The UFC president was locked in talks with The Last Emperor and representatives from Russian promotion M1-Global after the collapse of Affliction left him a free agent.

But even after White reportedly offered Emelianenko a five-fight, £2million-a-bout contract and agreed to let him continue to compete in Sambo tournaments in his native Russia, a deal could still not be reached.

The UFC say that the stumbling block was M1-Global’s insistence on co-promoting events Emelianenko took part in.

The breakdown in talks has seen the 32-year-old pen terms on a three-fight deal with Strikeforce, with his cage debut set for later this year.

And the former Pride champion’s actions have left White fuming.

Speaking to mmaweekly.com, he said:

“Fedor is a f***ing joke.

“He turns down a huge deal and the opportunity to face the best in the world to fight nobodies for no money!

“How are they [M1-Global] going to help us co-promote?

“They’re going to help us? That s*** might work in Russia [but] not here.

“How do you deal with something like this?

“We did everything possible for this deal. We didn’t hold back. It’s crazy to turn down a deal like this.

“We went above and beyond. We have been able to sign the best fighters in the world over the last 10 years, so to not be able to sign this guy [wasn't our fault].”

White added:

“I feel sorry for the real fight fans.

“I wanted to make the deal, but it takes two and it is VERY obvious Fedor doesn’t want to fight the best and doesn’t give a s*** about the fans.”

But Joost Raimond, Chief Operating Officer for M1-Global, revealed he is delighted with the deal his company and Emelianenko have signed with Strikeforce.

Raimond said:

“It was a good opportunity. The co-promotion is a substantial part.

“The whole set-up for the deal is to have co-promotion partners, and of course Fedor is an important part of that construction.

“But the co-promotion deal is of great importance.

“The financials behind his deal are based on a large number of factors, which include the co-promotion and co-branding activities, and Fedor is a part of that total deal.”

Emelianenko added: “I am looking forward to going back to work and fighting at the highest level.”

The Russian is widely regarded as the best heavyweight fighter on the planet and has been courted by the UFC for several years.

He has a 30-1-1 professional MMA record and counts former UFC stars Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia as his most recent scalps.

So, after a week of speculation, Fedor Emelianenko has put the rumors to rest as the former PRIDE heavyweight champion signed a multi-fight agreement that will see him headline events co-promoted by Strikeforce and M-1 Global.

Emelianenko’s debut under the Strikeforce M-1 banner is expected to come this Fall on Showtime. Stay tuned to MyCage as we continue to keep you up to date on all developing news between Strikeforce and Fedor, including any announcement of a first opponent.

Titleholder Penn  is returning to his more natural weight of 155lbs, having been dominated by Georges St Pierre at UFC 94 when he made the jump up to challenge for the welterweight crown.

The lightweight division is where Penn has done his best work inside the Octagon, having enjoyed one-sided victories over Jens Pulver, Joe Stevenson and Sean Sherk in the last two years.

“For BJ Penn this is very important,” Rogan said. “He is coming off the devastating loss to Georges St Pierre where he was really owned in that fight.

“Georges controlled almost every aspect of the fight. He took him down at will, passed his guard, beat him up on the ground: it was really pretty much a one-sided affair.

“BJ belongs at 155lbs, that is the optimum weight class for him. That is where he is the lightweight king, that is where he has had his best fights.

“What is important to him now is to come back to lightweight and re-establish himself as the king of this division. To do that he is going to have to get past a very hungry, very talented and very determined Kenny Florian.”

Florian has chalked up six-straight victories since April 2007, when he was beaten by Sherk as they fought for the then-vacant lightweight title.

While other lightweight contenders have fallen by the wayside, Florian has remained patient, finally earning his title chance after a first-round submission victory over Stevenson at UFC 91, a victory that came quick off the back of another impressive win over the much-vaunted Roger Huerta just three months earlier.

“For Kenny Florian this is a tremendous opportunity,” says Rogan. “First of all, Kenny has improved dramatically from the first time we saw him in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

“If you watch the early fights that Kenny had, right when he came out of the Ultimate Fighter, he was basically a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guy with limited striking.

“He had a couple of elbows and kicks but nowhere near the technical ability that he has standing up now.

“All the work he has done with Mark DellaGrotte in Boston has really made a tremendous difference in his fighting style.

“The Joe Stevenson fight, Kenny just destroyed him; just attacked him, smashed him, got him to the ground and strangled him – and did it all very quickly.

“BJ Penn had a much harder time with Joe Stevenson than Kenny Florian did. Does that mean that Kenny Florian is going to be able to do that to BJ Penn? No, but it does mean that Kenny is a legitimate, dangerous contender for the lightweight title. In my opinion, the most dangerous guy to go against BJ.

“It is a real tough fight for BJ and a real tough fight for Kenny Florian. I think this is probably going to be BJ’s toughest test in defending his lightweight crown, and certainly the toughest fight of Kenny Florian’s career.”

So what do you Penn fans think ? No doubt Florian is going to be a dangerous opponent but I reckon this will be a terrific bout.  So, whom are you placing your money on ?

This Kid is 28 Years old and he hasn’t lost a fight in the past 5 years. Torres has been developed within the WEC and has become a rich, talented fighter. He’s only 28 year’s old, That tells me that Miguel Torres can only get better at what he does. The exposure for a lot of these fighters is lacking with the WEC on Versus, and even though the WEC is a Zuffa owned promotion, the brand just isn’t nearly as marketable.

“We don’t get the exposure that they get in the UFC,” Torres tells Yahoo! Sports. “They have the bigger fighters and it’s easier to push the bigger fighters. The smaller fighters have a lot more skills a lot of the time, but they’ve spent so much advertising money and marketing dollars and invested so much time pushing guys like [UFC heavyweight champion] Brock Lesnar. There isn’t the time or the money or interest, I guess, to push the smaller fighters the same way.”

My Question to you is: To all you Miguel Torres fans, do you think Miguel is a worthy opponent to move up to the UFC and fight at 155 and Possibly challenge B.J Penn? Miguel shouldn’t have that much problem putting on weight and Miguel is acutally 5.10 which makes him taller than B.J. For me this could be a great fight, What do you guys think?

“Since the last fight Frank was talking crap on me, on Greg, his other coach, and said he’d actually forgot more jiu-jitsu than Brock’s ever learned and once he retired he wanted to be Brock’s coach…Brock said, ‘I’m not going to say anything because I don’t really know Frank but after my fists do the talking and I give him a beat down, I am going to give him a piece of my mind.’”

- Erik Paulson, trainer to Brock Lesnar, explaining the reason for Lesnar’s post-victory outburst against Frank Mir at UFC 100.

Comment Below and tell me if you think Brock was in the right do to this. Let me here your opinions!

Kenny Florian has been training with B.J Penn’s arch rival and pro claimed best pound for pound fighter in the world George St Pierre. Now If Kenny has being training with such great fighters like George St Pierre and let me tell you this George St Pierre will be teaching Kenny how he beat B.J Penn. Number 1# contender Kenny Florian talks on how he feels regarding his up coming bout against UFC Lightweight Champ B.J. Penn:

I’m not sure.  I’m not sure I really believe that you have to break B.J. mentally or make him quit.  I think the key is challenging every aspect of his game and making him make those little mistakes, those little errors.  People tend to look at B.J. like he’s this god and he doesn’t make mistakes, like you just can’t beat him on the technical level.  I feel you can beat him at the technical level.  In doing that, if he happens to fail physically or slow down, that’s going to be worse for him.  But I’m not expecting that.  If that happens then it will be a tough fight for him, for sure, but I’m expecting him to be ready to go hard for all five rounds.


Kenny Florian is very confident on going to war and beating B.J Penn, Just read this.

I think my overall game is going to be better than his.  I’m a more complete fighter.  I incorporate more of a complete striking game, whereas B.J.’s more of just a boxer.  But I have to go out and prove it on August 8.  I truly believe that I’m better everywhere and I’m a better conditioned athlete.  I feel like it’s going to be a tough fight, but I’m ready.  I’m ready for five rounds of hell.

Now after reading that Kenny Florian sounds like the Mike Tyson of MMA. This Kid is really going to have to put his money where his mouth is on August 8th, Because if B.J completely dominates Kenny Florian then hell this kid’s going to be embarrassed and humiliated. Furthermore if he beats B.J. Penn then hell, I’m an Idiot and I’ll stop writing MMA articles and personally say sorry to Kenny for being an asshole.

“It’s going to be a big surprise to everybody. When I say against who and for what weight class people will get thrilled – the hairs on the back of their neck will stand up!”

MMA Legend and big hitter Wanderlei Silva hints at a big time upcoming fight in the future. Silva was rumored to take on Michael Bisping until Wanderleis camp decided they didn’t want that fight. Silva (32-10-1 1 NC) faced Rich Franklin at a catch weight of 195-pounds in his last outing. He’s moving down from lightweight (205 lbs.) to middleweight (185 lbs.) in an attempt to prolong his career. The former PRIDE champion is currently 1-5 in his last 6 fights and will be looking to stay relevant in his next fight; likely his first for the UFC as a middleweight.

I’m completely confused on who Wanderlei’s opponent could be, Who do you think Wanderlei will face for his next bout?