M-1 Global: ZUFFA-Strikeforce deal is not affecting us in any way
Posted on March 13, 2011, 05:05 AM by Anton GurevichM-1 Global Director of Operations Evgeni Kogan declared in an interview to MMAWeekly.com that nothing will change in relationship between M-1 and Strikeforce/Showtime. Fedor Emelianenko still has two fights left on his newly signed contract with Strikeforce, while M-1 have a TV deal with Showtime for five Challenge events. Here's what Kogan had to say:
“Fedor’s contract is with Showtime Networks Inc. and we’re excited to be working with such a premium North American outlet. The purchase of Strikeforce doesn’t affect M-1 at all,” Kogan stated. “Our TV deal is with Showtime and we’re happy. It’s business as usual for M-1 Global as we close into our March 25 event.”
The March 25th event Evgeni Kogan is talking about will be headlined by M-1 Challenge Lightweight Title collision between Artiom Domkovsky and Jose Figueroa. Co-main event will feature Tyson Jeffries and Magomed Sultanakhmedov, who will battle for the vacant M-1 Challenge Middleweight Title. The event will take place at the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Virginia.
Comments
anyone find it odd if Fedor fights for an Organization the promotion goes belly up?
Duh... that's why Dana/Zuffa are smart and don't do "Co-promotions".
M-1's stranglehold on fedor is coming to an end
shit now m-1 are saying it as well, business as usual
someone should make a meme out of it
m-1's relevance it self is coming to an end.
Considering that M-1 were able to get a deal with Showtime when SF already had one, I have to wonder if they knew about this months ago. Considering how big M-1 are outside of the US I also have to wonder if they might grow into a legitimate competitor to Zuffa outside the US. It certainly seems to be their plan. Unfortunately, they do not seem to have the level of fighter on their roster (with the exception of Fedor) that the UFC have on theirs.
There will most likely never be another company that gets to the level that the UFC is right now. The last one that had that was Pride. This is just an example of how the UFC will run now, watch small promotions grow, pouch their talent, and then eventually swallow them. Repeat.
I dont think UFC can take ower all organisations. Fighters dont wana join UFC slave trade will go to Japan or Belator and still make money dosent mater wre they fighting big names always make money