UFC made a (new) offer that was a very good offer,” M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelchtein stated today regarding the offer made by the UFC to Fedor Emelianenko. CBS Radio MMA host Carmichael Dave revealed exactly how good the offer was in a post on Sherdog this evening.
According to Carmichael, the UFC presented Emelianenko with a six-fight, $30 million dollar contract. At $5 million per fight, that would easily make him the highest paid fighter in the organization's history. He was also offered an immediate title shot, with M-1 Global receiving a cut of the Lesnar - Fedor PPV (which would likely be the biggest PPV in MMA history) on top of Fedor's salary.
Carmichael went on to note that Emelianenko would be able to don the M-1 Global logo on any of his attire, and that he would be allowed to compete in combat sambo, a point of contention in their negotiations in 2007.
Finkelchtein noted that while their offer was good, it wasn't enough to convince them to sign with the UFC. Like in 2007, Finkelchtein is apparently demanding to have a co-promotion with his Russian M-1 Global promotion and the UFC. Finkelchtein stated earlier today that because M-1 has done its part to grow the sport by promoting shows all over the world, that the company is worthy of co-promoting events with the UFC.
“The UFC has their champions; we (M-1 Global) also have our champions and our representatives,” Finkelchtein said. “We offered to have a co-promotion.”
Finkelchtein went on to say that further progress may be made later, but not now. He also revealed that Emelianenko was negotiating with other organizations, including Strikeforce.
It is virtually guaranteed that the UFC would not allow Fedor's fights to be co-promotional ventures with M-1 Global. It is also virtually guaranteed that no other organization would be able to match the UFC's offer monetarily, although they could provide the co-promotion with M-1 Global.
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