Electronic Arts has announced that mixed-martial arts fighters Fedor Emelianenko, Renato "Babalu" Sobral, and Gegard Mousasi will be headlining the roster for the upcoming EA Sports MMA. Of the three fighters, Fedor is -- by far -- the most popular. One of the best heavyweights in the world, Fedor dominated the competition in the Pride, Dream, and Affliction organizations. Though he has one loss on his record, it was due to a technicality and he wasn't actually defeated. Getting a fighter of this stature, presumably as the cover athlete, is a huge deal for EA Sports MMA. In today's press release, Fedor said:
"I have fought all over the world and I am excited to be in EA Sports MMA because this game is going to show the global appeal of mixed martial arts. I know MMA fans have been wanting to play as me and pitting me against any opponent. Now they will have their opportunity."
The signing also has significant ramifications in the MMA world. UFC president Dana White has spoken harshly about EA Sports MMA and has made it known that athletes in his organization should not appear in the game if they want to continue to make money with his company. White also covets Fedor and desperately wants him in UFC. It will be extremely interesting to see if White will make an exception and pursue Fedor, despite his involvement in EA Sports MMA. Although White is a very stubborn man, he also knows that he can make a ton of money with Fedor (imagine Fedor vs. Brock Lesnar!!!).
On a side note, I really enjoy watching Renato "Babalu" Sobral fight, and it's not because his nickname makes me think of I Love Lucy. Sobral is a brilliant wrestler and submission artist; I greatly prefer watching deft submissions over striking in MMA matches.
For the MMA fans in the house, are you psyched that Fedor is in the game? Do you think this will impact White's pursuit of him for UFC? Speak up, or I'll slap a guillotine on you!
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fujikoto
I'm no Dana White fan, far from it actually, but EA turned him down, saying MMA isn't a true sport. Pretty much saying, your game has no potential for money making, so they turned him down. What white's probably going to do is, same thing he did with Pride, send someone out to another organization, and have them fight there, and then come back to UFC.
NakedSnake14
9/10 says Fedor will still become a part of the UFC, at this point I think Dana knows that he needs the best fighters on his brand to take them to the next level. So at this point he will still take Fedor, and I honestly think if he loves MMA as much as he says he does, he should allow his fighters to sign with EA MMA and if he has enough faith with in the power of THQ then put up or shut up Dana and take the challenge.
Smartguy81
@deathnotejoe
whose does not equal "who is?".
Mayweather would kill these guys. Sorry but if you are one of the obsessed MMA fans who think the bell rings and boxers stand completely still and just throw jabs then you need to watch some boxing matches. Granted I've only been privy to a few UFC ppv, but these guys throw punches more than anything else. Guess what a boxer does? The last one Lesnar just pummeled the other guy. Decision Dan only threw punches. I think a boxer could eat these guys alive.
deathnotejoe
lol, whose the idiot saying boxing takes more skill. throwing nothing but punches doesnt take as much skill as learning various types of martial arts and using those techniques to beat the living crap out of someone
Smartguy81
Floyd Mayweather could beat any of these scrubs. Boxing takes more skill.
down311
Wow ! Read this, it really is M-1.
By: Carmichael Dave
CBS Radio MMA Host
Twitter.com/Carmichaeldave
So we all know the deal with M-1 and what they are saying about co-promotion. I'm not here to say who's right and wrong in this deal, but I can tell you some of the specifics that were offered to Fedor.....
- The UFC offered Fedor a 6 fight, 30 million dollar contract. That's 5 mil a fight
- The UFC offered Fedor an immediate title shot
- Lesnar/Fedor would be the biggest PPV in MMA history (we assume), and the UFC offered M-1 Global a cut of the PPV on top of Fedor's purse.
- Fedor was free to wear as many M-1 logoed items as he wished.
- The UFC also relented on allowing Fedor to compete in combat sambo.
Apparently, for good or bad, M-1 refuses to sign a deal unless the UFC agrees to co-promote.
I can tell you right now, the boys at ZUFFA will never, EVER agree to that. So if M-1 doesnt relent on that item alone, the Fedor to UFC talks are dead. Look for Team Emelianenko to turn to Strikeforce next. With co-promotions already in the books with Affliction, that shouldnt be a stopping point.
I will have more comprehensive coverage on my show tonight at 9pm PST. You can stream live at Northern California's Sports Station KHTK - Homepage and call toll free at 1-800-920-1140. Twitter updates to the minute at twitter.com/carmichaeldave
GamersVoiceOfReason
I predicted this happening a month ago when White was originally making his statements. The only way to get White to detract from his threats was for EA to sign the guy that White DESPERATELY wants to sign for a Fedor/Lesnar fight.
I think White will bite his tongue on this one and still try to sign Fedor. All White needs from him is one fight with Lesnar. The PPV buys alone would probably make it one of the successful if not the biggest fight in PPV history. It's going to take a lot of sack for White to swallow his pride on this one.
down311
Fedor and Lesnar would be awesome and I bet the odds would be hugely in favor of Fedor just because of the paper but.....If Fedor was slated against Captain America Coture, I think alot of people would pick Randy because even Fedor knows that Randy can pull off a Natural performance against the highest odds.
Just get Fedor in the UFC so we can find out.
And for the guy that thinks Brock used any enhancers, you are completely wrong. I went to the U of M, I've seen him wrestle and Brock has even dated a great friend of mine that I grew up with, he's been to my house during his senior year, the dude is just that big. He held me up for a Keg Stand and I still remember I went for 36 seconds. I am speaking the truth, he's just a freak of Nature. Speaking of freaks of nature, Shane Carwin's hands are even 2X sizes bigger than Brocks.
Chupacabras_X
I don't think Fedor is coming to the UFC.......the UFC will do just fine without him...they alredy have.
optimum5
down311's got it right. Dana White WANTS Fedor in the UFC, but that co-promoting thing that M1 wants is one of the biggest hurdles. Sure Dana wants Fedor to be exclusive or whatever (no Sambo for you), but he can probably let that slide just to get the deal. Fedor has already said that he is very interested in fighting Lesnar, but he allows M1 to control all the paper work.
Fedor does need to get in the UFC immediately, as he isn't getting younger and has pretty much hit a plateau. He will eventually lose a fight, and it's more likely to happen sooner than later, as many fighters out there have been studying Fedor for many years now (Arlovski was winning that fight, until that one stupid mistake).
busdr1ver
Fedor is the #1 ranked heavyweight by all major fight magazines. Until Lesnar beats him, he will stay #2. The deal seems unlikely because Dana wants an exclusive contract. Why not sign him to a one fight deal. His right hand is what made his competition washed up.
busdr1ver
Fedor is not afraid of competition. Pound for pound the best. His right hand is what washed up Silvia and Arlovski. He has a fight plan and is the best at executing that plan. I'm not sure he could beat Lesnar. Lesnar is the result of HGH and years of anabolic steroid use. Even if he doesn't use them anymore. Shane Carwin will shut him down.
troublebruin
I like to see deft submissions too. However, I don't like to see dishonorable jerks like Babalu and BJ hit a submission on someone, then hold that submission long after the opponent taps. It's a lack of sportsmanship like that which the sport of MMA doesn't need. These people are supposed to be martial artists and warriors as well as athletes.
thechamp1985
I don't understand why Fedor would do something that would hinder his debut in the UFC. The best fighters are in the UFC. I think he's scared of competition.
down311
As for Babalu, he can be fun to watch but he's been washed up for 5 years. Chuck liddel handed him his walking papers in a pretty harsh way.
down311
Ok , I have been a fan of MMA since UFC began and here's how it really works.
M-1 is the reason Fedor is not in the UFC. The own of M-1, Finkelchtein is a POS riding on Fedor's coat tails and needs Fedor to stay relative and use him as a pawn to draw UFC into a partnership. Fedors own brother said this. "And all this talk about the restrictive conditions when signing the contract with the UFC comes only from Finkelstein, who wants to promote his own business through any Fedor-UFC contract" ... "You can negotiate with the UFC. I know that their contracts are sufficiently flexible."
Dana white would love Fedor to be in UFC but he DOESN'T NEED Fedor. Fedor and M-1 need UFC.
AS for Fedor being the best and who he's beaten. Mark Coleman was washed up 10 years ago as well as Randleman.
Fedor beat Nogueira a long time ago but guess what ? Frank Mir is the only man alive to knock Nog out, gues who creamated Mir ?
Tim Silvia was just in the UFC at the right time when he was champ, then Randy Coture said this quote " The heavyweight division is complete Sh*# right now so I wan't to make a run at it " and he absolutely destroyed Tim Silvia. Tim Silvia got knocked out faster by Ray Mercer a month ago than he did by Fedor. ( 46 years old ).
Andre Arlovski use to be an amazing fighter ... when he used his brain, then he decided he wanted to get into boxing, couldn't cut it and decided to be a stand up boxer in MMA, ever since he's been wreckless and getting his a$$ kicked. He was paid $1.5 million just to show up to the fight.Arlovski use to get people into the corner and work a ground'n'pound while looking for the submission, he hasn't faught with his brain in years.
Fedor might be the best on paper but right now the UFC has 2 HUGE legit heavyweights that he really needs to fight in order to solidify his dominance. Brock Lesnar is one and the other is Shane Carwin, they are both freaks of nature.
Dana White might be strict but he's taken the sport out of the gutter and has an amazing structure that keeps the athletes in check.
If Fedor doesn't come to UFC he will never be legit outside of 30 or 40,000 people because Brock is the real deal to millions right now and ourtside of the hardcore, no body know's who Fedor is.
I wan't to see this fight but don't blame it on Dana, it's all M-1.
DestructionOverdrive
Fedor will eventually lose. He is just a man. Fedor vs Lesner would be HUGE. As for UFC Game VS MMA Game, I am just going to stick with UFC. MMA will probably be better than undisputed but once the next UFC comes out it will be better than MMA. And so on.
N8R
Yeah, Fedor v Lesner would be sick.
implodinggoat
Fedor is an unstoppable Russian killing machine, likely the result of some Soviet era genetics experiment. The UFC is smart to keep him out since he would utterly destroy anyone the UFC could throw at him.
busdr1ver
Fedor is the greatest heavyweight of all time. He is 30-1 and has defeated 5 UFC heavyweight champions( Mark Coleman, Nogueira, Kevin Randleman, Tim Sylvia, and Andre Arlovski). I would love to see Fedor in the UFC. Dana says if Fedor signs an exclusive deal, he will face Lesnar in his first fight. Randy Couture left the UFC partly because they couldn't set up a fight with Fedor. It will be interesting to see what happens.
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