests while under contract. Why would Fedor competing in Sambo be any different? Ridiculous double-standard here…
..This is not the first time I hear of this with the UFC..There is a fighter who is signed with the UFC..lets say has 5 fights left on the contract..there is no time limit to have the 5 fights..in the mean time he can not go and fight and make money with another organization you’re ur basically stuck!!!..so you wait for a text or the phone call to ring at any given time to say there is a fight on the table. THAT IS F”D UP!!!
Most fans don’t realize to be in the sport of MMA..you truly have to love it..especially if your not a UFC star.. I hope to see Fedor fight here in the US (UFC)..but deserves a fair contract as all MMA fighters in the UFC do.
fedor,he’s a bad mamer jammer. I would.
[quote comment=”113383″]This isn’t that surprising. All the rumors surrounding a Fedor-UFC deal have hinted at there being a problem with his fighting in other events. We just assumed it was other MMA shows. Zuffa rightly believes he’s got a good chance at becoming their HW champ and they can’t afford to have him get tied up (”Sorry, Fedor can’t fight Barnett in Vegas next month, he’s busy competing in the Russian Sambo Nationals in Vlodovostok”). Or worse what if he gets hurt or injured in a Sambo match. That shit ain’t pattycake. You think the Yankees would let A-Rod take up semi-pro football on the side?
Totally agree with you NateseZen. If he wants to fight on more than one front, let him.[/quote]
Yeah, but he only wants to compete once or twice a year, and he will know his dates ahead of time, so scheduling his fights around the Sambo championships wont be hard.
This is like the NBA telling its players that they cant compete in the Olympics. Representing his country obviously means a lot to him. To try to take that honor away from a man is ridiculous. he s Russian, the Russian people dont have shit to cheer about besides him, let the man represent his country.
Im sure he was competing in Sambo while he was in Pride, and it never seemed to effect his fight performance before. Give the man what he wants and throw him in the octogan wit tim sylvia, and watch tim get MAULED!!!
When is brandon verra fighting again?
Now that I’ve RTFA I imagine these negotiations going a little bit like this:
DW: We want fucking Fedor
VF: Come to Russia!
DW: Give us fucking Fedor!
VF: Russia is nice, you like! I have good fighters for you!
[quote comment=”113400″]When will new Pride DVDs b released?[/quote]
I know. I um acquired the Pride show with Wandi-Hedno and Shogun, Diaz, Gomi, et al, but I really want a nice DVD of it.
Not sure why people would compare Mir / Babalu / etc to Fedor. Chances are the contract he’d be signing would be 10x what they make which explains why the UFC would want to protect their investment.
I totally understand why they don’t want him fighting elsewhere, when you plot down potentially millions to have him fight in your org you don’t want him getting hurt in some piddly event (or losing in some competing org devaluing all the money you spent on him).
I’m all for the UFC signing him but not at any cost, from a business standpoint that would be really stupid.
[quote comment=”113391″][quote comment=”113383″]This isn’t that surprising. All the rumors surrounding a Fedor-UFC deal have hinted at there being a problem with his fighting in other events. We just assumed it was other MMA shows. Zuffa rightly believes he’s got a good chance at becoming their HW champ and they can’t afford to have him get tied up (”Sorry, Fedor can’t fight Barnett in Vegas next month, he’s busy competing in the Russian Sambo Nationals in Vlodovostok”). Or worse what if he gets hurt or injured in a Sambo match. That shit ain’t pattycake. You think the Yankees would let A-Rod take up semi-pro football on the side?
Totally agree with you NateseZen. If he wants to fight on more than one front, let him.[/quote]
If he just fights once a year in Sambo championships I don’t see how it is a huge deal but you have a good point from the UFC’s perspective.[/quote]
aaron W you are exactly right in my opinion. the ufc is bigger than fedor, plus there is always a chance that fedor can loose and drop in value regardless of how much money they agreed to in the contract. i think ufc is making the right decision by not allowing him to fight in other orgs. he has major potencial to be champ so why would you share such a top of the fighter. it makes good business since in my opinion. fedor needs to decide if he wants to fight the best in world for large sums of money and become a legend or does he want to fight weaker opponents just so he can wrestle in russia. sounds like an easy desicion when you have the potencial to become literally listed as unbeatable if he destroys the ufc best
The double standard exists only because it is Fedor. It really is unfair to compare Fedor to Mir, Babalu or any other fighter that is allowed to compete outside of the UFC. And we really don’t know what the contract states? Maybe the UFC is trying to protect themselves from Fedor not only competing in Russian Combat Sambo but other MMA organizations as well.
What if Fedor’s contract states that he is allowed to compete in RCS and then his management also accepts fights from Bodog, Elite XC etc???? I would imagine the UFC is trying to protect themselves from that happening.
I don’t care how strong the UFC’s heavy’s are now, it is not complete without Fedor.
Dana…..GET THIS DONE!
getter done
[quote comment=”113380″]Give this man whatever he wants! Throw in twelve virgins, thrity six goats, and lifetime service to amped mobile. He has to fight in the UFC NOW! This waiting for the inevitable has to stop.[/quote]
haaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahhahahhahaa. you had me at thirty six goats.
hahahhahhaha.
If things don’t change Fedor will not sign for the UFC. He’s Russian, do you think he’s going to stop competing in Sambo?
Hope I’m wrong.
[quote comment=”113413″][quote comment=”113391″][quote comment=”113383″]This isn’t that surprising. All the rumors surrounding a Fedor-UFC deal have hinted at there being a problem with his fighting in other events. We just assumed it was other MMA shows. Zuffa rightly believes he’s got a good chance at becoming their HW champ and they can’t afford to have him get tied up (”Sorry, Fedor can’t fight Barnett in Vegas next month, he’s busy competing in the Russian Sambo Nationals in Vlodovostok”). Or worse what if he gets hurt or injured in a Sambo match. That shit ain’t pattycake. You think the Yankees would let A-Rod take up semi-pro football on the side?
Totally agree with you NateseZen. If he wants to fight on more than one front, let him.[/quote]
If he just fights once a year in Sambo championships I don’t see how it is a huge deal but you have a good point from the UFC’s perspective.[/quote]
aaron W you are exactly right in my opinion. the ufc is bigger than fedor, plus there is always a chance that fedor can loose and drop in value regardless of how much money they agreed to in the contract. i think ufc is making the right decision by not allowing him to fight in other orgs. he has major potencial to be champ so why would you share such a top of the fighter. it makes good business since in my opinion. fedor needs to decide if he wants to fight the best in world for large sums of money and become a legend or does he want to fight weaker opponents just so he can wrestle in russia. sounds like an easy desicion when you have the potencial to become literally listed as unbeatable if he destroys the ufc best[/quote]
Well it seems that Russian National Sambo is more than just “wrestling in Russia” to the Russians. Its a national event that is a huge thing. I can understand why he would want to compete in that. Sambo is not MMA and it isn’t like him competing in that is going to take away the draw of him being in the UFC. Dana needs to make this a deal and have a clause that allow him to fight in that one non-MMA tourney a year.
A fighter can’t compete in a national competition, but the current Welterweight champ and the number one contender can be tied up for months in a stupid reality show? Okay.
Should this surprise any of us ? Dana and the Fertitas are all about corruption and laying out ULTIMATUMS. They know they are the best sh1t out there and therefore in their “offers” its their way or the highway. They are making a ton of money in PPV sales and gate sales alone. And how do they repay chapions such as Sean Sherk ? In his last fight, Sherk walked away with $28,000.
The UFC is relying on sponsors for fighters to earn there money, much like a restaurany owner would rely on their waitors earning tips. Its a crock os sh1t and Dana White knows it. He will “bribe” his fighters before each Event and offer 10,000 cash for fight of the night honors. What he should be offering is a percentage of PPV sales.
I bet Fedor is not going to take a deal with the UFC unless he is guaranteed the money he probably deserves.
Dana is no different than Don King … He needs to get off of his high horse with his phony claims of being above boxing and more concerned with the future of his fighters. These guy aren’t making what “athelets” should be.
Dana White just sign him damn it!!!
I am sure EliteXC will give Fedor what he wants…it will suck so bad if the UFC loses Fedor…MAKE IT HAPPEND DANA…MAKE IT HAPPEN PLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe I have misread the article, but I dont see anywhere in it that states Fedor is not permitted to fight in his country’s national event. I see where it states, “Their proposal has all kinds of clauses, all kinds of fines etc.” My take on this is, if you get hurt then you ate f!cked here. We will take your belt (if you have it), fine you, cut your fight payout, etc. And from a business standpoint, they are 100% correct. Why do you think pro teams have clauses of no motorcycles, skiing, cliff diving, X games type of activities? Because that contract HAS to be paid IN FULL even if (in other sports) they dont take the field or (in mma) they make a comeback and fight like Frank Mir, errr, crap. The UFC has hit new records without Fedor and they will hit higher records without him too. (Though it would be nice to have him)
Soups, lets not compare TUF coaching with a competition that leads to a possibility of injury. Not even close.
Fedor=
[quote comment=”113432″]Should this surprise any of us ? Dana and the Fertitas are all about corruption and laying out ULTIMATUMS. They know they are the best sh1t out there and therefore in their “offers” its their way or the highway. They are making a ton of money in PPV sales and gate sales alone. And how do they repay chapions such as Sean Sherk ? In his last fight, Sherk walked away with $28,000.
The UFC is relying on sponsors for fighters to earn there money, much like a restaurany owner would rely on their waitors earning tips. Its a crock os sh1t and Dana White knows it. He will “bribe” his fighters before each Event and offer 10,000 cash for fight of the night honors. What he should be offering is a percentage of PPV sales.
I bet Fedor is not going to take a deal with the UFC unless he is guaranteed the money he probably deserves.
Dana is no different than Don King … He needs to get off of his high horse with his phony claims of being above boxing and more concerned with the future of his fighters. These guy aren’t making what “athelets” should be.[/quote]
Do you really believe the stuff you say?
The top fighters are making upwards of a quarter million a fight, and considering they can fight more than once a year, they are making almost 7 figure salaries. That with sponsors im sure they are making well over a mil a year. Offering no name fighters a chance to make an extra 10k for doing what they should have in their head to do anyway is also a good deal, if you are going into a fight not thinking that you are going to beat the shit out of someone anyway, and need the incentive to do so, you shouldnt be there. I will agree that maybe the no named fighters arent making much, but that should be incentive to come out and win some fights, get your name out there and force the UFC to pay you more.
I think CC signed a 6 fight 2.5mil contract.
Paying someone based on their abilities and how much money they make the company is such a bullshit idea. *sarcasm*
Also, Sherk is a boring ass fighter to watch in my opinion, if he was the only fight on the card, I wouldn’t ever order the PPV, just go to a bar and watch it.
I honestly think Fedor’s camp is just holding out for more money, or being unrealistic in their expectations. I don’t blame the UFC for wanting him to compete ONLY with them if they’re are going to be paying him big bucks. Also, I don’t think Fedor is going to be undefeated for long in the UFC. This falls on Fedor not Dana White…If Fedor really wants to make the most of his MMA career he’ll take the good money the UFC is offering, and fight to prove to everyone he’s the best. Why waste his youth, and prime of his career where he could make his status as the best MMA fighter of all time concrete over one Sambo tournament annually…pull your head out of your ass Fedor, and show the UFC what your made of.
The full interview gives a lot of insight to these negotiations and I’m happy it’s been posted.Def tho, the UFC looks like they are in the wrong here. It’s all well and good to say “we are the best, we have the best fighters” but eventually you need to put up or shut up.
I think DW’s ego isn’t ready accept a deal where he has to actually make concessions in negotiating. I have to call BS on their refusal to take other Red Devil fighters.I’m sure MFS fighters, Pit fighters, Greg Jackson’s camp etc have an easier time landing UFC debuts for their own fighters. the UFC just wants to limit how many camps they need to be dealing with in order to keep tighter control over all the fighters.
Part 2 — no extra-octagonal fight activity? I call BS. No contract can prevent a fighter from vacating a title by motorcycle accident or sambo injury or anything else. Even exclusively UFC fighters have to delay fights from basic training injuries (GSP, Sean Sherk, etc).
[quote post=”2843″]The UFC has hit new records without Fedor and they will hit higher records without him too. (Though it would be nice to have him)[/quote]
Indeed. It would be like Christmas in July if Fedor signed with the UFC tomorrow but let’s be realistic, he really has no other options. UFC is top of the food chain. No other organization even comes close at this point in time. He can’t be faulted for trying to get the best contract he can get, but his career is effectively over if he walks away from fighting in the top league. UFC knows this, Fedor knows this, we all know this.
I wonder how much he made in Pride and how much he makes in endorsements in Russia? Maybe he doesn’t need to fight anymore? I have no idea though.
[quote comment=”113447″][quote post=”2843″]The UFC has hit new records without Fedor and they will hit higher records without him too. (Though it would be nice to have him)[/quote]
He can’t be faulted for trying to get the best contract he can get, but his career is effectively over if he walks away from fighting in the top league. UFC knows this, Fedor knows this, we all know this.[/quote]
so, you drank the DW kool-aid…good for you…it’s this belief that keeps these fighters accepting LOW five figures for title fights. they are told they’ll have no career unless they do.
with how big a draw fedor should be some of the other promotions may well be prepared to give him a very attractive deal such as 10% of all profits as he is what people will be coming to see and what they buy the ppv for
have bodog got any more planned events as only 1 employer is dreadful news for the fighters
for sherk 155 champ to only get 28k is a joke
3 fights per year and all the training he has to fund and hes worse off than theguy who errects the cage
[quote comment=”113452″]
so, you drank the DW kool-aid…good for you…it’s this belief that keeps these fighters accepting LOW five figures for title fights. they are told they’ll have no career unless they do.[/quote]
Sorry but you don’t have any CLUE how much fighters make, all you see is the purses attached to a particular fight, you are not aware of the other trailers the fighters are given, esp around fight/submission of the night, overall performance, promotional and sponsor money and money handed over from the UFC management. You don’t know the whole story.
I would give him whatever he wants, cause if he comes to the UFC, your looking at the dominant force in the heavyweight division. He deserves a title shot right of the bat. Whether it be gonzaga or cotoure, neither will last more than a round against the russian. I would love to see him fight that big bitch Silvia, timmy boy would never return to the UFC!!!!
Dana White doesn’t want him participating in Combat Sambo…
…God forbid one of his fighters make a little money that doesn’t go in White’s pocket.
[quote comment=”113426″]A fighter can’t compete in a national competition, but the current Welterweight champ and the number one contender can be tied up for months in a stupid reality show? Okay.[/quote]
U make a great point.
I agree that he should absolutly not be allowed to fight with other MMA organizations. But sambo isnt MMA, and its once a year. If this is whats holding up Fedors Octagon debut, then DANA is being a fool. U cant control a mans life. U can control his MMA career, but outside of MMA, dana has no right to stop the man from competing in a non mma event, that means alot to him and the Russian People.
The addition of Fedor would really complete the hw dicision in the UFC. It would also enable us to have a clear cutt HW rankings. Dana has to get this done
[quote comment=”113463″]I would give him whatever he wants, cause if he comes to the UFC, your looking at the dominant force in the heavyweight division. He deserves a title shot right of the bat. Whether it be gonzaga or cotoure, neither will last more than a round against the russian. I would love to see him fight that big bitch Silvia, timmy boy would never return to the UFC!!!![/quote]
That is exactly what I am waiting for, Fedor will put sylvia in early retirment. I want to see Big Tim catch a nasty beatdown at the hands of “The Russian Experiment”. The heavyweight title isnt legit if u have the whole top 10 except for #1 fighter in the world. With Fedor in the division, whoever holds the title can actually say he is the Best in the World, until then the HW title doesnt mean a whole lot, in my opinion.
terms and conditions: the undoing of all relationships!
[quote comment=”113460″][quote comment=”113452″]
so, you drank the DW kool-aid…good for you…it’s this belief that keeps these fighters accepting LOW five figures for title fights. they are told they’ll have no career unless they do.[/quote]
Sorry but you don’t have any CLUE how much fighters make, all you see is the purses attached to a particular fight, you are not aware of the other trailers the fighters are given, esp around fight/submission of the night, overall performance, promotional and sponsor money and money handed over from the UFC management. You don’t know the whole story.[/quote]
First off, for the champion to step into the ring and defend his title he should be getting more than 14k. Period. Second, Sherk definitely didn’t earn a submission of the night bonus and I think it’s safe to say he didn’t a fight of the night bonus either. Third, sponsorship money has nothing to do with UFC salaries so it’s moot.
Salaries will climb with time but for the majority of the fighters it’s still far below what they should be getting.
[quote comment=”113460″][quote comment=”113452″]
so, you drank the DW kool-aid…good for you…it’s this belief that keeps these fighters accepting LOW five figures for title fights. they are told they’ll have no career unless they do.[/quote]
Sorry but you don’t have any CLUE how much fighters make, all you see is the purses attached to a particular fight, you are not aware of the other trailers the fighters are given, esp around fight/submission of the night, overall performance, promotional and sponsor money and money handed over from the UFC management. You don’t know the whole story.[/quote]
None of that matters, whether it’s $10 or $10,000
If the UFC is the top organization, what they offer is de facto the ceiling on purse money
I like that his manager tells Zuffa to shove it up their asses. The UFC should be glad to get Emelianenko for even a couple of exhibition fights. Fedor is the last hold-out and he’s giving Dana White fits.
I think Dana is worried Fedor will embarass all the current UFC heavyweights (especially Couture, Arlovski, and Sylvia) - and expose the old UFC heavyweight division as the fraud that it was, which is why he’s being so difficult in negotitations.
Dana’s a goof…he doesn’t help the UFC, only hurt it.
Aside from that I do believe the stuff I write because Sean SHerk did get paid 28,000 for his last fight. The only guys making 250,000 per fight are Chuck, Rampage, Couture etc in the heavier divisions. Mania himself posted that Sherk made $28,000 so what is your beef ?The fact remains that he under pays his fighters is all I am saying so get over yourself. If you got a problem with me thats fine but dont go trying to say Im wrong.
the ufc shouldn’t be too worried about scheduling his fights around the sambo thing or it causing delays or whatever
they have no problem making us wait… 7 or 8 months? to see the welterweight belt defended and that’s a stacked division too…
If you think Sean Sherk is boring then you dont have a pulse. Ground fighting is allowed in MMA and makes it exciting when a guy is trying for a better position to gain an advantage.
Why do you think John McCarthy didnt stand up TIm Sylvia and Randy Couture in their EXCITING FIVE ROUND FIGHT in the very first round ? Because if you go to the ground, you need to work your way back up and EARN IT. Its exciting to see the skills of ground and pound and BJJ. Sherk does not employ a lay and pray technique as many of you fools like to call it. He works for positioning which can take 10-20 seconds then drops bombs in the form of hammer fists or elbows. If you like pure striking on the feet watch boxing where 800 punches are exchanged in any given match.
[quote comment=”113500″]Aside from that I do believe the stuff I write because Sean SHerk did get paid 28,000 for his last fight. The only guys making 250,000 per fight are Chuck, Rampage, Couture etc in the heavier divisions. Mania himself posted that Sherk made $28,000 so what is your beef ?
The fact remains that he under pays his fighters is all I am saying so get over yourself. If you got a problem with me thats fine but dont go trying to say Im wrong.[/quote]
All the UFC fighters are underpaid. Greater risks = greater rewards. Unlike basketball, baseball, fighters put their body’s health on the line everytime they step in the octagon.
Considering that theuy substain more of a beating then football players, they should be paid much more then they are now.
For the lightweight champ to fight for 28k, is ridiculous.
Didnt anderson silva only make like 80k? Is it true that chuck gets a % of the pay per views?1
[quote post=”2843″]It’s going to be hard to forgive the ufc if they lose fedor on some minor details that need to be ironned out. I realize that this deal is far more complicated then his manager has discussed but to not reach the terms on some level would just be ridiculous. I ask you this though is the ufc bigger then Fedor?? or vice versa?? Will it make them the solidified elite organization or are they missing a few pieces still? [/quote]
good point…I think the one major thing that the sport of mma ia missing is a unified league where all the fighters can compete to find out who the best is..if fedor does not go to the ufc then i dont care who is HW champ to me they have to fight and beat the best to be the best….
[quote comment=”113439″]Soups, lets not compare TUF coaching with a competition that leads to a possibility of injury. Not even close.[/quote]
Actually, it is VERY close.
What’s the difference between taking months off to do a television show, and taking months off to recover from a pulled muscle/sprained joint?
If you’re going to “make” your Welterweight champ and number one contender take an extended leave from fighting, why “disallow” the pretty-much-undisputed best fighter in MMA the same? It makes no sense.
Matt Hughes is in a comparable position in his career as Fedor. They’re not getting any younger. When push comes to shove, you know what the only difference there is between the two?
Matt Hughes’ absence from the Octagon is making Dana $$$ via the show, whereas Fedor’s potential absence from the Octagon wouldn’t be making Dana $$$. That’s the only difference I see.
[quote comment=”113460″][quote comment=”113452″]
so, you drank the DW kool-aid…good for you…it’s this belief that keeps these fighters accepting LOW five figures for title fights. they are told they’ll have no career unless they do.[/quote]
Sorry but you don’t have any CLUE how much fighters make, all you see is the purses attached to a particular fight, you are not aware of the other trailers the fighters are given, esp around fight/submission of the night, overall performance, promotional and sponsor money and money handed over from the UFC management. You don’t know the whole story.[/quote]
What does promotional and sponsor money have to do with what the UFC is paying? If you are a truly world class puncher and striker you are stupid to get in the UFC, boxing pays so much more.
[quote comment=”113502″]If you think Sean Sherk is boring then you dont have a pulse. Ground fighting is allowed in MMA and makes it exciting when a guy is trying for a better position to gain an advantage.
Why do you think John McCarthy didnt stand up TIm Sylvia and Randy Couture in their EXCITING FIVE ROUND FIGHT in the very first round ? Because if you go to the ground, you need to work your way back up and EARN IT. Its exciting to see the skills of ground and pound and BJJ. Sherk does not employ a lay and pray technique as many of you fools like to call it. He works for positioning which can take 10-20 seconds then drops bombs in the form of hammer fists or elbows. If you like pure striking on the feet watch boxing where 800 punches are exchanged in any given match.[/quote]
Sherk can’t finish a fight for shit. He’s pure lay, do roids, and pray. I love a good ground and pound, but that surely wasn’t what Sherk did in his last fight. With that level of roid rage he should be ripping people apart too! The only non-decision he has won in the UFC was when a guys shoulder dislocated. He holds people down and wins a decision. Him getting DQ’d is going to be great for the LW division.
I just really wanna see if anyone can beat Fedor, and if anyone can beat him they are probably in the UFC. They will probably make a compromise eventually, and hopefully Fedor will still be in his prime.
Fedor and management may not want to face the biggest and the baddest…and perhaps that’s why they’re stalling. The UFC has every right to demand that Fedor stop fighting outside of the octagon. Most responsible business owners would domand the exact same thing. It’s called maintaining an investment…and Fedor will be a very expensive investment for the UFC. They will expect a return on this investment, and are wise to include conditions within his contract.
The competition in the heavyweight division, right now, is the best it’s ever been. Fedor is riding a 20 fight win streak. Mabye he doesn’t want to let that go. Mabye he is trying to hold on to his “invincibility” by not taking on fighters that will potentially take away his streak (and his reputation). All you Fedor lovers might not like this perspective, but just think about it. The guy is awesome, and as some have pointed out, he’s not getting any younger. He’s beaten EVERYONE that he has faced. Why risk that legacy?
That is my fear. By the time Fedor gets over here and signs a contract he will be 38, hasn’t fought MMA in 5 years and gets beat. Then some yahoo will say he sucked.
[quote post=”2843″]Do you really believe the stuff you say?
The top fighters are making upwards of a quarter million a fight, and considering they can fight more than once a year, they are making almost 7 figure salaries. That with sponsors im sure they are making well over a mil a year. Offering no name fighters a chance to make an extra 10k for doing what they should have in their head to do anyway is also a good deal, if you are going into a fight not thinking that you are going to beat the shit out of someone anyway, and need the incentive to do so, you shouldnt be there. I will agree that maybe the no named fighters arent making much, but that should be incentive to come out and win some fights, get your name out there and force the UFC to pay you more.
I think CC signed a 6 fight 2.5mil contract.
Paying someone based on their abilities and how much money they make the company is such a bullshit idea. *sarcasm*
Also, Sherk is a boring ass fighter to watch in my opinion, if he was the only fight on the card, I wouldn’t ever order the PPV, just go to a bar and watch it. [/quote]
A quarter million wwwhhhooooaaaa thats a lotta lute.(SARCASM) boxers get paid like 10 times that even on a losing streak..we are not talking about the morality of this issue the bottom line is that they are proffesional athletes and the punishment that they endure is far greater then any other sport… so if u wanna talk about deserving money…reality check..they all deserve more..
Breakin my balls Dana, Breakin my balls…
Excited to hear that the UFC is the front runner in negotiation with possibly the best pound for pound fighter in the world. Would love to see him fight RC on New Year’s weekend. I can see where both sides are coming from. The UFC wants to protect it’s investments as any company would. If Fedor gets signed it only makes sense for him to fight solely for the UFC. Afterall the UFC would have a full schedule of competitive fights probably for the rest of his career. If he truly wants to prove he’s the best he needs to be in the UFC. On his end I can understand that he wants to represent Russia in sporting events which is something he usually gets to do with no question. Understandable considering how much this man means to the country and how big the sport is getting. The man is just used to getting whatever he wants after 4 years of dominance. I guess thats why he has so much negotiating power over his career choices. Although I still support the UFC on not allowing their contracted fighters to participate elsewhere.
OK for the last time I will explain it to AaronW :
These guys are getting paid for fights a dollar amount. That amount like Sean Sherk’s $28,000 figure is most likely based on Dana’s thinking that I dont have to pay them a lot of money.
Dana thinks this way because he knows he can pay them whatever he wants because they cant make nearly the same money or get the same recognition that they can in the UFC. This thinking is wrong. Pay the guys what they deserve. When you get $40 million in PPV sales the wealth should be spread around to the fighters who make it possible.
Dana has the mindset of the following :
“These guys get 3-4 fights a year if your good so I can pay them 15,000 a fight which equates to $60,000. On top of that they probably get their sponsorship money so I’ll let the sponsors worry about the rest of the food that they must put on the table.”
a shi1ty attitude if you ask me.
AaronW says the following
“Sorry but you don’t have any CLUE how much fighters make, all you see is the purses attached to a particular fight, you are not aware of the other trailers the fighters are given, esp around fight/submission of the night, overall performance, promotional and sponsor money and money handed over from the UFC management. You don’t know the whole story.”
By Dana offering “fight of the night” cash, he is brainwashing the fighters in to thinking he is a good guy throwing additional money around. These guys should be thinking damn the UFC is getting sold out arenas and millions of PPV hits, where is my end ?
this is bs,I cant believe that they are complaining about him wanting to fight in his sambo contests,if he dosent come to the UFC for this then I will hate Dana for life,
and by the way Dana that is no empty threat,I mean it!
If this was just a no-name fighter, I would still say what’s the UFC’s problem? However, this is freaking Fedor, give the man what he wants. C’mon Dana, I defend you all the time because I do think you’ve played a big role in bringing MMA to where it is today, but what the hell is the reasoning behind playing hardball with Fedor? The man has more than earned having some special stipulations in his contract. If you need more proof, go and ask anyone on your current roster who the best fighter in the world is?
[quote comment=”113500″]Aside from that I do believe the stuff I write because Sean SHerk did get paid 28,000 for his last fight. The only guys making 250,000 per fight are Chuck, Rampage, Couture etc in the heavier divisions. Mania himself posted that Sherk made $28,000 so what is your beef ?
The fact remains that he under pays his fighters is all I am saying so get over yourself. If you got a problem with me thats fine but dont go trying to say Im wrong.[/quote]
7 figures in a year is a rediculous amount of money.. people that save lives for a living dont make nearly that much.. sherk may have made 30k, didnt say you were wrong about his purse.. read my comment.. the point is, the people that pull in the viewers get paid more.. if you are gonna be a lay and pray artist, dont expect to make tons of money, especially when you have NO personality, its entertainment, this isnt the olympics, if you arent entertaining you arent gonna get shit.. who are the people you REALLY want to see, guaranteed they make the most money.. thats how the entertainment business works.. in the chuck v rampage fight, chuck made 500k and rampage made 220k, i would love to be underpaid like that..
and you know kelly, i think you are hilarious for trying to be the resident smart guy and at the same time making the craziest of claims about your physical ability..
fuck, if i had the physical ability to fight in the UFC, i would do it for free, sponsorship is mad cash.. and i think other athletes are overpaid, not that mma fighters are underpaid..