Taken from www.mmajunkie.com
Top free-agent fighter Fedor Emelianenko, the heavyweight champion of the now-defunct PRIDE Fighting Championships, has signed a new six-fight, two-year deal with M-1 Global.
The signing was announced this evening at a press conference in New York City.
M-1 Global was previously known as M-1 Mix-Fight Championship. The Russian-based organization had been owned by Emelianenko's manager, Vadim Finkelstein. However, Sibling Sports LLC today announced it had purchased the organization with the intention of making it a true international promotion.
Once the organization signs a television deal -- something executives expect to happen soon -- the organization's first event will be announced. It's expected to take place in February, and while Emelianenko will be on the card, his opponent is not yet known.
"We're looking for the best opponents available (for Emelianenko)," said Monte Cox, one of MMA's top fighter agents who today was named chief executive officer of M-1 Global. "There's a couple guys who we heard became free. I don't know. It's just a rumor."
The tongue-in-cheek comment was likely in reference to Randy Couture, the UFC heavyweight champion who abruptly resigned from the organization earlier this month. UFC President Dana White continues to label it a retirement, though Couture says he will fight again. During media events this past weekend at UFC 77, White said he will not release Couture from his contract. Couture has two fights remaining on the deal, and White hinted that the matter will likely have to be settled by the courts.
When asked about Couture at today's press conference, Emelianenko admitted that he'd like to fight the 44-year-old UFC hall-of-famer.
"These days, he's the strongest fighter," Emelianenko said through a translator. "It would be an honor for me to fight him... whether it's in cooperation with the UFC or not.
As part of his new deal, Emelianenko will be allowed to fight outside the organization. Additionally, he requested -- and received -- a special clause in his contract that requires M-1 Global to offer the UFC heavyweight champion $1 million more than what the UFC offers for a fight with Emelianenko.
Emelianenko specifically mentioned that clause when a reporter asked him about rumors he was unwilling to fight certain opponents, such as Tim Sylvia, if he were to sign with the UFC.
"I hope (that clause) demonstrates how I am not afraid to fight anyone," Emelianenko said.
Cox said the organization will announce the signings of additional fighters in the next 7-10 days. He also predicted that fighters from other organizations, such as the UFC, will look to M-1 Global when their contracts expire.
One reoccurring theme mentioned in today's press conference by M-1 Global executives was that the organization will be a true international organization that will recruit international talent while hosting shows throughout the world. Emelianenko specifically mentioned Japan, where PRIDE used to do business. The PRIDE 2004 Grand Prix winner said he hopes M-1 Global can fill the void left by PRIDE's demise.
The owners of Zuffa LLC (the UFC's parent company) purchased PRIDE back in March but recently shut down the organization.
As for the immediate future of M-1 Global, Cox said that additional news about the organization will be announced in the next few weeks. This evening's press conference, he said, was intended to highlight one fighter who he thinks will initially carry the organization.
"Today is all about Fedor Emelianenko," he said.