No, he didn’t.

I expect him to fight Overeem and Rogers (and god knows who else), and my ultimate expectation is that he probably won’t fight super top guys. Then again, who knows? We said that before and Andrei and Big Timmy bounced out. I’ll let what actually transpires next judge him. Honestly, if we get Lesnar/Noguiera and Fedor fights Rogers, I know which fight I’m more interested in.

Lennox Lewis didn’t both with Ruiz because Ruiz is and was trash. Completely irrelevant as a fighter. Even to the Puerto Rican fanbase he was supposed to bring. Ruiz was on the same level as Alastair Overeem is in todays MMA landscape.

Is Fedor a big name to MMA fans? If he’s not, then what does it matter if Brock doesn’t fight him? I’m pretty sure it doesn’t then matter.

Like I said earlier for you guys that want half a dozen big orgs you will get what boxing got. Fractured divisions and less fan interest.

Alan, I’m pretty sure you say ludicrous things just to argue. Lennox Lewis didn’t both with Ruiz because Ruiz is and was trash. Completely irrelevant as a fighter. Even to the Puerto Rican fanbase he was supposed to bring. Ruiz was on the same level as Alastair Overeem is in todays MMA landscape.

Someone really needs to decide whether or not Fedor is actually an idiot who does whatever his handlers say he does or not. We’ve got people here saying that they’ve heard that he just does whatever he’s told and we’ve got Josh Gross saying that he’s heard that, no, in fact he’s the smiling Don behind the M-1 desk.

Which one is it?

Like I’ve said dozens of times, it’s the MMA fan logic of “You’re strong enough to mentally take the pain of training and fighting, but when you make a decision I don’t like you’re a weak puppydog who cowers to Jenna/Kim/Vadim/Monte.”

All this talk about “I heard Fedor has a small house so he must be an idiot who lets his manager control him and steal his money.” Maybe the guy just doesn’t care about material possessions. Just because you’re a millionaire doesn’t mean you have to live like Floyd Mayweather Jr. And just because you’re frugal doesn’t mean your manager is stealing your money.

If your argument is that the casual fan doesn’t know who Fedor is or care about him(which is pretty universally argued, though I think there’s a grain of mistruth there), then obviously it would have no negative repercussions on the sport of MMA if he didn’t fight Brock Lesnar. It wouldn’t be like Lewis/Bowe, more or less as it didn’t really affect boxing that Terry Norris never unified with Gianfranco Rosi or that Lennox Lewis never set his sights on John Ruiz.

Exactly. Fedor-haters can’t have it both ways. Either he never drew a dime, either he’s overrated by fighting easy fights or him not going to the UFC hurts the sport. It’s one or the other. But much like Dana White, you love or hate Fedor when it’s convenient for you.

And most of the dream fights in boxing happen. There are some the hardcore boxing fans wanted to see that didn’t happen, but all the ones that could have drawn any amount of money happen. It’s another Dana myth that guys in rival organizations don’t fight each other. What do you call all the title unification fights that happen each and every year, then?

“my argument”? Oh, lawd. Maybe you should review my actual posts?

If your argument is that the casual fan doesn’t know who Fedor is or care about him(which is pretty universally argued, though I think there’s a grain of mistruth there), then obviously it would have no negative repercussions on the sport of MMA if he didn’t fight Brock Lesnar. It wouldn’t be like Lewis/Bowe, more or less as it didn’t really affect boxing that Terry Norris never unified with Gianfranco Rosi or that Lennox Lewis never set his sights on John Ruiz.

LOL, I never even did that! You guys are hilarious.

Someone really needs to decide whether or not Fedor is actually an idiot who does whatever his handlers say he does or not. We’ve got people here saying that they’ve heard that he just does whatever he’s told and we’ve got Josh Gross saying that he’s heard that, no, in fact he’s the smiling Don behind the M-1 desk.

Which one is it?

So you must be really disappointed too then that Fedor/his management elected not to fight 2x NCAA Heavyweight Champ Brock Lesnar. And the new crop of gigantic, quick, great wresting, heavy-handed fighters in Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez.

This is where your argument and Alan’s falls apart. Having the top fighters hide from each other in non-cooperative organizations is not good for fans. It sucks. It is what killed boxing in America.

Your whole post is full of contradictions. You are also wrong about there being bad seats at UFC events. I’ve been to about 2 dozen UFC shows. I usually sit cageside or in the first couple rows going up. I snuck two buddies in to the Forrest/Shogun fight in Anaheim and we actually watched it from behind the monitor in the second to last row of the Honda center. Saw everything just fine.

And if this means Fedor can fight stateside (and maybe roll with Nick Diaz at his dojo!) AND in Japan, then everyone wins.

Coker is a pleasure to listen to, no pomp or ego, just a lifelong martial artist doing things right.
Hes got some Showtime shows and some CBS possibilities so its all good for fans.
Its of course not good if you are a UFC fan first and foremost. THen, anything that could hurt your precious is your mortal enemy and you will spout the predigested crap your are spoonfed.
Remember, this week Tito is cool and doenst suck and Tim Sylvia sucks still (that of course is subject to change if he resigns with the UFC in which case Timmy will be great again).

Im all for allowing japanese fighters to come here and guys like Jake Shields go over there for some fights. Yeah, its a bit risky with injuries and such but not any more than it is now.

Anyways, its not like I pay to watch live events anyway, none are ever in my city (besides, the prices are ridiculous while the view is usually crappy but hey… you get to BE there!).
Good cards I will pony up for PPV and the rest I will catch on CubanNET and on the internet.
So I could care less where fighters fight and even less if its another country.
If the Korean org where the two other Emelianenko brothers fight and Art of War in China do well, that will make for more MMA on satellite/internet, more options for fighters and that’s all I care.

Marketing, name familiarity are the last things I care about which is why you will never convince me that Chris Leben and Patrice Cote are worthy of being in a main event as opposed to someone whos followed their wacky, zany and prepackaged reality TV stints.

I will however at least pay attention when world champions like Xande Ribeiro, champion of Sambo Blagoj Ivanov, wrestling champion Joe Warren or some judo medalist enter the ring for the first time. Their prior accomplishments warrant such an interest. Or at least a lot more than had it been some nobody jerking himself off on other fighters.

What are the odds that Fedor vs Barnett could be worked out in Japan seeing how Fedor is on the DREAM side will Barnett is Sengoku?
Could they work together to make this happen?