UFC 100

[Roscoe Chill]

But again, that's what I mean about the timing. Carwin and Velazquez are fighting two events after Nogueira/Couture...which will be two events after Lensar. Taking Fedor out of the discussion for now, Lesnar v. Nogueira/Couture at UFC 106, maybe 108. Winner of Carwin/Velazquez would then get Lesnar at 110-112? Something like that.

 

EDIT: I should say Winner of Carwin/Velazquez would get winner of Lesnar-Couture/Nogueira.

[brettac1]

The dark horse is also Cro Cop. If he crushes dos Santos at 103, he could easily get a shot. The guy is a draw, and having him fight Lesnar would be pretty massive. Anyone against Lesnar probably would be pretty massive, though.

 

I really don't think having Couture getting mauled by Lesnar again is a fight that should be made if he beat Nog. I could see in the future a Randy/Fedor match just for old times sakes IF (I still say that's a huge if) Fedor comes to the UFC and beats Lesnar.

 

Also, it is so irritating to have guys have to wait 6 months to fight. Young or less experienced fighters like Carwin and Velasquez need as much octagon time as they can get to develop into excellent fighters. Their fight should be over pretty quickly, so I don't see any reason why the winner couldn't fight two months later if it looked like a really good fight against Lesnar. That's why Pride was so great. Guys like Nog and Fedor and Cro Cop fought all the time. Sakuraba, too, in the earlier ones. Wand. Etc.

[RayKingsForemanGrill]

Kinda related:

 

I'm not a huge documentary fan, but as a fan of fighting, I was floored by this documentary: Fight or Flight

 

Extended trailer:

 

That's a pretty good taste. I spent some time with the director at a festival earlier this year - great guy, totally unassuming, not the type of guy you'd expect to go do what he does here.

 

For fight fans, it's a fantastic film.

[TracyThom]

The dark horse is also Cro Cop. If he crushes dos Santos at 103, he could easily get a shot. The guy is a draw, and having him fight Lesnar would be pretty massive. Anyone against Lesnar probably would be pretty massive, though.

Did Cro Cop and Dana kiss and make up? After Cro Cop's last UFC fight, Dana went nuts and started dropping F-bombs left and right because Cro Cop was considering fighting in Japan after signing a 1-match contract with the UFC. Apparently they had a verbal agreement for a long-term contract but didn't get it signed.

[DuWayne Steurer]

The dark horse is also Cro Cop. If he crushes dos Santos at 103, he could easily get a shot. The guy is a draw, and having him fight Lesnar would be pretty massive. Anyone against Lesnar probably would be pretty massive, though.

Did Cro Cop and Dana kiss and make up? After Cro Cop's last UFC fight, Dana went nuts and started dropping F-bombs left and right because Cro Cop was considering fighting in Japan after signing a 1-match contract with the UFC. Apparently they had a verbal agreement for a long-term contract but didn't get it signed.

Cro Cop changed his mind and signed (I think) a 3 fight deal with UFC. I don't think he's all that relevant anymore, just my opinion. He needs to truly impress his next time out. Every one of his UFC fights, even his 2 wins, have been very lackluster.

[stoops17]

 

If you go back to this report from 7/29, Fedor being in the ea video game could be a stumbling block for him coming to the UFC as Dana White has already said anyone in that ea game which rivals his own UFC game, will not fight in the UFC.

[DuWayne Steurer]

 

If you go back to this report from 7/29, Fedor being in the ea video game could be a stumbling block for him coming to the UFC as Dana White has already said anyone in that ea game which rivals his own UFC game, will not fight in the UFC.

Dana gave Randy a special exemption, and has said he'd do the same for Fedor.

[Roscoe Chill]

Rumors abound that if Fedor signs, it will be Fedor v. Lesnar at UFC 103...so no six months there between fights (late September?). I've also seen some pretty huge money numbers whispered about to Fedor, and very fair concessions in the supposed offer. If true, M1 is no good for Fedor.

 

Also Vitor Belfort is back and is fighting Rich Franklin as the current UFC 103 headliner. Dan Henderson was supposed to be Franklin's opponent, so maybe Henderson will get a rematch vs. Anderson Silva?

[DuWayne Steurer]

Per UFC.com, Tito Ortiz has also re-signed with the organization.

 

Man oh man, Vitor's back, Tito's back, and Fedor might be on the way. Business is about to pick up!

 

Ortiz vs. Mark Coleman in November seems likely. That'd be a nice warmup for Tito. Coleman showed he's still got some gas in the tank with the fantastic fight against Bonner at 100.

 

EDIT #2. Ben Rothwell's (from Kenosha), also been signed. He's 30-6 with wins over Ricco Rodriguez, Kryzstof Soszynski, and Roy Nelson. Another nice addition.

[brettac1]

So pumped that Vitor is back. Disappointed it is at 205, though. He needs to fight Anderson. Anderson vs Vitor is a much more enticing fight than Anderson vs Hendo, which is what looks like would happen - according to Sherdog.

 

Tito vs Coleman is a who cares fight, though. They need to find him a better dance partner than that. Cane or something. Jon Jones would be an excellent opponent, too. They should find out right away if Tito is relevant.

 

Great for Rothwell, he's deserved to be there for a while.

[DuWayne Steurer]

http://www.sherdog.com/ne...e-tried-everything-18850

 

Accoring to Dana's side of the story, they were willing to meet all of Fedor and M1's demands except co-promotion.

 

I think it's gotten to the point where they shouldn't bend over backwards for one guy.

[brettac1]

Not surprising at all.

 

Though I don't believe pretty much anything Dana White says.

 

Fedor's the best, and he doesn't need to fight Brock freaking Lesnar to prove that, anyway.

[phxMILWfan]

How has Fedor proved he's the best? The rumored 6 fight deal for Fedor would be awesome. They could have him fight Lesnar, Couture, Velasquez, Carwin, Mir, Nog or possibly Lesnar again. If he got through that then you could say he is the best. At this point, I'd like to see him fight Lesnar and win, but I'm not convinced he would. Seriously though, 6 fights for 30 million dollars, allowing him to compete in sambo, allowing him to advertise all he wants for M1, a cut of the pay per view sales and exemption from the video game. What else does this guy want? Sorry but there is no way the UFC should allow M1 to co-promote. Fedor needs to man up, take the contract and due whats best for the sport.

[lcbj68c]

Yeah!! Let's meet out by the Oak Tree after school!

[DuWayne Steurer]

Seriously though, 6 fights for 30 million dollars, allowing him to compete in sambo, allowing him to advertise all he wants for M1, a cut of the pay per view sales and exemption from the video game. What else does this guy want? Sorry but there is no way the UFC should allow M1 to co-promote.

 

The fact that Fedor turned this down, (The only concession that I question is the dollar amounts, that seems a bit high), really makes me think Fedor has no interest in actually fighting in M-1. I know other's will disagree, but I still contend that it's difficult to call him the best in the world when he's fighting in the minor leagues.

 

A poster on an MMA forum said it best. "Imagine when the USFL folded, and many NFL teams were looking at Warren Moon, who was viewed as an extraordinarily gifted passer. Imagine that Moons agent said "Well, we'll sign with you, but it has to be for twice as much money as anyone else in the league, AND I want half of all the per-game revenue, because I'm good enough that I deserve it" That's basically what Fedor's people are asking for here.

 

People can say what they want about Dana, but there's *no way* they need M-1 to help co-promote their shows, and there's no way they should capitulate to these demands. UFC does not need M-1, or Fedor, to survive.

[brettac1]

How has Fedor proved he's the best? The rumored 6 fight deal for Fedor would be awesome. They could have him fight Lesnar, Couture, Velasquez, Carwin, Mir, Nog or possibly Lesnar again. If he got through that then you could say he is the best. At this point, I'd like to see him fight Lesnar and win, but I'm not convinced he would. Seriously though, 6 fights for 30 million dollars, allowing him to compete in sambo, allowing him to advertise all he wants for M1, a cut of the pay per view sales and exemption from the video game. What else does this guy want? Sorry but there is no way the UFC should allow M1 to co-promote. Fedor needs to man up, take the contract and due whats best for the sport.

Okay, Dana. Why everything he says is reported as fact is beyond me. He's trying to gain the leverage in public opinion, which obviously is working for some people.

 

He proved it in Pride.

[DuWayne Steurer]

How has Fedor proved he's the best? The rumored 6 fight deal for Fedor would be awesome. They could have him fight Lesnar, Couture, Velasquez, Carwin, Mir, Nog or possibly Lesnar again. If he got through that then you could say he is the best. At this point, I'd like to see him fight Lesnar and win, but I'm not convinced he would. Seriously though, 6 fights for 30 million dollars, allowing him to compete in sambo, allowing him to advertise all he wants for M1, a cut of the pay per view sales and exemption from the video game. What else does this guy want? Sorry but there is no way the UFC should allow M1 to co-promote. Fedor needs to man up, take the contract and due whats best for the sport.

Okay, Dana. Why everything he says is reported as fact is beyond me. He's trying to gain the leverage in public opinion, which obviously is working for some people.

 

He proved it in Pride.

He was the best, that's obvious. Is he still? That remains to be seen. What have you done for me lately Fedor? He's beaten a bunch of guys that were no longer useful or needed in the UFC, guys who are or were past their prime.

[phxMILWfan]

How has Fedor proved he's the best? The rumored 6 fight deal for Fedor would be awesome. They could have him fight Lesnar, Couture, Velasquez, Carwin, Mir, Nog or possibly Lesnar again. If he got through that then you could say he is the best. At this point, I'd like to see him fight Lesnar and win, but I'm not convinced he would. Seriously though, 6 fights for 30 million dollars, allowing him to compete in sambo, allowing him to advertise all he wants for M1, a cut of the pay per view sales and exemption from the video game. What else does this guy want? Sorry but there is no way the UFC should allow M1 to co-promote. Fedor needs to man up, take the contract and due whats best for the sport.

Okay, Dana. Why everything he says is reported as fact is beyond me. He's trying to gain the leverage in public opinion, which obviously is working for some people.

 

He proved it in Pride.

 

Seriously? Who has he fought lately? An 8 foot chinese guy? Who's next for the mighty Fedor, Manute Bol? The UFC doesn't need him and he doesn't need the UFC. That's fine but at some point you can't refer to him as the best fighter when he's not fighting anyone.

[Roscoe Chill]

OK, first let me say that I am very disappointed in the what seems to be failed negotiations between Fedor's camp and the UFC. I'll go even further and say my disappointment lies mostly with Fedor's camp. I think they are being unreasonable. And I stand behind the UFC. I believe that they have done what they should do, and M1 Global is really just expecting the impossible.

 

BUT, please stop saying Fedor is in the minor leagues, or Fedor hasn't beaten anyone lately etc. Andrei Arlovski is all of a sudden some chump? Please. No, Tim Sylvia isn't very good at this time, but Fedor didn't beat the giant, he destroyed him in 36 seconds. At the time, Sylvia had only been beaten twice in the last 9 fights by Couture and Nogueria. Speaking of Nogueira, if he beats Couture in a few weeks, he's probably going to be fighting Lesnar for the title sometime at the end of this year. And Fedor defeated Nog three times. So, what does that say about this whole argument?

 

Who has Cain Velasquez beat? Cheick Kongo and a bunch of insignificants. Who has Shane Carwin beat? Gabe Gonzaga. Speaking of Gabe Gonzaga, he was the heavyweight upcoming stud up to about six months ago, now he's on the UFC undercards. My point? Some of you are talking these guys like Carwin up to be some kind of monsters that have proven nothing really, and at the same time ripping Fedor's competition. It doesn't make sense.

[DuWayne Steurer]

In Sylvia's last 6 fights, he's 2 - 4. He almost completely refused to engage with Jeff Monson, a guy he outweighs by 40 pounds and who he's got a foot reach advantage on. He won a decision by standing back and doing nothing but baby jabs that wouldn't hurt a 10 year old. He got picked apart by Randy. He beat Brandon Vera in one of the most boring fights I've ever seen, as both of them really refused to engage. He got choked out by Nog, destroyed by Fedor, and then to top it off, knocked out in 9 seconds by a 55 year old boxer who hasn't been relevant for 15 years.

 

You can't possibly call him a true challenge. It's as obvious as the day is long that Sylvia's decline happened rapidly, as is known to happen in this sport.

 

Arlovski was actually putting up a decent fight vs. Fedor, but it's well known he's got a glass chin, proven by Fedor, and exploited by Brett Rogers.

 

But going further. Hong Man Choi? Really? A guy with 2 professional fights coming in. I don't care how big he was, the guy is not a fighter. Mark Hunt? 5-6 Mark Hunt. Mark Coleman? He had a great fight with Bonner that went the distance. The only truly legit challenge I'd say Fedor's had in the last 3 years was Matt Lindland, and that's pushing it, as he's not really in Fedor's weight class.

 

These guys are on the decline. They're just not relevant anymore. I'll continue to exist that Fedor's playing around in the minor leagues until he fights someone that's currently relevant to the heavyweight scene.

 

If Fedor wanted to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he's *still* the best, he would have signed this RIDICULOUS deal that was offered to him. According to Yahoo sports, he didn't say a single word during the teleconference with UFC. M-1 is clearly pushing the buttons, and Fedor's nothing more than a puppet. That's too bad, really.

[Roscoe Chill]

Let's not forget that Fedor was supposed to fight the best heavyweight not named Fedor two nights ago.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Let's not forget that Fedor was supposed to fight the best heavyweight not named Fedor two nights ago.

Supposed to doesn't really mean a whole lot.

 

And I strongly question Barnett being called 2nd best in the world. Top 10? Absolutely. 2nd best? I don't know about that.

[DuWayne Steurer]

http://www.sherdog.com/ne...s-with-strikeforce-18883

 

I don't think M-1 or Fedor ever had any intention of signing with the UFC. They wanted to put on a show and make it look like they made the effort. Ah well. At this point, I'm hoping he faces Overeem and gets beaten. (Not holding my breath on that one though)

[brettac1]

Awesome.

 

So happy to see him fighting in America, and with such a great company. Strikeforce isn't going anywhere.

 

Lesnar hasn't been anyone near the caliber of fighters that Fedor has. Arlovski is better than Mir and he KO'd him with one shot.

 

I'm just not going to believe anything Dana White says about this whole thing. He's the one doing all the talking (as usual). I especially never believe him when he says he's going to compensate a fighter well. Those guys get hosed.

[Roscoe Chill]

I definitely believe that the UFC had the best offer. I don't believe that it was for as much as was reported though. I also read that if the UFC offered this offer to Fedor two years ago, it probably would have been a done deal. Fedor said that the UFC tried to screw him two years ago. But M1 Global does have Fedor under contract for three fights too. So, they would have to release him from their contract, and they wouldn't at this time. So, we may see this same thing come up again in 12-18 months. And RoCo, it may not mean much to you, but the fact that he was SUPPOSED to fight Barnett two days ago totally makes the "scared to fight the top competition" theory a reach.