Adrenaline MMA: Sylvia Versus Emelianenko, Sylvia Versus Rothwell Possible

I’ve corresponded with an executive carry-over to Adrenaline MMA, Vice-President Brian Patton, about the Sylvia steal and his new promotion debuting 14 June in Chicago.

Last Friday, former M-1 Global CEO Monte Cox announced he and the American M-1 team would part ways with Global to form Adrenaline MMA.  He also announced he had negotiated “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia‘s (24-4) early release from the UFC and signed Fighters.com’s third-ranked heavyweight to a non-exclusive contract along with former IFL star heavyweight Ben Rothwell (29-5).

Cox manages both Sylvia and Rothwell; and, I asked Patton whether Cox had a conflict of interest acting as both manager negotiating contracts and promoter signing the two top heavies to contracts.

“I do not believe there is an ethical [conflict of] interest in anything Monte has done,” Patton contended.  “As more information is released, I believe you will come to the same conclusion, but I cannot comment further.”

Both Sylvia and Rothwell have been ecstatic about their new deals; but, Rothwell at least is aware of the potential conflict, if only because everyone else is wary.

Rothwell told CagePotato.com, “What will happen is I’ll probably be represented by someone else now and Monte will be the CEO of this new company, just to avoid the conflict of interest problem that people keep talking about.  I don’t want to deal with that.  As of right now he can be my manager, but that will probably change.”

Rothwell and Sylvia are both Miletich fighters, training together in Davenport; but, Patton said, “Ben and Tim – they could fight down the road.”

Sylvia had a fight left on his UFC contract; but, UFC President Dana White was evidently immediately receptive to his two-time champion’s release.

“I think the UFC received the request well.  It is my understanding the deal was made pretty quickly with the UFC,” Patton said.

Cox concocted the plan to bring Sylvia into his promotion after M-1 Global’s original fighter, “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (27-1), asked for his release from the promotion, which had yet to organize its first event.

Patton said, “[Cox] began talking to Tim after the Fedor’s request had been processed.  I believe they approached the UFC in just the past two weeks.  I believe it was last Wednesday or Thursday when it was official.”

Sylvia called out Fighters.com’s fifth-ranked heavyweight, Emelianenko, on “Inside MMA” last Friday; and, Patton said, “There have been discussions since [Sylvia signed with Adrenaline MMA] of the possibility of Fedor and Tim fighting.

Neither the UFC or M-1 Mixfight replied to my requests for confirmation of Patton’s claims.