Here’s what Finkelchtein had to say over at LowKick: “Two out of eight fighters in the tournament previously failed a drug test… We want fair competition for everyone, so that’s why I will ask the commission to perform a strict drug testing. Fedor is not using any kind of substance to enhance his performance, and will be ready for any kind of testing… Our organization paid a heavy price after the cancellation of the fight between Josh Barnett and Fedor…That’s why as a promoter and manager, I don’t want this to happen ever again.”

For those of you that need a quick history lesson, Antonio Silva and Josh Barnett have both had run-ins with positive steroid tests. To this day, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, the first and only EliteXC Heavyweight Champion, staunchly denies that he used steroids. Josh Barnett and Fedor Emelianenko were supposed to meet in the main event of the short-lived Affliction promotion’s “Trilogy” show, but Barnett failed a drug test days before the event was supposed to happen. The subsequent scramble to find a replacement opponent ended with the fight being called off altogether, and then the entire event soon received the axe. Affliction ceased operations as an MMA promotion shortly thereafter.

While I think that there’s always a kernel of truth in even the craziest conspiracy theory, so long as you know where to look, I do think that Vadim Finkelchtein has unfairly been put into the role of a scapegoat. Whenever an issue revolving around Fedor arises, a certain section of the fanbase practically falls over each other in their rush to blame Vadim. I absolutely do not think that Vadim is blameless, but I also don’t think that everything is as black-and-white as the cynics would have you believe. This is why I’m able to side with Vadim on this issue and don’t feel an ounce of regret in doing so.

I’m one of the many MMA fans that absolutely can’t wait to see this tournament. Remember, this is the guy that’s so pumped for this to go down that he wrote a fourteen-piece series on it. I hope that this tournament goes off without a hitch and gives us the dream matches we’ve been waiting years to see… because the alternative is quite grim.

If all doesn’t go according to plan, this could be as big a disaster for Strikeforce as Kimbo Slice getting KO’d in fourteen seconds was to EliteXC. If the credibility of this Heavyweight Grand Prix or its performers is called into question in any way, it will have ceased being the epic tournament we were all hoping for and it will become little more than a joke. And one of the easiest ways to ruin the credibility of this tournament is for one of its fighters to get caught with steroids.

So while I won’t point any fingers like Finkelchtein did, at the end of the day I do honestly and completely agree with him: there needs to be very strict drug testing to ensure that this tournament remains credible, and that no one is given an unfair advantage.

And what about you, fans and friends? Do you agree or disagree, and why?

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.

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.

Apparently, Emelianenko and Finklechtein had heard enough after a sour experience negotiating with White and the UFC after the UFC’s parent company, Zuffa, LLC, purchased PRIDE, the Japanese MMA promotion Emelianenko had been fighting for, and White’s repeated public insults toward Emelianenko and the rest of the “crazy Russians.”

“Fedor is bigger than the UFC all over the world,” Finkelchtein repeated to Fighters.com, a claim hard to verify, but likely true in three key markets: Russia, Japan, and South Korea.  “In Korea, little children know Fedor’s name,” Finkelchtein added.

But, when White came requesting Emelianenko fight in the UFC after Affliction’s collapse, Emelianenko and Finkelchtein graciously decided to press the reset button on the relationship.    Besides, Affliction had switched allegiances seemingly overnight to partner with the UFC and left M-1 Global without a partner with which to co-promote Emelianenko’s fights.

But, Finkelchtein now regrets that decision.  Emelianenko and Finkelchtein laid out their requirements for Emelianenko to fight in any promotion, even the UFC.  Their demands were much the same as during the previous negotiations, and did not include a request for 50% of the UFC (as White has claimed).  It’s important to Finkelchtein for everyone to recognize that Emelianenko is not a free agent, and was not during the negotiations with the UFC.  Emelianenko is contractually obligated to M-1 Global, as well as a stakeholder in the MMA promotion.  Any fights featuring Emelianenko must be co-promotions with M-1 Global, per Emelianenko’s contract with M-1 Global.

White and the UFC evidently never recognized M-1 Global’s legal rights to promote Emelianenko’s fights, negotiating as if Emelianenko was a free agent.  It is Finkelchtein’s right to enforce Emelianenko’s contractual obligation to M-1 Global, just as it was White and the UFC’s right to sue “The Natural” Randy Couture (17-10) when Couture tried to wriggle free from his contract to fight Emelianenko  in 2007 and 2008.  White defended his legal rights to promote Couture; and, Finkelchtein will defend his legal rights to promote Emelianenko.

So, when White and the UFC refused to co-promote Emelianenko with M-1 Global, Emelianenko and Finkelchtein wondered what the UFC had called them for.  They felt like, “If you want Emelianenko, here are the terms; if not, stop wasting our time.”

But, then White took his frustrations to the media and made claims about the UFC’s offer to Emelianenko and Emelianenko and Finkelchtein’s demands that are false, according to Finkelchtein and M-1 Global.

“We don’t want anything to do with the UFC,” Finkelchtein told Fighters.com.  “They can do their business, we’ll do ours.”

In Finkelchtein’s mind, he never asked to do business with the UFC, nor does he  need the UFC to make money promoting Emelianenko’s fights.  So, why would White ask Emelianenko to fight for the UFC, then insult Emelianenko and Finkelchtein and lie to the media when White refused to meet the demands White knew were required?  It was as if White set them up.

Finkelchtein is aware that his and Emelianenko’s story hasn’t been reported in the MMA press, and expressed frustration to Fighters.com.  “I sent answers to Sherdog, but they weren’t published,” Finkelchtein claimed.

If you’re not North American or you’re one of the 50,000 or so North Americans who plunked down $34.95 for PRIDE 32, your poster depicts Emelianenko within a golden aureole striding a mound of pummeled flesh bags that includes fourth-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1), tenth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-7), and former UFC heavyweight champion “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-6).

If you’re North American and cut your MMA teeth on The Ultimate Fighter circa 2007 or anxiously anticipating the first F5 stoppage in MMA history, your poster depicts Emelianenko cowering within the block-headed shadow of the man-mountain that is second-ranked UFC champ Brock Lesnar (4-1).

Both posters are idealized. It’s time we get real.

Emelianenko told a post-Strikeforce signing press conference, “I’d like to develop MMA and also make some money at the same time. If Strikeforce is able to offer more than the UFC, why should we sign with the UFC?”

For Emelianenko, MMA is strictly business. It’s quite literally all about the Benjamins.

“If the numbers published on the Internet were the real numbers, we would’ve signed with the UFC,” Emelianenko added, referencing the $5 million per fight reportedly offered by the UFC.

Emelianenko even directly addressed UFC President Dana White’s criticism, “This guy doesn’t want to fight the best in the world,” by admitting, “I don’t think that I need really good fighters because the last two fights I’ve had were really good opponents.”

For the former group of fans to understand Emelianenko, they have to take the halo off of his head. For the latter group, they have to recognize that there was MMA before The Ultimate Fighter and Lesnar, and even before Dana White.

The reality is that Emelianenko is a great fighter in the second half of his career. Today Emelianenko is the best heavyweight in the world, but he turns 33-years old on the 28th of this month and is starting consider how best to taking care of himself and his family when he’s no longer the world’s greatest heavyweight.

“I feel very sorry for my fans,” Emelianenko admitted after declining the last, best opportunity for him to fight in the UFC. “But, I also think I deserve some respect to look out for my best interest.”

His best interest is establishing M-1 Global, the promotion he co-owns with Vadim Finkelchtein, as a lasting, stable international MMA promotion. That’s why Emelianenko flew from Stary Oskol to New York City for an open workout promoting his Strikeforce/M-1 Global fight versus fifth-ranked “Grim” Brett Rogers (10-0) in the autumn, then flew the next day from New York City to Kansas City to spar the same night around 4:00 AM Stary Oskol time with Strikeforce light heavyweight champion “Dreamcatcher” Gegard Mousasi (22-2-1) in front of approximately 1500 Midwestern fans, and the following day flew back home to his family in Russia.

And, headlining that M-1 Global card in Kansas City was forty-year old former UFC champion “Smashing Machine” Mark Kerr (14-11), who replaced forty-three year old former UFC champion “Predator” Don Frye (20-7-1), both still fighting past their prime because they weren’t lucky enough to be dominant in MMA during a period when you could turn the sport into a comfortable retirement. That’s what Emelianenko is trying to avoid.

Emelianenko has drawn a legit opponent this autumn in Rogers, who is ranked higher than Lesnar’s next opponent at UFC 106 in Las Vegas 21 November, sixth-ranked Shane Carwin (10-0). So, at least in the short-term, no one should have any complaints about either matchup.

At UFC 102 in Portland last Saturday, fourth-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1) notched up a spot after a UD over ninth-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-10), who dropped a notch this month. Nog’ has publicly called for the winner between Lesnar and Carwin for a UFC title fight, but White hasn’t committed to the matchup.

As reported by Fighters.com, third-ranked Frank Mir (12-4) will fight Cheick Kongo (14-5-1) at UFC 107 in Memphis 12 December. Mir will have to remaine focused as he forays outside of the top ten.

Seventh-ranked “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (8-1) will try to legitimize his spot in the top ten versus former top tenner “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipoic (25-7-2) at UFC 103 in Dallas 19 September.

After testing positive for 2a-methyl-5a-androstan-3a-ol-17-one, an anabolic steroid, and causing the cancellation of Affliction M-1 Global’s Trilogy, eighth-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (20-5) will probably return to Sengoku in Japan. Barnett was never enthusiastic about fighting Emelianenko, whom he considers a friend, at Trilogy; and, Fighters.com wonders if testing positive isn’t some kind of subconcious self-fulfilled will of Barnett’s. For the record, Barnett denies using steroids, the the California State Athletic Commission confirmed Barnett’s B sample also tested positive.

Finally, tenth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-7) is a man without a promotion since Affliction cut him and UFC President Dana White recently remarked that he has no interest in signing Arlovski. Arlovski has stated he plans to make his professional boxing debut at the end of September or early October, but Fighters.com couldn’t get a firm answer from Arlovski’s manager concerning his first boxing bout.

Fighters.com’s September 2009 Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (30-1)

After two years fighting freak shows, Emelianenko has stopped consecutive top tenners: Arlovski and then-ranked Tim Sylvia to establish legitimacy as Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champ. He’ll keep it elite when he faces Rogers in the autumn.

2. Brock Lesnar (4-1)

Lesnar’s dominance over Mir in their rematch demonstrated how far the UFC champ has come since his Octagon debut, earning him the top contender slot. He’ll fight a game opponent very similar to himself in Carwin in November.

3. Frank Mir (12-4)

Mir’s second wind after a career-threatening motorcycle crash has earned him two distinctons: the only man to beat UFC champ Lesnar and the only man to knockout former PRIDE champ Nogueira. He’ll try to maintain focus versus Cheick Kongo in December.

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

Though unable to stop Couture, Nog’ clearly whooped the legend to add his name with Barnett and then-ranked Tim Sylvia as former UFC champs he has slain in the last two years.

5. “Grim” Brett Rogers (10-0)

Rogers’s 22 second knockout of Arlovski welcomed him into the top ten, but no one could imagine then that it’d also be a ticket to a matchup versus Emelianenko. We’ll see what Rogers is really made of this autumn.

6. Shane Carwin (10-0)

Carwin has never been out of the first round, but the 1:09 knockout of Gabriel Gonzaga has earned him a five-round title fight versus Lesnar in November. Can Carwin neutralize the force of nature that is Lesnar?

7. “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (8-1)

Nog’s pupil came out of nowhere, like his uppercut that KO’d Fabricio Werdum. Not much is known about “Cigano” and his record reveals a 2007 tap out to another Brazilian unknown, but he’ll be tested versus Mirko Cro Cop in September.

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

“Babyface Assassin” is on a tear with a KO of Pedro Rizzo, UD over Jeff Monson, and submission of Hidehiko Yoshida, but no recent work at the top of the division. Unfortunately he flubbed the biggest fight at heavyweight: Emelianenko.

9. “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-10)

Is Fighters.com going to have to be the first to say Couture is starting to look his age? There’s no shame in being overpowered by Lesnar, nor coming up short versus Nog’, but it might be time for the final retirement.

10. “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-7)

“Pitbull” got his bite back versus Ben Rothwell and Roy Nelson, but was a chew toy for Emelianenko and Rogers. The free agent is going to throw his hat into the boxing ring in late September.

Media and fans will have an opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with Fedor in an open workout and meet-and-greet.

Emelianenko is scheduled in an exhibition sparring match with Strikeforce light heavyweight champ “Dreamcatcher” Gegard Mousasi (22-2-1) at Friday’s M-1 Global Breakthrough in Kansas City.

Fighters.com asked Mousasi to explain the exhibition sparring format last Thursday. “It’s just like a light sparring,” he said, and added that the exhibition won’t turn competitive in front of thousands in Kansas City. “We are not animals. We can control ourselves.”

Also attending the open workout will be Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker and M-1 Global President Vadim Finkelchtein.

Emelianenko is scheduled to make his Strikeforce debut versus an opponent yet-to-be-named.

Breakthrough gets started at 7:30 PM local time at Memorial Hall in KC and the meat of the of the card will be broadcast on HDNet at 10:00 PM EST. Outside of the United States, the entire card will be streamed via the Internet. Details are available at M-1 Global’s website. Tickets starting at $25 can be purchased at Ticketmaster and there’s a buy-one-get-one-free offer.