Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:35 am
Posts: 191
Location: Sydney, Australia
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Dana White on Fedor Emelianenko in the UFC: I'm Trying to Make It Happen
In his first public comments since the cancelation of the August 1 Affliction Trilogy card, UFC President Dana White said he's trying to get Fedor Emelianenko into the Octagon. But he acknolwedged that getting the deal done for Fedor to fight UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar won't be easy.
"My job is to put on the best fighters and to give you, the fans, the fights you want to see," White said on ESPN Radio 1100 in Las Vegas. "I've been trying to get Fedor in the UFC. I want it because you want it. Believe me, I'm trying to make it happen."
However, it's far from a sure thing that Fedor will sign with the UFC. A source with knowledge of Fedor's thinking told FanHouse Friday that Fedor would rather sign with Strikeforce than the UFC. Fedor values his independence, and Strikeforce would be willing to give him a deal with much more flexibility than the UFC would provide.
And White didn't sound overly enthusiastic about Fedor, either, saying that he doesn't agree with those who put Fedor atop the lists of the top pound-for-pound fighters in MMA -- or even in the Top 5.
"It drives me crazy that people put him in the pound-for-pound," White said. "I don't see him as one of the best pound-for-pound. ... I wouldn't put him in the Top 5."
White also said that Fedor would get the next crack at heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar if he signs with the UFC.
"He'll fight for the title first," White said. "What does he need, a tune-up fight or something? ... To argue where this guy sits in the heavyweight division, we can argue that all day."
And how would a Fedor vs. Lesnar fight go?
"I don't know," White said. "Fedor has a ton of experience. The guy's been around forever. But you can't take anything away from Brock Lesnar. ... It's an interesting fight. It's a very good fight."
White also said, however, that Randy Couture could get the opportunity to fight Fedor -- at least if Couture could persuade Fedor to sign.
"Fedor's got to come to a deal first," White said. "If Randy can go out there and cut that deal with Fedor, then Randy, get to work, buddy"
.http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/dana ... _fanhouse2
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