Monson vs. Fedor March 3rd

[SWIBC]

Saw on Sherdog quickly that Fedor has signed to fight for BoDog on March 3rd in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Possible opponent is Jeff Monson
Also brother Aleksander scheduled to possibly fight Antonio Silva

very interesting, so does that mean Fedor would not fight in US on the February Card??

[Gygax]

From Sherdog.com
"Fedor Emelianenko, the consensus top fighter in the heavyweight division and widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound mixed martial artist in the sport, has agreed to fight in St. Petersburg, Russia, on March 3, sources inside the Bodog front office confirmed to Sherdog.com Friday.

With one bout remaining on his Dream Stage Entertainment contract, Emelianenko is scheduled to defend his PRIDE heavyweight belt in Japan versus Mark Hunt on New Year's Eve. While a clause in Emelianenko's current deal allows the Russian to compete in his home country, one Bodog source indicated that the well-financed company intends to sign Fedor to a long-term deal.

Considering Bodog's working relationship with Fedor's Red Devil Fight Team, from which eight fighters will compete on bodogFIGHT's initial pay-per-view Saturday in Vancouver, this revelation is not all that surprising.

At a minimum, Bodog has inked a deal with Fedor to fight March 3, likely versus recent UFC championship contender Jeff Monson. Also on the card, which will be broadcast on worldwide pay-per-view, both via the Internet and television, Sherdog.com was told that Aleksander Emelianenko will fight Antonio Silva, should the Brazilian heavyweight defeat Eric Pele Saturday."

Its being reported by Josh Gross, who is pretty reputable most of the time.

[Jras0001]

I cant believe that Pride will let their current champ take part in another organizations show. Think of what the ramifications would be if .... IF......he were to somehow lose to Monson. A guy who couldnt win the UFC title. I think that would have a negative impact on his marketability at least a little. I think its cool that he has a clause like that in his contract that allows him to compete but its a big risk because anything can happen in a fight. The way it sounds, Bodog is looking to sign him for more than a fight though. I just cant imagine that Pride would let him go that easily....

[bloodfist]

i have just read that fedor is fighting his last fight in pride and is moving to bodog and fighting in russia march 3d he will most likley fight monson (weird)
his contract is up in pride after shockwave so what will happen to the belt?

i dont know how to give a link but it is on sherdog.com
ps aleksander will fight antonio silva 6'4 over 300 pounds if silva wis his next fight

[DirtyChuckRulz!]

Where did you get this info?

[Ryduce]

Sherdog.com front page.

[Pitbull]

Here's the link to the story:
http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=6250

And here's a thread started earlier today on this topic by SWIBC:
http://www.fightforum.com/other-mma-...march-3rd.html

[DirtyChuckRulz!]

I dont see Fedor leaving Pride. i dont think he fights for money only. he wants to fight the best in the world and the best way to do that is to stay with Pride for now.

[Pitbull]

Ryduce, you're too fast for me.

I go and get the link, copy and paste, and you've already posted.

[Harms]

If from what the article says about Fedor's contract to be true, I don't see how they could stop him form fighting in Russia. We'll probably see what happens closer to the event.

[Gooner]

It is not confirmed, that Fedor will leave PRIDE.


Like it says in the link, his contract allows him to fight in his own country.

[RockemSockem]

I don't think Fedor would want to leave Pride either. But Bodog already has a connection with his team and he would undoubtedly have numerous opportunities to fight in his home country. That is an opportunity Pride is not offering.

[duke09]

sorry if this is in the wrong thread or forum, but monson was discussed a lot in here, as was fedor, so if it is in the wrong place, accept my apologies. also, the org is bodog, but i wasnt sure where to put it... but, it does have ufc implications... anyway, here is the article


Various sources have speculated for the past few weeks that Fedor Emelianenko, highly regarded as the top fighter in the world, had agreed to fight in St. Petersburg, Russia for mixed martial arts upstart BodogFight. Fedor’s signing has now been confirmed.

A report by Sherdog.com editor Josh Gross has sited sources within the BodogFight front office as confirming that Fedor Emelianenko has indeed signed to headline their March 3rd fight card.

With a clause in Fedor’s contract with Pride allows him to fight in his home country of Russia, regardless of the promoter, initial speculation was that this would be a one-time deal. According to Gross that may not be so, “One Bodog source indicated that the well-financed company intends to sign Fedor to a long-term deal.” His fight on New Year’s Eve against Mark Hunt is the final fight on his contract, leaving him free to reconsider his long-term options.

After losing their network television deal earlier this year, losing Fedor would be another big blow to the Pride Fighting Championships. One that they don't need as they are trying to make inroads into the Ultimate Fighting Championship's dominance in the U.S. market.

Both Gross’ report and independent MMAWeekly.com sources indicate that Fedor’s likely opponent for the March 3rd show is former UFC heavyweight contender Jeff Monson. (taken from mma weekly news, dec 2 2006)



so, monson may not be retiring as soon as we may have thought.

fedor may be looking or a new home.

i wonder if dana would even offer a fighter a contract where they could fight eslewhere (recall penn after he beat hughes)

could monson win?

what if monson wins, assuming the fight happens? break out the mmath calculator: tim beat monson, monson beats fedor, and fedor loses to the guy who tim beat...(i am just kinda hoping that this would add soem extra pressure for dana to sign fedor...)

as many times as tim said he wants fedor, anyone else find it ironic that tim beats monson and he gets called boring, and monson loses and he gets tim's "dream fight" (assuming that we believe that tim even wants to fight fedor)

and, what the hell ever discuss whatever you all want, i am just happy that fedor may be looking for somewhere else to fight.

if pride has no tv deal, and no fedor, would they crumble?
if crumbled, would any of there stellar athletes find themselves in the ufc (i am not hoping for financial ruin of pride, just wanna see a few fights)...

[uncle_leo]

The UFC could definately use Fedor right now. It would spice up the HW division to say the least.

[GSPALLTHEWAY]

i was thinking about this too... consider this.. if his brother alexs wins his next fight then maybe fedor would want to leave and open the door for his bro to win the pride title (or at least give him a chance) and then have fedor go to new stomping grounds....

[Greenman]

According to my Masters MMAth degree I got on the net, if Fedor is the greatest of all time, and Monson beats him, and Tim Sylvia just beat Monson, I guess that makes Tim Sylvia the greatest Heavy Weight of ALL TIME!!!

Sorry I had to

[Ryduce]

Fedor>Randleman>Rizzo>Arlovski>Sylvia

Fedor is still the greatest!!

MMAth for life!!!!!!

[Curly]

At this point it sounds like the details of this situation may still be speculative, but if he does end up fighting Monson, I think their motivations are clear. They will be attempting to send a message to MMA fans around the world that Monson can go 5 rounds with the UFC HW champ, but he can only go a round or two with ours. At least that would be the plan.

[I heart LNP]

Is anybody going to watch the Bodog PPV tonight?

[GSPALLTHEWAY]

Originally Posted by Gooner

It is not confirmed, that Fedor will leave PRIDE.


Like it says in the link, his contract allows him to fight in his own country.

his contract is UP though.... and right after its up hes then fighting in another organization.... so pride has no say in it regardless of whats in his contract.... its potentially trouble for sure