Fans Want Fedor-Werdum 2
When the management team meets with its co-promotional partner Strikeforce in the coming weeks to discuss a contract extension, M-1 Global will pursue a rematch between its top client, Fedor Emelianenko, and Fabricio Werdum.
Before the year’s end, Evgeni Kogan, Director of Operations for the Holland-based organization, said that M-1 Global hopes to co-promote the rematch with Strikeforce. At the two promotions’ second co-branded event on June 26 in San Jose, Calif, Werdum submitted Emelianenko with a triangle choke-armbar combination.
“For us, it makes the most sense for us to do the Werdum fight because it seems like that’s the fight that all the fans want, In Russia, 85 percent of the respondents (to a recent poll) — and that’s thousands of people – are saying that that’s the fight they want.” Kogan told Sherdog.com on Tuesday.
Despite Emelianenko’s first loss in nearly 10 years, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show last week that a bout between the 33-year-old Russian fighter and heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem was still a possibility.
“Once we sit down and negotiate with Strikeforce and Showtime, the next opponent will become clear in a reasonable short period of time,” said Kogan.
Emelianenko, before resuming his training, is taking a brief vacation with his family, said Kogan.
“Out of everyone following the fight, (Fedor) was the most OK, to him, I can assume it was disappointing, but everyone else seemed much more upset than he was” said Kogan of Emelianenko’s mindset.
Emelianenko’s return to the Strikeforce cage will depend on upcoming discussions, like in early 2010. M-1 Global engaged in renegotiations with Strikeforce, following their first co-promoted venture in November 2009 to revise the three-event contract both had signed that prior August.
In May, the two outlets came to a new agreement, and Kogan said that since then, relations between M-1 and Strikeforce have never been better. Showtime’s inclusion in negotiations has paved an easier path for all, added Kogan. For Strikeforce, the premium-pay cable network is the U.S. broadcast partner.
When the coveted former Pride FC champion briefly became a free agent following the collapse of Affliction Entertainment and the cancellation of its Aug. 1 event, UFC President Dana White was among Emelianenko’s suitors that are more vocal last year. Emelianenko went instead with Strikeforce, White still vowed to sign the fighter with a 26-fight win streak, even after Emelianenko turned down a multi-fight, seven-figure exclusive deal with the UFC.
For White’s recent remarks, Kogan had no comment. He confirmed that M-1 Global does not have the legal flexibility to negotiate with other promotions at this time and said, “Nor do we want to.”
“Following June 26, we have unfinished business, we would like to deal with the loss. We do not want to negotiate with others. We’re happy with our partners,” said Kogan.