After hearing the entire MMA world come down on Fedor Emelianenko after his upset loss to Fabricio Werdum, it’s now M-1 Global figurehead Vadim Finkelchtein’s turn to fling insults at the man most believed had surpassed his golden boy in the heavyweight hierarchy.
If critics thought Emelianenko’s credentials were questionable because he’s never called the Octagon home, then Vadim professes Brock Lesnar is straight up fugazy after getting annihilated by Cain Velasquez last weekend at UFC 121.
“I have long said that Lesnar is more of a product of UFC’s PR rather than a serious fighter and that fight clearly confirmed it,” Finkelchtein told AllBox.com (translated by Yahoo!). “I do not want to say that Lesnar is a nobody, but he has very little experience.
“What does he have, six fights in MMA? He’s a pure product of the UFC, who met a real fighter and he lost.”
While Fedor’s outspoken manager was quick to diss the former WWE superstar’s resume, he also didn’t hesitate to give the newly minted king props on his overall skills.
“In my opinion, he is a very good fighter. Capable and strong,” Finkelchtein said of Velasquez. “The UFC can now present him as the best in the world, and it is certainly debatable, but he’s really a fighter. Not a product of PR.”
Whatever is going on UFC-side shouldn’t be of concern to Finkelchtein, particularly since they haven’t been able to iron out a contract extension with Strikeforce. Emelianenko has one fight remaining on his current deal with the San Jose, California based promotion. Both parties – as well as Showtime – have been negotiating for several months to no avail.
Two weeks ago, Team Fedor claimed they would move forward with or without a new agreement in place. To the surprise of nobody, the soft deadline came and went and Emelianenko’s impending free agency status is still in limbo. Either way, don’t expect to see the world’s former/current top heavyweight inside an Octagon anytime soon.
“Now we are in active negotiations with Showtime on a contract extension, and perhaps we will renew it, but the UFC does not offer such opportunities and imposes its monopoly conditions,” Vaidim added. “They believe that everyone should be in the UFC.
“We would love to fight with Lesnar, and Velasquez and all, but why should we give up all these undertakings, all the years spent on Fedor’s development will go to them? Fedor did not grow in the UFC, right? So why should he go to the UFC?”
Eliza Dushku
Adriana Lima
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