We head to MMA Weekly for the official announcement of the broadcast. M-1 Challenge 25 is currently scheduled for April 28, 2010 and will stream live and free at MMAWeekly.com. The broadcast is set to begin at 11:00 AM ET and 8:00 AM PT.

The current lineup for the show is as follows: Shamil Zavurov vs. Rashid Magomedov, Viktor Nemkov vs. Vinny Magalhaes, Mikhail Zayats vs. Malik Merad, Dmitri Samoylov vs. Murad Magomedov, Andrei Semenov vs. Luigi Fioravanti, Ramzan Algeriev vs. Mike Geurin, Juan Manuel Suarez vs. Arsen Temirkhanov, and Alexander Volkov vs. Denis Goltsov.

It should also be noted that two championships will be on the line at M-1 Challenge 25. Zavurov vs. Magomedov is for M-1’s Welterweight Championship, while Nemkov vs. Magalhaes is for M-1’s Light Heavyweight Championship.

I’m still a very new fan to M-1 Global, their Showtime debut at M-1 Global 24 was the first full-length M-1 Global show I ever watched. So I’m still very unfamiliar with a vast number of the fighters competing on this card. That doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy this event, though, and if I’m up at that hour (I’m a pretty notorious insomniac) I’ll definitely try to watch this show.

I always like it when an MMA show streams live on an MMA website. I think it both helps the promotion and strengthens the popularity of MMA news sites. I’m very proud of what I do and I’m glad that so many MMA journalists, including those that write on the biggest MMA sites on the internet, seem to feel the same way. So I’m all for spreading the word and furthering the cause.

Also, I really do think it’s strange how laid back the month of April has been. Every event in March may not have been one of the best events ever, but there was definitely a lot of MMA in March. Now we’re in April and we’ve only been given a handful of shows from the big hitters like Strikeforce and the UFC. I think smaller shows like M-1 Global fill that gap quite nicely.

Plus, the card does feature Vinny Magalhaes, who I definitely remember from M-1 Challenge 24. Vinny had one of the best performances of the night during that show, and it doesn’t surprise me that he’s been given an immediate shot at the title. I look forward to seeing what should be an entertaining scrap and I wish Magalhaes all the best.

And what about you, fans and friends? Anybody out there planning to catch this event?

Let’s begin as we so often do, by putting the fight into context.

Heading into this fight, a part of me did wonder why Tyson Jeffries was being given a shot at a championship. His overall record was 7-4, with three stoppage losses. But what mattered leading up to this fight and why I think M-1 Global thought Jeffries would be a threat to Magomed is Tyson’s immediate record before this fight: he was on a three-fight win-streak that saw him win twice by submissions. Add to that the fact that Jeffries has a majority of his wins by submission, and you’ve got a pretty good grappler foil for the striking-based Magomed, especially when you consider that Magomed had lost three times by submission already.

Coming into this fight “The White Wolf” was 1-1 in his two most recent fights, but before then had won seven straight. Magomed had nine wins by (T)KO and six by decision, and had never been (T)KO’d. His overall record was 15-5, which is pretty impressive. It was clear that Magomed would have a significant striking advantage in the fight, so long as he was able to keep the fight standing.

And then the fight started, and two things became very evident. The first: “significant” doesn’t even begin to describe the level of Magomed’s striking compared to that of his opponent. The second: Magomed would definitely be able to keep this fight standing.

And that’s the story of this match, quite honestly. Magomed’s balance was too good, as was his strength. When Jeffries tried to close the distance to initiate a takedown, Magomed blasted him back with punches and kicks to all areas of his body. When Jeffries tried to grapple with Magomed, Magomed’s uncanny balance allowed him to stay on his feet and shrug off Jeffries at will. The one time Jeffries did get Magomed to the ground, Sultanakhmedov stayed calm and was back up to his feet seconds later.

All of this results in one thing: a wounded Jeffries that was beaten down both mentally and physically. Towards the end of the second and final round it was clear that Jeffries was standing through sheer will alone.

And then came the finish of the fight: after several long minutes of attacking Tyson’s midsection, Magomed got his opponent on the ropes, initiated a Muay Thai Clinch, and started hammering away at the liver of his opponent. After one of his shots was blocked, Magomed threw a scraping knee to the face to get Jeffries to cover up his head. Jeffries took the bait, leaving his liver exposed for one final, fight-ending kick that sent shockwaves through Tyson’s body before sending him crashing to the mat. As I said in an earlier post, it was a shot so vicious I honestly cringed a little.

Magomed’s performance was a perfect display of all-out domination thanks to impressive balance and Russian striking. All of his strikes were crisp, all of them did damage, and Tyson Jeffries had no answer for them. It was simply a breakout performance from a man that I don’t see anyone in M-1 Global beating in the immediate future. Magomed’s performance above all else made M-1’s Showtime debut a success in my eyes, it’s the kind of display that makes me want to watch more M-1 Global in order to see what else this promotion has to offer. Without question, Magomed Sultanakhmedov definitely deserves my “Best Performance of the Night” award.

And what about you, fans and friends? Who took home your unofficial end-of-night accolades?

5. Vinny Magalhaes’ utter destruction of Jake Doerr.

There’s really nothing more to say other than this: this was the quickest finish of the Showtime broadcast, and one of the most dominating. Magalhaes simply went out, got the takedown, moved to an advantageous position, and rained down blows until the referee hauled him off of Jake Doerr’s wounded body. There’s destruction, and then there’s complete annihilation. From the second the first bell rang, it was clear that Magalhaes may as well have been fighting a training dummy. It was a great, great performance.

4. Jose Figueroa’s bloody round-stealing Ground and Pound barrage.

Up until Figueroa was able to take Artiom Damkovsky down and hold him down, it was a very close opening round of their championship fight. In fact, I personally had Damkovsky winning the round. But then the takedown happened, and Figueroa opened up with a multitude of strikes. Damkovsky had no answer for Figueroa’s Ground and Pound, and exited the first round a bloody mess. With one single takedown, Figueroa stole the round and turned the tide of momentum in his favor.

3. Alexander Sarnavskiy’s Jumping Back Mount to Rear Naked Choke.

There are so many ways to defend the Jumping Back Mount, and most of the time you don’t even have to defend it since your opponent slips off of you immediately after attempting the move. It’s a risky maneuver that usually doesn’t pay off, but for Sarnavskiy it was the game-changer that ended the fight. It takes an equal amount of guts and skill, with just a little bit of crazy thrown in, in order to both try and succeed with that maneuver. And that should definitely be praised.

2. Jose Figueroa’s fight-ending Ground and Pound barrage.

It was a performance so nice I’ve just got to highlight it twice. The reason Figueroa gets two spots in this list is because there’s a huge difference between stealing a round and winning the fight. It’s one thing to come back from the brink, it’s another thing to take that extra step and win the fight. And that’s what Figueroa did: he seized both the moment and the momentum, he entered the second round a rejuvenated man, and he was able to take his opponent down once again and deal enough damage to get the fight called off. In Round 1, Figueroa opened the doorway. In Round 2, he walked through it. Both are very admirable abilities for a fighter to have, and that’s why both moments get a spot on this list.

And my personal pick for the best moment of M-1 Challenge 24 is…

1. Magomed Sultanakhmedov’s gut-busting fight-ending barrage.

I think Pat Miletich said it best when he remarked that he’d rather get punched straight in the teeth than kicked in the liver. Few fighters other than the legendary Bas Rutten are known for their liver shots, but I think Magomed put himself into the history books with one of the harshest body shots I’ve seen in recent memory. Magomed landed at will to all areas, but it was the final barrage of straight knee shots right to the liver that sent his opponent crashing to the mat, and it’s that final salvo that leads me to believe that anyone that challenges for Magomed’s Middleweight Championship will face one of the toughest tests of their careers.

So there you have it, fans and friends: those are the moments I’ll be remembering from M-1 Challenge 24: “Damkovsky vs. Figueroa”. But what about you? What do you think everyone will be talking about in the days/weeks to come?

Next for Jason Norwood: I honestly don’t know what’s next for Jason Norwood. He scored a dominating victory at M-1 Challenge, but also a profoundly boring one. In a promotion that prides itself on fights not going to a decision (this was referenced by the announcers several times throughout the broadcast), Norwood’s performance sticks out like a sore thumb. Norwood will continue to find success if he keeps utilizing his high-level wrestling to grind out decisions, but unless he starts looking to finish I don’t think M-1 will keep him on even if he keeps winning.

Next for Vinny Magalhaes: Vinny looked great at M-1 Challenge 24 and I think this was a big step on the comeback trail for him. If he still wants to compete in M-1 Global, I think they’d be happy to have him and that he’s only one or two fights away from a title shot. He may even have a good enough record post-UFC to get a second shot inside the UFC. I can’t say for certain what the future holds for Magalhaes, but I can say that his future looks very bright right now.

Next for Jake Doerr: If his past record has anything to say about, Doerr will likely follow this fight up by taking a two-year absence from the sport. Doerr seems to have only a passing infatuation with MMA, and if he wants to keep competing beyond a regional level, he’ll have to commit to the sport full-time. If he’s not willing or able to make that commitment, he may be better off simply calling it a career.

Next for Magomed Sultanakhmedov: I’ve got high hopes for Magomed, his performance at M-1 Challenge was the best of the night (more on that later). Magomed is a very dynamic striker with an arsenal of lethal kicks and punches, and I think he’s a very worthy champion and represents the M-1 Global brand quite well. I don’t know who exactly Magomed will fight next since I have very little knowledge of M-1 as a promotion, but I can say without hyperbole that if Magomed continues to fight the way he fought at M-1 Challenge 24, there’s a strong chance that no one is going to beat him for quite some time.

Next for Jose Figueroa and Alexander Sarnavskiy: Each other, which is why I’m grouping them together. Both men put on very exciting performances against some pretty tough opponents, and they both won in awesome fashion. Now that I know who both men are and how they fight, I’d really enjoy seeing them go head-to-head with each other. Even if it doesn’t happen immediately, if both men keep winning I think this title fight will become a no-brainer very quickly.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. But what about you? What do you see happening in the near and not-so-near future of the big winners and losers of M-1 Challenge 24: “Damkovsky vs. Figueroa”?

Jose Figueroa defeats Artiom Damkovsky via TKO at 2:28 of Round 2. Magomed Sultanakhmedov defeats Tyson Jeffries via TKO at 3:07 of Round 2. Vinny Magalhaes defeats Jake Doerr via TKO at 1:47 of Round 1. Jason Norwood defeats Mojo Horne via Unanimous Decision. Alexander Sarnavskiy defeats Beau Baker via submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:32 of Round 2. Jessie Riggleman defeats Jason Hillicker via submission (guillotine) at 3:13 of Round 1. George Sheppard defeats David Derby via KO at 1:50 of Round 1. Johnny Curtis defeats Bobby Gurley via submission (strikes) at 0:36 of Round 1. Colton Smith defeats Brian Nielson via submission (RNC) at 4:19 of Round 1. Bethany Marshall defeats Stacy Grant via submission (heel hook) at 1:39 of Round 2. Bryan Lashomb defeats Marcus Daniels via TKO at 0:57 of Round 1.

I really enjoyed watching Sarnavskiy and Baker go at it, both men set a very good pace and it was quite the opening match. But the finish is what I’ll remember most: a jump into Back Mount by Sarnavskiy, a move that rarely works and is usually just for show, ended up working perfectly, with Sarnavskiy getting the tap only seconds after his action movie stunt that normally is pure flash and only succeeds in giving up an advantageous position. Sarnavskiy had the intestinal fortitude to try such a tricky maneuver, and he had the skill to immediately capitalize when it succeeded and sink in the fight-ending choke. It was honestly one of the best performances of the night.

I don’t really have much to say about Jason Norwood beating Mojo Horne, it was a relatively mundane match with the wrestler asserting himself early and often while the submission specialist did virtually nothing except eat punches and get smothered. Luckily the next few match-ups more than made up for this stall-fest.

Vinny Magalhaes looked absolutely brilliant in dismantling Jake Doerr, who doesn’t believe in ring rust according to the announcers. But in the same vein that ignorance of the law is no excuse, not believing in ring rust doesn’t make it not real. Doerr was putty in Vinny’s hands, and got completely dominated. I look forward to seeing where Magalhaes goes from here, because if he follows up this performance with a few more big wins, he may be headed back to the UFC before the year is through.

Magomed Sultanakhmedov is a machine, and Tyson Jeffries can really take a punch. From the opening round Magomed landed a huge array of brutal kicks, punches, and knees. By the end of the first, multiple sections of Jeffries’ body were bright red. Magomed would go on to finish the fight with a barrage of knee strikes. And honestly? The final strike Magomed landed, the one that hit with thunderous impact and right to Jeffries’ liver, made me cringe a little. Magomed has all the makings of a great champion.

And in the main event, Jose Figueroa captured the Lightweight Championship. I had him losing the first round up until he scored a takedown, at which point he unleashed some brutal Ground and Pound that left his opponent a bloody mess. Figueroa then rode that momentum into the second and final round, securing Mount and eventually pounding Artiom Damkovsky out. Simply put, it was another great performance.

Overall, I was honestly surprised at how much I enjoyed this event. It’s hard not to have fun with four out of the five televised fights ended in the first or second round. I really enjoyed the constant action, because that’s something that will always entertain me no matter who is fighting. I’ll always judge a promotion by its fighters and the quality of its fights, and with that in mind, M-1 Global’s fighters have officially impressed me and won me over. I’ll definitely be tuning in to their next event.

And what about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts on M-1 Global’s debut on Showtime?

Artiom Damkovsky vs. Jose Figueroa: This is one of the most-difficult matches to pick since both men mirror each other in so many ways. However, I think the key to this match will be Damkovsky’s recent winning-streak. Artiom has won five straight fights, including the bout that won him the Lightweight Championship. Meanwhile, Figueroa has only won two straight, and before that fight he had lost three straight. Although he started off his career at 1-2, Damkovsky hasn’t lost in over a year. I don’t think Figueroa will be the one to derail that momentum, which is why I’m picking Artiom Damkovsky to win by Unanimous Decision.

Magomed Sultanakhmedov vs. Tyson Jeffries: Magomed is just too good in too many ways. He’s got the experience advantage, the killer instinct, and he’s won more fights recently. Jeffries will have to submit him quick and fast, because I just don’t see him knocking out Magomed or being able to submit him late into the fight. I think Magomed will play to his strengths and keep the fight standing as often as he can, and if the fight does go to the ground he’ll try to bring it back up as quickly as he can. Magomed Sultanakhmedov wins by TKO in Round 2.

Alexander Sarnavskiy vs. Beau Baker: With a name like “Tiger”, you better be good. Luckily for Alexander Sarnavskiy, he undoubtedly is. Alexander is a 12-0 workhorse that competed five times in 2009 and six times in 2010. During that time he’s only ever been to a decision twice, and he’s split right down the middle with five wins by (T)KO and five by submission. His opponent has gone 1-1 in his last two and hasn’t competed in over a year. This should be an easy 13-0, I’m predicting that Alexander Sarnavskiy wins by KO in Round 1.

Vinny Magalhaes vs. Jake Doerr: With only one loss since getting his pink slip from the UFC, Vinny Magalhaes has been a man possessed. He’s submitted four opponents, and heading into this fight he’ll be going up against someone who hasn’t fought in over a year. Jake Doerr has a penchant for taking long absences from the sport even though he’s currently undefeated at 6-0. I think Magalhaes has been too active and possesses too good of a submission game for the on-again off-again Doerr. Vinny Magalhaes wins by submission in Round 1.

Jason Norwood vs. Mojo Horne: This should be another close fight between two men that are very similar to each other. Norwood’s recent loss snapped a great ten-fight win-streak, while Horne has only ever lost twice and started his career with a six-fight win-streak. However, the major problem I see with Horne is that those two losses were back-to-back TKO’s. Norwood has only ever lost by decision, and he has two wins by TKO and six by submission. It’ll be close, but I think Norwood is going to win this one by Unanimous Decision.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. But what about you? Who do you see winning, and why, at M-1 Challenge 24: “Damkovsky vs. Figueroa”?

5. Former “Ultimate Fighter” contestant and UFC fighter Vinny Magalhaes will be in action.

Vinny Magalhaes may have washed out of the UFC on the heels of two back-to-back losses, but since exiting the world’s biggest MMA promotion he’s only lost one bout. Vinny’s record stands at a very respectable 4-1 post-UFC, with all four wins by submission. Even better, two of those wins were first-round submissions and the other two were second-round submissions. Magalhaes is on the comeback trail and should provide one of the best fights of the night.

4. What else is on, honestly?

It seems as if both Showtime and M-1 Global are banking on a mixture of hardcore MMA fans and insomniacs to watch this show, since it takes place at 11 PM ET. That’s both a positive and a negative. The negative is something I’ve already discussed: if you have a normal sleeping pattern, this may not be the show for you. But if you don’t, it’s a great excuse to stay up late and watch free, live MMA on TV. Late night television is, for the most part, a barren landscape of repeats and ultra-low-budget late-night programming. Being able to watch MMA that’s live and has the production quality of a Showtime broadcast is going to be a breath of fresh air.

3. The Middleweight Championship match has plenty of potential.

Tyson Jeffries is a submission machine: six of his seven wins are by submission, and two of the three fights of his current three-fight win-streak have seen him win by submission. Jeffries has the killer instinct to finish in the first, but he also has the skills required to submit opponents all the way into the third and final round. His opponent, Magomed “White Wolf” Sultanakhmedov, is a Russian knockout artist with nine (T)KO’s that’s won eight of his last nine fights. This is a classic “striker vs. grappler” match-up with the vacant Middleweight Championship on the line.

2. The main event should be very exciting and an all-out war.

Neither Artiom Damkovsky nor Jose Figueroa have super-impressive records, but that could all change before the night is through. Both men are pretty versatile and have wins by (T)KO, submission, and decision. This has all the makings of a three-round war of attrition that sees both men give everything they have to give. Whether it goes to a decision or ends with a stoppage, this match-up for the Lightweight Championship takes the top spot as the fight you shouldn’t miss.

1. Every MMA promotion deserves a chance when debuting on a new network.

I can only speak from my personal experience, but I’m far more acquainted with M-1 Global as a management team than as an MMA promotion. I know they’ve existed for a while, but I’ve never watched an M-1 Global event. As a firm believer that more MMA on TV is rarely a bad thing, and as an MMA fan first and foremost, I enjoy giving promotions a chance and tuning in to see my first show. Most of the time that belief hasn’t steered me wrong. I think M-1 Global deserves a chance no matter what your feelings are on them as a management company, and that’s the number-one reason why I’ll be watching this show and why I encourage everyone else that can to also tune in.

So there you have it, fans and friends: five great reasons to tune in and see M-1 Global’s debut on Showtime. What about you? As the date draws ever-closer, what are you most looking forward to for this event?

The Event: M-1 Challenge 24: “Damkovsky vs. Figueroa”, currently scheduled for March 25, 2011 at the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Virginia. This will be the first M-1 Global show broadcast on the Showtime network, with a start time of 11 PM ET/PT.

Why You Should Care: Most fans only know M-1 Global as the management team behind Fedor Emelianenko. But M-1 Global actually has quite the history as a Mixed Martial Arts organization. This is their first event on the Showtime network, and with the UFC recently acquiring Strikeforce it’s getting harder and harder to watch MMA that falls outside the Zuffa banner. M-1 Global is something different, and to many fans it’s also something new.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: M-1 Global Lightweight Champion Artiom Damkovsky takes on Jose Figueroa in what should be a very interesting bout. Damkovsky is the unproven champion: this is his first defense, and even though he’s on a five-fight win-streak his record still stands at a marginal 8-4. Meanwhile, Jose Figueroa’s record stands at a slightly-better 9-4, and he’s won two straight. This should be a defining moment in both men’s careers, with the winner breaking out of a shell of mediocrity and rising to the top of the M-1 Global landscape.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: Another title is on the line in the co-main event, as Magomed Sultanakhmedov takes on Tyson Jeffries for the vacant Middleweight Championship. Magomed failed to win the belt once before, although he had won seven straight fights prior to losing that championship bout and has won one fight since. Magomed’s record stands at 15-5 with nine wins by (T)KO. His opponent, Tyson Jeffries, has six of his seven wins by submission and has won three straight fights. Whether it stays standing or goes to the ground, this one probably won’t last long.

Why You Should Watch This Card: If you’re both an insomniac and an MMA fan, there’s really not too many reasons not to watch this card. If you’re like me, you basically don’t know who’s fighting, but regardless, it’s live and free MMA on TV. And who wants to watch boring late-night TV when you could be watching a live event?

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: The UFC recently moved the start-time of its upcoming UFC 129 show ahead an hour, but this show is moving in the exact opposite direction, and I have to wonder if that’s a good thing. Does M-1 Global honestly expect anyone other than the insomniacs or the hardcore MMA fans to stay up past midnight to watch their show? If you’re a normal human behind with normal sleeping habits, I don’t think you’ll hate yourself if you choose to skip this show.

Closing Thoughts: As much as I dislike M-1 Global as a management team, I’ve never been exposed to M-1 Global as an MMA promotion. So I’m going to approach this show with no ill will and give it the same chance I gave promotions like the WEC, Bellator, and Shark Fights. My hopes won’t be high, but I will be tuning in to see this show. And who knows? This may become a habit if the show’s good enough.

And what about you, fans and friends? Anybody out there looking forward to M-1’s debut on Showtime?

We head to MMA Fighting for an interesting report on what this deal means for Showtime and M-1 Global. According to the report, Showtime will televise four M-1 Global events throughout the 2011 calendar year. In the past, M-1 Global and Strikeforce have co-promoted shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko. The first M-1 Global event of this new deal is currently scheduled for March 25 at the Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Virginia, with the Showtime broadcast starting at 11 PM ET.

I’ll be honest, I really can’t recall ever watching an M-1 Global event, so I’ll be going into their first show a total and totally unabashed newbie. With that said, I’m going to watch M-1 Global simply because it’s more free MMA on TV, and has that ever really been a bad thing? Also, the perennial optimist in me loves to give new promotions a chance whenever they give me easy access to their fights. Part of me just can’t help but root for the underdog and take a look at a new promotion that’s trying to make a name for itself, even if the promotion is better known as a controversial management team.

When I think of this new broadcast deal, I think of promotions like Shark Fights and SHINE Fights. SHINE in particular: a promotion embroiled in a lot of controversy, but one that ended up putting on a pretty good, pretty under-rated Lightweight Grand Prix solely on the strength of the men competing in it. Shark Fights is also a good example, I ended up giving Shark Fights 13 a watch because UFC mainstay Keith Jardine was competing on the card, and at the end of the night I ended up liking many of the fights I saw. Plus Shark Fights had possibly the greatest commentary duo of all time: Don Frye and Bas Rutten.

In the end, I think that’s all we really can do when it comes to upstart promotions trying to make it big: we should check our prejudices at the door and judge the promotion by the quality of its fights and only the quality of its fights. We may not end up getting the pomp and circumstance of a promotion with high production values like the UFC or Strikeforce or DREAM, but a good fight is a good fight no matter where it happens, and that includes if it happens under the banner of a controversial management company. M-1 Global is taking a pretty big chance with this Showtime deal, and I’m willing to both give them that chance and respect their determination to grow their promotion. It’ll certainly be interesting to see what they do with this opportunity, and I’ll certainly be tuning in to see just that.

And what about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts on M-1 Global’s impending Showtime debut?

The main event of the evening will pit for PRIDE heavyweight champion and all around mixed martial arts legend Fedor Emelianenko as he takes on former EliteXC titleholder Antonio Silva.

Along with heavy-handed stars, Strikeforce has now released the full-main card lineup with six additional fighters set to be featured on the Showtime broadcast.

The quarter-finals are set to begin first at the IZOD center on Feb. 12 first with former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski taking on PRIDE and K-1 veteran Sergei Kharitonov, with Emelianenko and Silva set to headline the N.J. event.

Additional heavyweight’s will be featured on the Showtime broadcast, though not officially part of the stellar Grand Prix, they may have a chance to vie for a spot in the tournament should a fighter fall out due to injury.

Chad Griggs who defeated Bobby Lashley in his last appearance in Strikeforce will be featured in a special reserve match with 7-1 Gian Villante.

An Overeem–not the Overeem–will be making his debut inside the cage as Valentijn will take on former kickboxing world champion Ray Sefo in a reserve match as well. Valentijn was scheduled to make his debut in the organization last December against Antonio Silva however bowed out due to injury and Mike Kyle stepped up to the plate. Overeem counts Randy Couture amongst his 16 career submission victories. Sefo is a perfect 2-0 since transitioning to MMA.

Finally a special attraction which will pit two stars from the Strikeforce Challenger Series will also go down at the IZOD center as Lavar Johnson takes on Shane Del Rosario. Johnson survived a brutal shooting in 2009 and was left in critical condition however survived to fight another day, and has gone 2-0 in 2010, both knockouts. Del Rosario remains undefeated in his career, and is currently 5-0 with the San Jose based promotion and is coming off of an impressive first-round TKO over Hawaiian striker Lolohea Mahe last July.

The full lineup in it’s order is as follows:

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva (quarter-final)
Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov (quarter-final)
Shane Del Rosario vs. Lavar Johnson (reserve match)
Valentijn Overeem vs. Ray Sefo (reserve match)
Chad Griggs vs. Gian Villante (reserve match)

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the full lineup? East coast, buy your tickets. Sound off in the comment section below.

“I have said many times that I have nothing to do with match-making. Right now, Strikeforce are struggling to find me a serious opponent. Alistair Overeem keeps finding all sorts of excuses not to fight me. The remaining stars have lost in their recent fights, so the promotion has no desire to put them up against me. And Fabricio Werdum is still recovering from his surgery…My next fight will be last on the Strikeforce contract. I’m yet to decide whether I’m going to continue my fighting career after this contract expires.”

I think it’s understandable that Strikeforce and M-1 Global (Fedor’s management team) have hit yet another impasse. I don’t agree with it at all, I don’t like it at all, but I can see why it’s happening. Fedor’s reputation has been damaged, let’s all just finally admit it, so of course Strikeforce is wondering if he’s still worth the high amounts they’re paying him. M-1 Global wants big fights for big money, and right now Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Division is barely becoming legitimized. While the division’s future as a whole looks bright, it also remains uncertain for many better-known stars: Alistair Overeem still has ties with K-1, Antonio Silva needs several more fights before he’s taken seriously as a true top-level talent, Josh Barnett has yet to prove if he can bounce back from his latest steroid scandal…the list goes on.

I think Strikeforce has a lot to lose if they don’t give Fedor a good final fight…but I think M-1 Global has just as much at stake, which is why both parties are hitting brick wall after brick wall. I think Fedor is serious when he says that he may retire once he fulfills his final obligation to Strikeforce. While many will decry him for never having competed in the UFC, the man has nothing left to prove to anybody. He was one of the most dominant champions of all time, he’s always shown an incredible amount of humility and class, and he’ll go down as one of the best ever. Fedor retiring is a very real possibility.

It’s a possibility that I absolutely would not agree with, but one that I would fully understand. As a gigantic Fedor fan, I want to see him go out in a blaze of glory. I want to see him beat Werdum again, plow through Overeem, dismantle Barnett, and then, miracle of miracles, I want to see him get into the UFC and take on Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar. I can dream, can’t I? Fedor may have nothing left to prove, but one last run of dominance, including a stint in the UFC, would forever solidify his legacy as the greatest Mixed Martial Artist of all time.

But in the end? I just hope that whatever happens, happens soon. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is accomplished if Fedor continues to sit on the sidelines. If he retires, he retires. Good for him, and it gives his fans closure. If he signs a new contract, he should fight as soon as possible in order to have the best shot at rebuilding his image against the best competition that Strikeforce has to offer. But just having him wait in limbo while Strikeforce and M-1 Global bicker back and forth serves no one and has no purpose. So make up your mind, people. Fedor isn’t getting any younger, and while patience may be a virtue, actions speak louder than words.

The Brazilian heavyweight fighter who hails from American Top Team, was said to be in talks to take on the last and former PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko, before the fighter’s management company M-1 Global, and Strikeforce were unable to come to head with new contract negotiations. It appears, as such, that the Russian fighter will not be fighting for the remainder of 2010 accordingly.

While a bout pitting Antonio Silva, who is the only viable heavyweight in Strikeforce, with current champion Alistair Overeem would make the most sense, it looks like that rather than taking on Overeem 2.0, Silva will be relegated to be putting fist to face with his older brother, Valentijn come December 4.

As Fabricio Werdum is recuperating following elbow surgery after coming off the biggest win of his career with the submission victory over Fedor, Emelianenko’s many troubles with the whole M-1/Strikeforce debacle, Alistair’s upcoming K-1 Grand Prix run, it looks like the only fight left out there for Antonio Silva would be Valentijn–though Josh Barnett just joined the Strikeforce ranks, he has some prior obligations with the Japanese wrestling circuit as well as a possible fight which will come before years end.

Antonio Silva is coming off the biggest win of his career, when he took on former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski last May, besting the Belorussian striker on points enroute to a unanimous decision victory. He has since called out the best of the best in the Strikeforce heavyweight division. Instead, he’ll get Valentijn.

An Overeem none-the-less, the PRIDE veteran lays claim to a notable victory over UFC Hall of Famer and former champion Randy Couture, and most recently notched a KO victory over veteran Cătălin Zmărăndescu (try saying that 5-times fast) and is currently riding a two-fight win streak. Valentijn holds a pedestrian 28-25 record in mixed martial arts as a professional, and will undoubtedly be looking for the biggest win of his career, should he best Silva in their upcoming bout.

The bout was first reported by MMAJunkie.com

The heavyweight battle is expected to take place on the main card of the evening under the main event pitting legends Dan Henderson and Renato “Babalu” Sobral against one another in a light heavyweight bout on December 4, at the Scottrade Center in St Louis, Missouri.

So, MMA peeps, what say you about this match up? Has Strikeforce duped Silva with a bout with Valentijn, or is this a legitimate heavyweight bout of true competitors? Sound off in the comments section below.

Sherdog.com brings news that Emelianenko will sit out the rest of 2010 due to contract negotiations. Strikeforce and Fedor’s management team, M-1 Global (which also operates as an actual MMA promotion) currently have a co-promotional agreement that is seemingly being reworked on a day-by-day basis. In fact, M-1 Global’s constant desire to rework the terms of the co-promotional deal had, at one point, put Fedor’s place in Strikeforce in serious jeopardy, if you believe the rumors. Strikeforce and M-1 Global are currently trying to negotiate an extension of Fedor’s contract, as Fedor has one fight left on his preexisting contract. According to Sherdog, the earliest that Fedor could possibly compete under the current situation is January 2011.

Fedor Emelianenko is widely regarded as one of the best Mixed Martial Arts fighters of all time, with myself and many others considering him the best period. Before Fabricio Werdum shocked the world and submitted Emelianenko barely a minute into their fight, Emelianenko had been on an undefeated streak that had lasted for nearly a decade. His list of fallen foes include some of the biggest names the sport has ever seen.

In all honesty, I think M-1 Global needs to own up to the simple fact that Emelianenko has lost a lot of his star appeal now that he’s been finished and, worse yet, finished so quickly by someone who so famously got kicked out of the UFC. I don’t want to get into the giant debate over what the Werdum loss “really meant”; I’d just like to focus on the reality of the situation. M-1 Global needs to play ball and stop negotiating with this “there is no Fedor without M-1” attitude. Their outfit has been criticized as an “Evil Empire” enough as it is. If they refuse to back down in the face of their greatest asset losing and losing in a huge way, they’ll be criticized as moronic in addition to being vilified as the only obstacle keeping Fedor Emelianenko out of the UFC.

I honestly think Fedor Emelianenko still has a lot of great fights left for him in Strikeforce. Like just about everyone else, I think the UFC is where he should ultimately be. But unlike some, I won’t pretend that Fedor’s legacy means nothing if he never steps inside the Octagon. Strikeforce’s Heavyweight division just keeps getting better and better: Alistair Overeem has returned, Antonio Silva keeps taking major steps towards Heavyweight legitimacy, Josh Barnett has signed with the promotion, everyone wants to see a rematch with Werdum…the list goes on and on. If Fedor sticks with Strikeforce, avenges his loss to Werdum, and goes on another epic win streak, there’s a real argument to be made that any damage done to his reputation by the Werdum loss will have been healed. And that’s got to appeal to M-1 Global.

Ultimately, I don’t care where Fedor Emelianenko ends up. Shocking, I know, but that’s not said out of malice. I don’t care where Fedor ends up because I just want to see him fighting again. He’s been fighting in MMA for ten years, and in Judo and Sambo for even longer than that. Nothing lasts forever, as well all know. So long as I get to see my favorite fighter fighting, he could fight anywhere in the world and I’d tune in to see it. So hopefully he gets these contract negotiations worked out soon.

And what do you think, fans and friends? Where do you think “The Last Emperor” will wind up now that he has only one fight left in his current Strikeforce contract?

The surgery was to remove some bone fragments from Werdum’s elbow, and according to a report on Sherdog.com, Werdum is feeling great and is already doing physical therapy. Even as a massive Fedor fan, I’m really looking forward to seeing Fabricio Werdum back inside the Strikeforce cage. I admit that I like many others unfairly judged Werdum to be a UFC cast-off that had seemingly no chance against the best Heavyweight Mixed Martial Artist ever. Werdum shocked the world and  proved that he belongs near the top of the Heavyweight rankings, and I can’t wait to see how he capitalizes on this massive victory. Whether it’s an immediate rematch with Fedor or a fight with Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem, I think Werdum’s return fight will generate quite a lot of interest and should be very exciting.

But who should Werdum face, really? It seems that everyone would like to see an immediate rematch, but in all honesty, I think the most logically sound next fight for Werdum is against Overeem. Werdum did the impossible; he deserves his shot at the gold. The Fedor rematch will always be available, even if Werdum loses to Overeem it will still be a huge money-maker. If Werdum does lose, he still pulled off one of the biggest upsets ever seen in MMA. In fact, I think Werdum could lose his next five fights and people would still want to see the rematch. It’s just too good of a story to not see a second chapter. And if Werdum somehow beats “The Demolition Man”, which I assure you is no small task, then the added bonus of Fedor/Werdum 2 being for the Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship should inspire even more interest in the fight.

But where does this leave Fedor Emelianenko? I’ll be honest here: he’ll probably fight a can in Japan or Russia, just to rebuild some of that momentum. Is it a cheap move? Yes indeed it is. And the negatives far outweigh the positives. He’ll lose some credibility by beating a can instead of jumping back into the mix with Strikeforce’s best, that’s for sure. Just like beating an overstuffed Matt Lindland or an overmatched Hong Man Choi, fighting in December without any real meaning won’t do any real good. And he could lose again, of course. Stranger things have happened, like Fedor losing in the first place. And that would certainly be detrimental to his career. Or he could even develop an injury or re-injure a preexisting one, forcing him to sit on the sidelines with the Strikeforce roster perhaps even further passing him by.

So I’m officially coming out against Fedor Emelianenko fighting in December. There are way too many risks and not enough rewards, even when you consider that it’s one of my favorite fighters fighting again. This is a crucial point in Fedor’s career: for the first time there’s actual evidence supporting the cynic’s theory that Fedor was never all that he was cracked up to be. Point blank: Fedor needs big wins over serious competition, not a gimme fight to pad out his record and get him back in the W column.

But what do you think, fans and friends? How interested are you in a December Fedor fight now that both Werdum and Overeem are not available?

In an interview with lowkick.com, Vadim had this to say about the immediate plans for Fedor: “We plan to organize an interim fight for Fedor. We are considering two options: Japan and Russia. We have a lucrative offer from the Japanese partners, who are interested in Fedor fighting on the New Year’s Eve. This is the most interesting option for us. But we are also not excluding an option that Fedor Emelianenko will fight in Russia, sometime in December. We have to organize another fight for Fedor, as Fabricio Werdum is currently injured and no one knows when he will come back. Strikeforce have absolutely nothing against the rematch, that’s exactly why we are planning the last fight on Fedor’s contract to be against Werdum.”

I agree with Vadim’s proposal both in theory and in practice. I think Werdum/Fedor II is realistically the only fight that makes sense right now, given the shocking conclusion to their first fight. I think a second fight would be radically different no matter who won, and with the first fight being the most shocking moment in a year practically stuffed past the breaking point with shocking moments, an immediate rematch would generate a lot of interest and a lot of money. But no one is ducking anyone, regardless of what Fedor and Werdum cynics alike have to say (both groups believe that one man is running scared from the idea of a rematch with the other). Werdum is simply injured, and the vast money-making potential of a rematch would take a severe hit if Fedor were to lose on another widely-televised Strikeforce card. Better to have him compete in a one-off in Japan or Russia to get some of his momentum back.

And, yes, I understand how the anti-Fedor crowd will spin this as Fedor trying to fight a can in a land that is ridiculously one-sided in favor of him in order to try and recapture his mystique. To which I say: it is what it is. Fedor fighting at all is better than Fedor not fighting, and as he’s one of my favorite fighters of all time, I’ll take it any way I can get it. I think a Fedor fight in Japan or Russia would be more of a spectacle than anything, but what a spectacle it would be. Japan’s New Years Eve cards are already famous for being quite the spectacle, and seeing a packed Russian arena going bonkers for Fedor would also be quite a sight to see. I think the often-criticized M-1 Global is making a smart move here, and I’m actually really looking forward to seeing who Fedor is matched up with.

But let’s get some debate going, fans and friends. Is this a smart move by M-1 Global? Are you interested in seeing Fedor compete in Japan or Russia? And above all else, do you see this as a smart move to keep Fedor active, or just a cheap way to get some of that luster back? Opinions please.

The first is a no-brainer: a rematch with the first man to ever legitimately defeat Emelianenko, Fabricio Werdum. I’m not going to call Werdum’s win a “fluke” or “luck”, as I’m one of the ones that think there’s no such thing as luck in MMA, only skill and the ability to use it. But it seems like everyone wants to see this match: Fedor fans want it in order to prove that Fedor’s loss was a momentary lapse in judgment, while Fedor haters will look to this fight as further proof that Fedor was always all hype and no substance. Me, I just think this would be a very different fight between a very different Werdum and a very different Fedor. Even if it ends quickly once again, I don’t see anything happening in the rematch that happened in the first match. And that’s as good a reason to book a rematch as any.

The second fight is also a no-brainer: “The Demolition Man”, Alistair Overeem. Before Werdum shocked the world, it seemed that both M-1 Global and Strikeforce were banking on Fedor vs. Overeem on Pay-Per-View. For his part, Overeem has been vocal in wanting to fight Fedor, even going as far as to say that Fedor was “ducking” him. Also, Overeem returned to Strikeforce in a big way, re-introducing himself to North American fans by completely demolishing Brett “The Grim” Rogers, tossing him about as if he were a child and then ultimately punching him into submission. I would love to see how Fedor’s striking would match-up against Overeem’s, whose striking has never looked crisper and deadlier. Also, both men possess some vastly under-rated ground games (even when you consider Fedor’s loss via Triangle Choke), so I think this one would be entertaining no matter where it went.

The last fight I have in mind would put Fedor against Antonio Silva, who has finally emerged as one of the non-UFC Heavyweight elite. Silva is coming off of the biggest win of his career, a three-round out-boxing of former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski. Fedor has faced giants before, and not only has he always won, his fights against giants have always been entertaining. It could be argued that Fedor has never faced a giant with actual skill, and he’d get all that and more against “Bigfoot”.

And that’s about it. I guess you could make a case that all three of those fights could have rematches (that includes a third match against Werdum), but fighting rematch after rematch is something hardly befitting a man who once ruled the Pound-for-Pound rankings with an iron fist. Who else does Strikeforce have for Fedor? He’s already beaten Andrei Arlovski. Herschel Walker or Bobby Lashley would be nothing more than freak show attractions. Strikeforce could always bring in Josh Barnett, but it’s been over eight years since he was in the UFC (and thus on the mainstream’s radar), and with his penchant for testing positive for steroids, there’s a very real argument to make concerning him being more trouble than he’s worth. Bottom line: even the most hardcore Fedor fans (see: the author of this article) are beginning to believe that Fedor belongs in the UFC and nowhere else.

But what do you think, fans and friends? Do 4-6 more Fedor fights in Strikeforce sound interesting to you, and if so, who would you like to see him face?

In a bantamweight matchup, “Fun Size” Zach Makovsky (8-2) submitted “The Rage” Josh Rave (11-7) in a guillotine choke at 1:49 of round three.

Lennox Chance (1-1) picked up his first win with a first-round submission of Rami Ibrahim (0-1) by rear naked choke.

Lightweight “Menace” Dennis Bermudez (2-0) won a unanimous decision over “K-Rod” Kevin Roddy (8-10-1) by judges’ scores of 30-27 three times.

Lightweight “Lights Out” George Sheppard (4-2) won a split decision over “Marvelous” Mervin Rodriguez (2-5) by judges’s scores of 29-28 twice and 28-29 once.

Middleweight Mike Geurin (7-0) TKO’d “Hulk” Todd Chatelle (5-4) 32 seconds into round three.

Lightweight “Awesomely Awesome” Pat Audinwood (9-0-1) maintained his undefeated record with a unanimous decision over Robert Conner (6-1) by judges’ scores of 29-28 three times.

Middleweight Plinio Cruz (3-2) won a unanimous decision over “Iron Bull” John Doyle (8-13) by judges’s scores of 30-26 twice and 30-27 once.

A dangerous young gun for Team BombSquad, Audinwood is a protégé of his cousin, IFL veteran and WEC fighter John Franchi (5-2), who strongly influenced Pat into a pro MMA career.

Despite his wrestling background, Audinwood is becoming more of an accomplished all-around fighter, capable of fighting on the mat or his feet, who also is an entertainer that celebrates in the cage for the fans after each win.

Audinwood , trained by Ryan Ciotoli (1-1), had his MMA pro debut October 26, 2007 in “Untamed,” submitting Chris Murphy (0-1) in the second round of their fight in Plymouth, MA by a triangle choke.

In 2008, Pat captured the Battle Cage Xtreme lightweight title by way of a unanimous decision against Lester Caslow (6-2) in Atlantic City. The lone blemish on Audinwood’s otherwise perfect record is a draw against Andrew Montantez (7-10-1), which Pat avenged two months later, winning a unanimous decision on the “Rumble On The Rez” card.

Audinwood’s last fought this past July 31 in Salem, New Hampshire, when he forced veteran Al Buck (4-6) to tap out in the opening round due to a triangle choke.

Never shy about getting into an all out brawl, his greatest strength is a huge heart, which often separates him from many of his opponents, and endears him to his growing fan base.

An MMA teacher since he was 12, Sedico never had an amateur fight and turned pro November 23, 2006, stopping Luis Mello (0-2) in the third round by technical knockout.

Honorio is riding a three-fight win streak, having defeated Mike Powell (9-2), Martin Bautista (6-8), and Tommy Vargas (6-1).

The Brazilian native is a world-class grappler who moved to the United States in order to pursue a better life in and out of the cage.

M-1 Selection Americas takes place at  at Bally’s Casino in Atlantic City April 3. Free broadcast coverage of the entire 2010 M-1 Selection tournament will be available live to viewers worldwide at Sherdog.  Tickets, priced at $55.00-$95.00, are available to purchase through Ticketmaster.

When he was seven years old, Ibrahim’s family went on vacation to the United States but, unfortunately, the Gulf War broke out while they were visiting Philadelphia. They relocated to Philly and Ibrahim, who spoke very little English, encountered problems growing up. His parents enrolled him in karate classes, which ultimately changed his life and sent him on a journey in combat sports that continues to expand.

Ibrahim was an aggressive learner in the dojo, where contact wasn’t allowed, so he started learning a full-contact sport, Muay Thai. He was a two-time All-Public wrestler at Northeast High School. In 2005, Rami became a pro boxer and he also attended Temple University, majoring in education.

Due to his status as a world-class Muay Thai fighter, Ibrahim was awarded a prestigious Sitan Fight Gym franchise, which he owns and operates in Philadelphia.

Now pursuing a career in his third combat sport, the 27-year-old Ibrahim makes his long anticipated MMA debut on “M1 Selection Americas” card at Bally’s Casino in Atlantic City April 3.

Free broadcast coverage of the entire 2010 M-1 Selection tournament will be available live to viewers worldwide at Sherdog.  Tickets, priced at $55.00-$95.00, are available to purchase through Ticketmaster.

M-1 selection is the bottom tier of the M-1 Global pyramid of events.  Selection was originally conceived as a one-loss-and-out tournament to audition Russian fighters for the Russian team in the M-1 Challenge team-based event.  But, Selection has been so successful in Russia, M-1 Global is bringing the event to the United States for the first time as M-1 Selection Americas.

Up-and-coming fighters scheduled to fight in the tournaments for their weight class include lightweight Dennis Bremidez (2-0), welterweight “Awesomely Awesome” Pat Audinwood (8-0-1), and  middleweight Mike Geurin (6-1).  Winners in each weight class will advance to the M-1 Selection Americas second round.

And M-1 Selection champions in each of the four regions – Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Americas – will have an opportunity to step up and make their national teams in the M-1 Challenge team-based events.

Free broadcast coverage of the entire 2010 M-1 Selection tournament will be available live to viewers worldwide at Sherdog.  Tickets, priced at $55.00-$95.00, are available to purchase through Ticketmaster.

We should begin with the debacle that is M-1 Global and the partnership with Strikeforce. M-1 is unhappy with the current deal, going so far as to say that Strikeforce has not honored their contract with them. According to a report from Head Kick Legend citing sources inside M-1, Fighters.com top-ranked heavyweight “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-1) will only fight inside a Strikeforce cage again if they sign a new contract. M-1 is looking for a partner and to have Strikeforce cards featuring Fedor to be fully co-promoted cards.

This seems like more of some strong arm tactics from the Russians. They seem to be trying to force the hand of Scott Coker and Strikeforce by saying they are shopping Fedor around.  The loss of Fedor to the organization would be a huge blow. He was one of the top head-liners for the CBS/Showtime cards. Without him they are forced to rely on third-ranked middleweight “Hendo” Dan Henderson (27-7) to pull in the numbers. It is true that Dan is more popular now than he has ever been here in the states but can he pull off getting the numbers needed for a CBS card? I doubt it.

This leaves Strikeforce with a major problem. “Conviction” Gina Carano (7-1)has not been seen since her devastating loss in the title fight. She is now filming a movie and there has been no word when we will see her back inside the cage.

Without fighters that can pull in the big numbers Strikeforce might just split apart at the seams. After all, now only do you need good gate numbers but when you have a deal with CBS/Showtime you have to give them high enough numbers to bring you back again. So who do they use? Herschel Walker (1-0) is available and it is obvious he is quite the draw but do you want to go all in with a man as old as he is and hope he does well again?

All of this plus the fact that they can’t seem to get their heavyweight champion “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (30-11) to actually come back and defend his title is a kick right square in the pants for an organization that has shown flashes of promise.

Strikeforce has a lot on it’s plate and with a big announcement coming sometime today we should be better suited to see just where this organization stands. Could it be that M-1 is like kryptonite to any organization they work with? Only time will tell

M-1 Global officials apparently announced the change at an M-1 Selection Eastern European press conference Thursday.  M-1 Global is Emelianenko’s management company.  Strikeforce has not confirmed the change.

Yesterday Fighters.com reported that Strikeforce was considering Nashville for their April event, which has long been pegged to air on CBS.  However, Emelianenko’s contract mandates his fights be aired on CBS.  So, it’s likely the April event will be moved to CBS cable affiliate Showtime.

It’s also now unclear whether the matchup between Strikeforce light heavyweight champion “Dreamcatcher” Gegard Mousasi (24-2-1) and “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal (4-0) will occur in April or May.  Mousasi has indicated he’ll only fight when Emelianenko fights, but it’s unclear whether that’s a contractual mandate or merely his desire.

The move of the Emelianenko-Werdum matchup to May also potentially allows Strikeforce heavyweight champion “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (29-10) to defend his title on the same card.  Overeem had stated he couldn’t fight for Strikeforce until May.

The promotional partners previously confirmed that 5.46 million Americans tuned into the fight on CBS.

CBS Senior Executive Vice President Kelly Kahl said, “CBS was proud to be the U.S. broadcaster in a fight seen by millions domestically and by millions more around the world.  Strikeforce and M-1 Global put together a great card, showcasing some of the best fighters in the world.  Our ad sales for the fight were strong, especially for advertisers that target young men — a group with a growing appetite for MMA.”

M-1 Global and Strikeforce claim an additional 16 million viewers watched the fight on Channel 1 in Emelianenko’s native Russia.  The fight was also broadcast in South Korea, China, Latin America, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Ukraine, Finland, Africa, Turkey, Israel, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Malta, according to the promotions.

“We are extremely happy with the preliminary broadcast reports,” said M-1 Global CEO Joost Raimond.  “The demographics of these numbers were very promising as our network broadcasting partners in the U.S., Russia, and Korea reach an enormous audience alone.  Coupled with a dozen other countries and our successful internet stream in Japan and other territories, all early accounts and indications tell us that ‘Fedor vs. Rogers’ delivered worldwide more than any other MMA show in the history of the sport.”

If true, the numbers put up by Emelianenko’s Strikeforce debut prove M-1 Global President Vadim Finkelstein’s repeated claims that Emelianenko is bigger than the UFC outside of the North American market.

Fighters.com’s sources indicate that the international broadcasts were a substantial hurdle to negotiating a deal for Emelianenko to fight in the UFC.  M-1 Global has cultivated markets across the world with it’s traveling M-1 Challenge team tournament series and Emelianenko is an established sports superstar in Russia, Japan, and South Korea.  The UFC doesn’t have broadcast deals in many of the markets Emelianenko is most popular.

Sources close to the negotiations between M-1 Global and the UFC have indicated to Fighters.com that M-1 Global wanted to utilize it’s existing broadcast deals in markets outside of North America to broadcast Emelianenko’s UFC fights.  UFC President Dana White’s stubborness about controlling all aspects of the UFC broadcast is documented and might have resulted in failed negotiations with HBO, as well as failed negotiations to put Emelianenko in the Octagon versus second-ranked UFC champion Brock Lesnar (4-1).

Though it was certainly White’s guarded management of the UFC that made MMA a profitable sport across North American in the last four years, critics must now question whether White’s continued insistence on total control is leaving the UFC behind, or at least leaving a lot of money and opportunities on the table.

M-1 Global and Strikeforce seem more than happy and capable of picking up that money and those opportunities.  And, with over five million viewers being introduced to Emelianenko in November, the biggest MMA star outside of North America could be poised to become bigger than the UFC in North America too.

Emelianenko’s fallen foe at M-1 Global/Strikeforce, fifth-ranked “Grim” Brett Rogers (10-1), wants to comeback versus Strikeforce heavyweight champion “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (29-10).  And, Overeem seems ambivalent about who he fights and whether or not he’s defending his title or not.

And so,  four men makeup what Strikeforce and M-1 Global might call “a good problem to have” atop the Strikeforce heavyweight division.  Especially since the UFC is finding it hard to find four top heavyweights who are healthy enough to fight.

Second-ranked UFC champion Brock Lesnar (4-1) is out indefinitely after minor intesting surgery, but is excpect to return versus sixth-ranked Shane Carwin (10-0).

Fourth-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1) has had to postpone a fight versus Cain Velasquez (6-0) for the interim UFC title until UFC 110 in Sydney February 21 due to a staph infection.

And, seventh-ranked “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (9-1) lost his UFC 108 opponent, “Napão” Gabriel Gonzaga (11-4), due to Gonzaga’s staph infection.

Third-ranked Frank Mir (12-4) will fight Cheick Kongo (14-5-1) at UFC 107 in Memphis December 12.

Eighth-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (20-5) is negotiating a return to Pancrase in 2010 to defend his heavyweight King of Pancrase title.

Tenth-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (17-10) has moved down to light heavyweight.

Fighters.com November Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-1)

2. Brock Lesnar (4-1)

3. Frank Mir (12-4)

4. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1)

5. “Grim” Brett Rogers (10-1)

6. Shane Carwin (10-0)

7. “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (9-1)

8. “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (20-5)

9. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (12-4-1)

10. “The Natural” Randy Couture (17-10)

Wednesday the fighters took part in an open media workout at POW Kickboxing Gym in Chicago.

Emelianenko told the media, “This is going to be a good fight. Brett Rogers is good opponent who is undefeated. Fighting in a cage will be different, but I have trained in a cage before.”

That contradicts a statment Emelianenko made in Kansas City August 28 when he told the audience for M-1 Global Breakthrough that he hadn’t trained in a cage and didn’t think it was different than a ring.

Friday morning before the biggest fight of his MMA career the following Saturday night, Rogers will appear on NBC’s Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35 AM ET.

Always concerned with promoting his sport, Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi (22-2-1), who is matched up versus UFC vet “African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (6-4) in a non-title fight, told the media Wednesday, “I feel good and I am happy to be part of such a great card. The exposure we will get for ourselves and the sport of MMA will be tremendous on Saturday night.”

The cast of fighters will weigh-in Friday at 5:00 PM CT at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, northwest of Chicago.  The public is invited to attend.  Doors open at 4:00 PM CT.

Doors at the Sears Centre will open at 8:00 PM local time.  Tickets will go on sale Friday to subscribers of Strikeforce’s newsletter and to the general public on Monday, September 28.  Purchase tickets at Ticketmaster or by calling (800) 745-3000.  The four-fight televised card will broadcast in the United States on CBS at 9:00 PM ET Saturday, November 7.

“He feels great and he’s looking forward to fight in the USA again,” said M-1 Global spokesman Fabrice Deters.

An evidently false rumor that Emelianenko (30-1) has the flu buzzed through the MMA community, both online and offline, Saturday morning.

On the heels of second-ranked UFC champion Brock Lesnar (4-1) being forced out of his UFC 106 title defense with an illness and sixth-ranked Shane Carwin (10-0) admitting first to Fighters.com that he had contracted the H1N1 virus, the Emelianenko flu rumor perhaps received more credibility from fans than it otherwise would have.

Emelianenko will matchup versus fifth-ranked “Grim” Brett Rogers (10-0) at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates 33 miles northwest of Chicago November 7.

Reverend Turk Vangel and Josh Turner contributed to this report.

You can listen live as well as join the chat room at www.blogtalkradio.com/mmagospel

Sean and former fighter and Fight Quest host Jimmy Smith (5-1) call the action at M-1 Challenge events around the world and served as the broadcast team for the Affliction 2 in Anaheim January 24.

Sean will be talking about M-1 Challenge and next weekend’s Strikeforce main event on CBS featuring Fighters.com Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (30-1) versus fifth-ranked “Grim” Brett Rogers (10-0).  Sean and Jimmy will be calling the international broadcast from Chicago November 7.

Tune-in here at Fighters.com on Saturday, October 31 at 5:00 PM ET/2:00 PM PT for MMA Gospel’s debut as the official voice of Fighters.com.  MMA Gospel encourages listeners to call in to the show or join us in the live chat room at www.blogtalkradio.com/mmagospel.

MMA Gospel Radio is rapidly emerging as the leader in MMA podcasts and the final word in all things MMA. From the UFC to shows near your hometown, MMA Gospel brings you up-to-the-minute news, rumors, live fighter interviews, fight results, and breakdowns of upcoming fights.

MMA Gospel Radio is hosted by Reverend Turk Vangel with co-hosts Drew Hall and Gary Friedman. Columnist Josh Turner also contributes editorials and opinions.

MMA Gospel Radio founder Reverend Turk Vangel started many years ago as a wrestler in junior high. This led him to the world of freestyle wrestling, which he loved due to the slams and the generally more aggressive style it presented.  He was lucky enough to compete in the AAU Junior Olympics, the Pan Am Games, and the freestyle nationals.  In 1993 he was introduced to the UFC with a video tape.  He watched everything he could get his hands on and became a fan of Royce Gracie (14-3-3) and “El Guapo” Bas Rutten (28-4-1) over the years.

Eventually, the Reverend began to train in mixed martial arts to get a better understanding of the sport. He began training at Beavercreek Martial Arts, a Jorge Gurgel (13-5) affiliate school under professional fighter Michael Patt (12-4). There Turk studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai.  His love for the ground game grew from there.

Reverend Turk would scour the Internet looking for MMA news and listen to podcasts until he decided that he needed to bring a show to the fans, something that was pure MMA and not comedy with some MMA thrown in to the show.  He started by doing small segments on Bengalsworld News Radio. This led to the birth of MMA Gospel Radio and the MMA Gospel Blog.  MMA Gospel Radio is now the top ranked MMA podcast online as voted on by the fans and the Reverend is looking to keep moving forward and giving the fans what they want.

Reverend Turk is married to a gorgeous wife, Mackenzie, and has a beautiful daughter named Lotus. When not covering mixed martial arts and interviewing fighters, he is a machinist and a welder that has worked for custom motorcycle companies such as Led Sled Customs and 138 Cycle Fabrication.  Now he spends his time working for the Air Force building prototypes for the Air Force Institute of Technology.  His loves, other than MMA, are his family, custom built bikes, and rat rods.

Drew has been an MMA fan since 2001 and has been training for a year-and-a-half in the arts of Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Muay Thai underneath Nathan Fitch (1-1) at Son of Siam.  He is going back to school for his broadcasting degree and has written articles on popular MMA websites. His favorite MMA fighter is “Mayhem” Jason Miller (22-5).

Gary Friedman began his combat sports writing career in college at State University of New York at Fredonia where he wrote a boxing column called “In the Ring with Gary Friedman.”   Gary is a lifelong boxing fan who has become a huge MMA fan.

After attending UFC 1 in 1993, columnist Josh Turner knew he was hooked on the sport and began following MMA fighters and promotions.  Turner began training in Muay Thai in February 1997. In 2000, Turner began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Turner has trained at gyms including Hybrid Academy and Linxx Academy.

Although MMA is his great passion, Josh’s proudest accomplishment is his family.  As a proud father, Josh enjoys spending time with his daughter and attending her sporting events.  Josh is also a successful business owner and does consulting work as a business development coordinator.

Welcome Reverend Turk Vangel, Drew Hall, Gary Friedman, and Josh Turner to Fighters.com:

Reverend Turk: turk@fighters.com
Drew: drew@fighters.com
Gary: gary@fighters.com
Josh: josh@fighters.com

And tune-in here at Fighters.com on Saturday, October 31 at 5:00 PM ET/2:00 PM PT for MMA Gospel’s debut as the official voice of Fighters.com.  MMA Gospel encourages listeners to call in to the show or join us in the live chat room at www.blogtalkradio.com/mmagospel.

“Exactly!  That’s what we want to convey,” Kahl repsonded to the comparison of Emelianenko to bona fide world sport legends Jordan and Woods.

Kahl also said he’s “excited to have CBS return to mixed martial arts in a big way” with their partnership with Strikeforce and M-1 Global.  Kahl has no regrets about promoting street-fighter-turned-pro-fighter “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-1) during CBS’s partnership with now-defunct EliteXC which brought MMA to primtime American television and Kahl believes that MMA fighters have received more mainstream media attention as a result.

However, Kahl was also hesitant about the future of MMA on CBS.  “We are looking at this one show at a time,” Kahl said, and wouldn’t rule out a future partnership with the UFC.

It’s safe to assume there’s a lingering bad taste left from the EliteXC debacle and both CBS and Strikeforce are relying on Emelianenko and Rogers to put on a show that will lock in a long-term deal, or at least a more definitive future.

A confident Frank Shamrock (23-10-2), CBS’s on-air MMA analyst, said, “It’s going to be magic!”  He declined to make a prediction.  “I’m done with predictions,” he said.

In analysis, Shamrock noted that although Fedor “doesn’t show many weaknesses,” the key to beating him is “in the feints and forcing him to make mistakes in his punching game.” Shamrock explained that Rogers is in California now training and has been training top heavyweight wrestlers like eighth-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (20-5).   Shamrock speculated that Rogers’s ground game will focus on escapes and using sheer power to get the fight back to the standing game.

CBS broadcaster Mauro Ranallo chimed in too, saying that although there are high expectations for this bout, pressure wouldn’t play a role in Emelianenko’s preparation and performance.  “I don’t know if he feels pressure.  He is so even-keeled.  I don’t know if he knows what pressure is.”  But, Ranallo insists Rogers has more than a puncher’s chance.  “Brett Rogers has the power to defeat Fedor and needs to pursue Fedor and show patient aggression.”

One thing for is that this fight card has the ability to knock down doors for MMA and gain access to mainstream public attention.   CBS is excited to take another stab at attempting to bring the most exciting combat sport to primetime. Strikforce is happy to have a high level partnership.   At least for now…

Heleno is scheduled to fight “Negao” Fabio Nascimento (19-9) at M-1 Challenge in Rostov 26 September.

Heleno tapped “The Evolution” Tyler Stinson (14-5) in a triangle choke at Art of Fighting in Tampa 22 August.

“Negao” tapped Marat Ilaev (0-1) in an armbar at M-1 Challenge 17 in Seoul 4 July.

M-1 Challenge will be streamed live from Rostov 26 September at M-1Global.com.

In a statement released Sunday, M-1 Global President Vadim Finkelstein challenged, “This is the moment of truth that the UFC has talked about. Fedor and I are here in the States. If they want to come out and fly here, we are ready to conduct negotiations. Of course it still doesn’t imply we are ready to accept any conditions they’ll throw at us. We want to talk to the UFC about having Fedor compete against some of their fighters, but only within the framework of co-promotional efforts with M-1 Global.”

It’s the co-promotion between the UFC and M-1 Global that has been a sticking point between the two promotions. The same arrangement caused tension between Affliction and M-1 Global representatives.

After the success of Affliction’s first show, Banned, in July 2008 when Emelianenko knocked out former UFC champion “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-6) in 36 seconds, M-1 Global executives made increased demands about the visibility of M-1 Global’s presence in the marketing and production of the shows and use of their fighters.

Subsequently, Day of Reckoning and Trilogy were promoted as “Affliction M-1 Global” events and the M-1 Global logo became more prominent in marketing.

Emelianenko also became leverage to include M-1 Global fighters “Hurricane” Gilbert Yvel (33-13-1) and “Baby Fedor” Kiril Sidellnikov (6-3) on Day of Reckoning versus “Babyfaced Assassin” Josh Barnett (20-5) and “Headhunter” Paul Buentello (27-9) respectively. An M-1 Global executive threatened to pull Emelianenko off the card if Barnett was not matched versus Yvel.

M-1 Global has no official comment.

Affliction VP Tom Atencio did not respond to Fighters.com’s request for comment. Hours after Trilogy was cancelled due to Barnett’s positive test for 2a-methyl-5a-androstan-3a-ol-17-one, an anabolic steroid, Affliction agreed with the UFC to cease promoting MMA events with M-1 Global and promote Affliction’s apparel line in the Octagon.

News of the Affliction/UFC collaboration blind-sided M-1 Global executives. “This is first I hear all this,” an M-1 Global spokesperson told Fighters.com when asked to comment on the Affliction/UFC collaboration before it was officially announced.

UFC President Dana White had identified Affliction middleweight “Phenom” Vitor Belfort (17-8) as the top contender to UFC middleweight champion “Spyder” Anderson Silva (24-4) during The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale in Las Vegas 20 June. Then, White guaranteed a showdown between Lesnar and Emelianenko in the Octagon at the post-fight press conference after UFC 100 in Las Vegas 11 July. Both declarations were odd because White is known for soundbites disrespecting and disregarding fighters not currently in the UFC, including ex-UFC champions.

Fighters.com asked Atencio whether the Affliction/UFC deal was in the works prior to Trilogy’s cancellation giving reason for White to begin complimenting fighters he had a reasonable expectation of being able to sign in the near future. Again, Atencio did not respond.

M-1 Global and Emelianenko are holding a press conference in Los Angeles at 4 PM EST Wednesday. M-1 Global has been negotiating Emelianenko fighting in the UFC and Strikeforce and considered the idea of adding the Emelianenko v Barnett fight to their own Breakthrough card in Los Angeles 28 August, though it’s doubtful Barnett could get licensed by the California State Athletic Commission so soon after failing a drug test.

When quizzed by Fighters.com about the possibility of Emelianenko fighting “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-4-1) in San Jose 15 August, Strikeforce spokesperson Mike Afromowitz said, “Right now, I cannot comment on anything.”

“There is already an agreement that on the show organized by Affliction and M-1 Global 24 January, I will have a rematch with former UFC Champion Josh Barnett,” Emelianenko said.

However, Fighters.com has learned Barnett’s most likely opponent for Day of Reckoning, and it’s not Aleks.  Fighters.com thinks it’s Aleks’s wishful thinking.

Emelianenko was scheduled to fight at Affliction’s debut event in July but was denied a license by the California State Athletic Commission at the last minute.

Mike Whitehead

The show will be put on by M-1 Global in cooperation with Affliction and Kansas City-based Titan Entertainment.

“Mike Whitehead has come home to Missouri to fight in the M-1 Challenge.  This is an exciting opportunity for the fight fans here to not only see a true MMA superstar like Mike Whitehead in action but also all of this amazing international talent in one place,” Titan President Joe Kelly said in a statement.

Whitehead last fought at Affliction in July, losing by unanimous decision to “Babalu” Renato Sobral (29-8).

Teams participating in the thirteen-bout card are Japan, Spain, Korea, and France.

“M-1 Global and Affliction keep strengthening the ties in MMA,” a post at M-1′s website read.  “Officially from now on all the M-1 Challenge events will be organized in association with Affliction.”

Affliction’s debut, Banned in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, 19 July, was in association with M-1 Global, which allowed Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) to appear.

Affliction’s day job is designing, marketing, and manufacturing apparel.  A shirt has been created to promote the closer partnership.

Emelianenko will fight at Affliction’s second show in October, and again on New Year’s Eve in Japan.

Emelianenko’s manager and M-1 Global President Vadim Finkelstein made the announcement in an interview at M-1 Mix Fight published Tuesday.

No opponent was named for the October show, but “most likely [the New Year’s Eve event]’s going to be the M-1 Challenge Finale and Fedor will compete in a superfight, possibly with the winner of Fighting Fedor but maybe with another top fighter,” said Finkelstein.

Fighting Fedor is a reality series in which sixteen fighters from around the world compete in St. Petersburg for the opportunity to face Emelianenko in the ring.

Second-ranked heavyweight “The Natural” Randy Couture is awaiting a court decision in his legal battle with the UFC’s parent company, Zuffa, LLC, to be released from his contract to fight Emelianenko.

However, fighting two fights is unlikely for the 44-year old UFC Hall of Famer.

“I’ve never heard anything about them doing two fights and I’m fairly certain that [Couture] just wants to do one more,” said a reliable source at Xtreme Couture, adding, “I think [Finkelstein] just pulled that out of thin air.”

Emelianenko, Fighters.com’s fifth-ranked heavyweight, must repay the $1.5 million signing bonus to the group that formed M-1 Global in October 2007 before he is officially released from the agreement he made with M-1 Global.

That M-1 Global group has since formed Adrenaline MMA.  Andrenaline MMA’s Vice-President Brian Patton said today, “[Emelianenko and his management] have only paid part of [the debt] and are not released yet.”

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.

Today, ProElite Live Events President Gary Shaw confirmed, “[Two-million dollars per fight] is what [Fedor Emelianenko (27-1)] asked for on several meetings.”

The news comes on the heels of M-1 Global’s release of Emelianenko, after which former M-1 Global CEO Monte Cox told MMA Weekly, “It would not have been profitable to move forward with Emelianenko under the current situation.”

April begins the thirty-second month since Emelianenko has risked his chops versus a top ten ranked heavyweight mixed martial artist.

The Russian has fought just once in the Red, White, and Blue, and broke no PPV records for PRIDE 32.

Yet, Emelianenko and his management have determined he’s worth four times more than the next most lucrative MMA contract known.  (“Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5) reportedly makes $500,000 per scrap, win, lose, or draw.)

I’ve confirmed with a reliable source that ProElite is offering Emelianenko $300,000 for his first fight and $400,000 for each fight thereafter if Emelianenko wins the fight before, in addition to a PPV bonus for the final two fights of a proposed four-fight deal.

How can Emelianenko’s request be so far from ProElite’s offer, assuming ProElite is serious about signing Emelianenko?

It’s our fault.  If Emelianenko never fights another legitimate contender, it’s the fault of blind allegiance and nostalgia among long-time MMA fans.

Despite his lack of competition in two-and-a-half years, two popular MMA websites, Sherdog and MMA Weekly, continue to rank Emelianenko atop the field.

Even the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts, the self-appointed objective mediator of MMA, ranks Emelianenko first among heavies.

I used to contribute to the rankings of a popular mixed martial arts website that continued to rank Emelianenko first in his division as the fighter fell lower on the rankings I submitted.

After “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic (23-6-2), Emelianenko’s last ranked “W”, got mauled in Manchester by then-unranked “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3), I dropped Emelianenko as low as seventh.

When that website’s rankings were revealed that month, Emelianenko still topped the mountain of heavyweights.

I pointed out to the editor, “I know how many people are ranking besides me.  I ranked Emelianenko seventh.  Even if everyone else ranked him first, my seventh place ranking would’ve dropped him from the cumulative rankings’ top spot.”

I wasn’t asked to contribute to the next month’s rankings…

UFC President Dan White has claimed, “[Emelianenko] is not even top five.”

He’s almost right!  I rank him fifth.  Anything higher is unfair to the top heavyweights regularly testing their medal against other top heavyweights.

If rankings were a prediction of what might happen in match-ups, Emelianenko would rank first because I think he’s that talented.  Rankings, however, reflect what has happened with a predilection towards the most recent.

His last outing versus “Techno Goliath” Hong Man Choi (1-1) proved that no matter how freakishly large a kickboxer stands, he’s outmatched on the ground versus a sambo champion.  Fine, and Emelianenko has no obligation to cater to objective MMA enthusiasts; but, neither do we have to continue ranking him atop the division with no empirical evidence.

However, the world of dollars is much more objective than that of MMA rankings.

Emelianenko’s management has an obligation to drain every dollar out of a potential deal for Emelianenko; but, they also have the obligation of protecting their fighter’s legacy.

No one will pay $2 million per fight for Emelianenko because, as Cox explained, the money isn’t there.

The hype is!  But, even among Emelianenko stalwarts, the innate desire to see Emelianenko fight a serious fight is beginning to bleed a bit of objectivity onto their brains.

The time has come to kill the monster we’ve created and encourage Emelianenko to sign a reasonable contract to fight top competition.

If Emelianenko chooses to spend his remaining years wrestling circus freaks, that’s his decision; but, that’s not quality MMA and not worthy of our attention as writers, fighters, and fans.

“Officially, yes, Fedor will be a free agent,” Apy Echteld, one of Emelianenko’s agents, told Hockensmith.

But, hold on!  There’s the inconvenience of an iron-clad contract in the way.  MMA fans should be smarter after the Contract Law 101 course we’ve all taken since “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8) “resigned” from his Zuffa LLC contract in October 2007.

Hockensmith reported, “A source close to the situation previously told The Magazine: M-1 Global and Emelianenko will part ways some time in the next week.”

Yet, next week has come and gone now.

M-1 Global Vice President Brian Patton told me hours ago, “Our relationship [with Emelianenko]…is still unresolved, which means we are all still together.”

Recall it was an agent who advised Couture to “resign” from his Zuffa LLC contract.  Now, again, recall how well that’s worked out.  The word “clusterfuck” comes to mind.

Couture and Zuffa LLC have had one court matchup to date, regarding Couture’s participation in the IFL.

Zuffa 1, Couture 0.

Emelianenko may well receive his release from M-1 Global eventually, and Emelianenko’s management’s involvement in M-1 Global may precipitate that; but, it won’t be because of his agent’s declaration to ESPN The Magazine.  That’s what agents do; but, that’s not how contracts work.  Just ask Randy Couture.