Sounds like Barnett failed a drug test and cali isn't going to give him license.

http://mmajunkie.com/news/15592/with-josh-barnett-out-vitor-belfort-makes-verbal-commitment-to-face-fedor-emelianenko-at-affliction-trilogy.mm

MW Belfort is stepping in. I would like to see Belfort fight Santiago then sign with the UFC and make a run at Anderson, not get beaten by Fedor.

2nd time that dumbass has been popped. i guess some never learn.

and i think vitor has the physical skillz to compete with anderson if his heart is up to it. i wonder if dana will actually sign him.

now they've canceled the whole show.

Affliction is back as a sponsor of UFC and no longer putting on MMA shows so Fedor, Belfort, Mousasi, Sobral, & Lil Nog can all join the UFC!!

but isn't it Fedor's stake in M1 causing the issue? and the fact that he just doesn't seem to want to be in the ufc?

Fedor's management is M-1 so that does throw a wrench in everything, but the thing is money talks and the UFC pays more than anyone else. If Lorenzo and Dana can actually talk to Fedor which they've never done I think terms can be met.

quote:

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Fedor's management is M-1 so that does throw a wrench in everything, but the thing is money talks and the UFC pays more than anyone else

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you sure about that?

i thought the reason these other promotions are going belly up is because they committed too much $$$ to their main draws and there just isn't enough funding, despite recent popularity to justify it. didn't slyvia get $850K for getting KTFO? and i thought Fedor made close to $1.3 in that fight?

anyway, just wondering what you know. i was of the opinion the UFC is the biggest draw, yet not neccesarily the biggest payer right now. fighters know they make less (barring a few names) but they have a stable employer which is why they rarely leave.

Only a few know for sure what UFC fighters make. I am not one of them but I did see a copy of Randy's contract and he ended up getting something more like 900K+ for UFC 68. Not sure if that included a signing bonus for coming back.

A while back Dana said Liddell & Couture each got 1mil+ just for showing up for their 3rd fight.

I think its safe to say the UFC is taking care of their big name guys.

The UFC can offer PPV %'s & that is a huge advantage.

A Lesnar/Fedor fight would bring PPV numbers close to Tyson/Holyfield.

100 did 1.5mil. I'm not sure Lesnar-Fedor quite tops that but anywhere in that ballpark is huge.

Lesnar - Fedor would top that. It would be headline news worldwide.

I was wrong above actually, Tyson-Holyfield was 1.4.

I honestly think Lesnar- Fedor would push 2 million buys which would put it 2nd all time.

Both would walk away with at least 5 Mil, probably more.

Depends on how they hyped it. They do the whole previews shows like BJ-GSP II, get coverage on ESPN, and load it up with a hell of a co-main event then maybe.

All kinds of rumors on Sherdog, etc that it's Lesnar - Fedor at UFC 103 in Dallas of all places.

[This message has been edited by Syd_X_Barrett (edited 7/28/2009 10:45p).]

I ****in hope that happens there because I have tix but it aint happening.

i guess we'll know for sure on the 31st.

Fedor has a press conference today where basically his M-1 management announced he's in EA's video game, avoided all questions, and said they'd only co promote with the UFC because they are equal and a global org or some dumb ass senseless **** like that.

Hmmm. Interesting.

It will be very sad if he finishes his career without a fight in the UFC.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=ki-fedorufc073109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Crazy.

Well Fedor signs with StrikeForce.

Here is how I think it'll play out

Fevor vs Rogers for the interim title (Overeem's hand is still messed up) on CBS. SF is close to getting a network deal and who better than to have fight?

Fedor vs Barnett on New Years. This fight still needs to happen. No way Josh is fighting in the US and Fedor likes to fight in front of the Japanese crowd on New Years. The contract is non exclusive (I think) so I could this happening.

Fedor vs Overeem in Spring of 2010. This fight will basically finish off the non UFC HW talent put there. I guess Werdum would be left but he's lucky to be considered top 15.