The negotiations between top heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko and the UFC
are again turning into a ‘he said, she said’ battle.
M-1 Global CEO Joost Raimond vehemently denied earlier reports that
the UFC had offered Emelianenko $30 million over six fights, and said
that negotiations had not even reached a point to where numbers were
discussed, Sherdog.com reported.
“I can say that the guaranteed — and the word ‘guaranteed’ is of
great importance here — the guaranteed offer made by the UFC is less
than what Fedor made before,” Raimond said. “The five-million (per
fight) is way, way, way out of range. Half of that is even way out of
range of what they offered.”
Emelianenko and M-1 President Vadim Finkelstein returned to Russia on
Thursday, The UFC said that their comment would come Friday during
Dana White’s much anticipated press conference.
Raimond also denied that Emelianenko was offered a title shot against
Brock Lesnar as his first fight during negotiations, but did confirm
that the UFC would allow Emelianenko to compete in combat sambo while
under contract and wear M-1 appearal while in the octagon.
