Well the expected happened. Fedor signs with Strikeforce. It's only really them or the UFC in the states. I'm not very excited about this, but pleased nonetheless. Strikeforce houses 3 notable heavyweights in Rogers, Werdum, and Overeem. Overeem being who i consider Fedor's biggest challenge outside the UFC. It's a shame they couldn't get this deal done faster or earlier, we could have possibly seen Fedor possibly face off against Werdum. Anyway, I expect Fedor's first fight in Strikeforce to be against Overeem for the title. I would imagine they would give Fedor a instant title shot, and with Fedor's management promising Fedor would fight this year. I'm pretty stoked that it will most likely be against Overeem, easily the most interesting heavyweight fight all year long.Fedor Emelianenko has signed a multi-fight agreement that will see the worlds No. 1-ranked heavyweight compete for Strikeforce, the promotion announced Monday.
Emelianenko, who became a free agent after Affliction Entertainment canceled its Aug. 1 event two weeks ago, will make his debut on Showtime under a co-promoted Strikeforce/M-1 Global production this fall. Emelianenko was to have faced Josh Barnett at Affliction Trilogy on Aug. 1, but Barnett failed a pre-fight test for an anabolic steroid and was refused licensure by the California State Athletic Commission.
"Strikeforce is a top fight promotion that houses some of the greatest fighters in the world," said Emelianenko in a press release. "I am prepared to fight any of them."
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told Sherdog.com last week that he plans to match the stoic Russian against the likes of Brett Rogers, Fabricio Werdum and the promotions heavyweight champion, Alistair Overeem.
I feel pretty confident that we could give him four or five opponents that would make sense for him, Coker told Sherdog.com in an exclusive video interview.
Emelianenko, along with his promoters and management team at M-1 Global, had negotiated with the UFC last week, but could not come to an agreement over co-promotion.
"Fedor is a f---ing joke," UFC President Dana White responded Monday after learning that Emelianenko had signed with Strikeforce. He turns down a huge deal and the opportunity to face the best in the world to fight nobodies for no money!"
Thoughts?