The entire MMA world is buzzing on reports that in the wake of the collapse
of Affliction, UFC President Dana White is going to get the ultimate dream match
of Brock vs Fedor.
Our sources are telling us "not so fast."
However, Lance Pugmire of
THE LA TIMES
actually ran a headline that the two sides are finalizing the
deal.
Pugmire reports:
A long-awaited agreement between the Ultimate Fighting Championship
and the man considered the world's best mixed martial arts fighter, Fedor
Emelianenko, is expected to be announced by UFC President Dana White on Friday,
a source with information about the negotiations told The Times
today.
The source, who asked not to be identified because he's not
authorized to speak publicly about the dealings, called negotiations between the
UFC and Fedor "very civil" just days after Fedor's scheduled Affliction Trilogy
fight Saturday against Josh Barnett was canceled.
Affliction wound up folding its MMA promotion activities and
announced an apparel deal to sponsor UFC.
Now, Fedor, who has previously fought in organizations including
PRIDE Fighting Championships in Japan, Bodog Fight and Affliction, is crossing
over to the world's most successful MMA fighting organization, as
well.
With a 30-1 record that includes victories over former UFC
heavyweight champions Tim Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira,
Emelianenko would likely get an immediate shot at reigning UFC heavyweight champ
Brock Lesnar.
The source, who is not affiliated with the UFC, said officials were
discussing details on the public announcement of the deal, which in the past has
been complicated by Emelianenko's resistance to accept UFC's standard six-fight
contract and his unwillingness to surrender some merchandising and marketing
revenues.
But this month White said he was optimistic he could bring
Emelianenko aboard, and his confidence was well-placed. The UFC declined to
elaborate on Friday's scheduled announcement.
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