M-1 Global ask for strict Drug Testing Policy in Strikeforce Heavyweight GP; Fedor says he's "fully concentrated" on Silva
Posted on January 19, 2011, 06:32 AM by Anton GurevichM-1 Global held a press conference in Moscow, Russia, ahead of M-1 Challenge 23 events and Fedor Emelianenko's February 12th bout against Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva at the first stage of Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament. M-1 CEO Vadim Finkelstein, Fedor Emelianenko, as well as M-1 Welterweight Champion Shamil Zavurov and M-1 Eastern Europe Heavyweight Champion Maxim Grishin all took part at the press conference.
M-1 Challenge XXIII will take place on March 5th at the Crocus City Arena in Moscow, Russia. The event will be headlined by the M-1 Challenge Heavyweight Title fight between Guram Gugenishvili (12-0) and Maxim Grishin (7-4). As always, the event will be aired via a LIVE STREAM on LowKick.com.
Photos: Esther Lin, MixFight.ru
Here's some of the most interesting quotes from Fedor Emelianenko and Vadim Finkelstein
Vadim Finkelstein
Drug Testing at Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament
Two out of eight fighters in the tournament previously failed a drug test. Obviously, I'm talking about Josh Barnett and Antonio Silva. We want fair competition for everyone, so that's why I will ask the commission to perform a strict drug testing. Fedor is not using any kind of substance to enhance his performance, and will be ready for any kind of testing. So if the commission decides to follow our suggestion, we'll be ready.
Our organization paid a heavy price after the cancellation of the fight between Josh Barnett and Fedor. We did a lot of promotion for this fight, which in the end did not take place. That's why as a promoter and manager, I don't want this to happen ever again.
Note: Vadim Finkelstein was asked about Olympic Drug Testing, but never used the term in his answer. In an interview to Sports.ru, Finkelstein says the main goal is to ensure a fair competition for Fedor, and not to push for some sort of specific testing.
Contract Negotiations with Strikeforce and Showtime
Ken Hershman and Showtime did a great job in bringing this tournament together. Our previous deal was only with Strikeforce, but now it's a triple deal between us, Strikeforce and Showtime. We had another deal coming up with Showtime, which is related to our M-1 Challenge shows in the US. We will be looking to promote 4 or 5 M-1 Challenge events on Showtime. The deal is not finalized yet, so it's still unofficial. However, I think that in something like two weeks we'll be ready to make an announcement.
Fedor's Renewed Contract
We have a new contract, which now includes M-1, Strikeforce and Showtime. The contract is for three fights and another as an option. So as for today, the Grand-Prix deal makes the most sense for us. In an interview to Sports.ru Finkelstein adds the following: Fedor has an exit clause in his contract if he gets into a losing streak.
Fedor Emelianenko
Training for Bigfoot Silva
There's nothing new about my training. I really enjoyed my camp up in the mountains, in Kislovodsk. My sparring partners were Maxim Grishin and Kiril Sidelnikov, our young guys. We trained really hard, and I hope we'll see the results in my fight.
Fedor's coach Vladimir Voronin: It was a great training camp, especially in Kislovodsk. Fedor successfully injured everyone. Broke somone's ribs (Later in the press conference, Maxim Grishin thanked Fedor for broken ribs), busted someone's face, so the work was good. In terms of technique, our base is the Universal martial art Sambo. There's many techniques and still much to learn, so it's all an ongoing learning process.
On who he considers the biggest challenge in the Tournament
I don't think it's smart to talk about who's the biggest challenge in this tournament. Right now, my biggest challenge is Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva, because he's my next opponent. I'm training hard for this fight and fully concentrated on my goal. If I beat Silva, I'll study my next opponent, but if I fail – any talk about who's the biggest challenge will be simply irrelevant.
Fighting inside the Ring or Cage
There's no difference for me between fighting in ring or a cage. I just think that fighting inside the ring looks better from esthetical point of view. I don't know about other people, but that's my opinion.
MMA as an Olympic sport
To tell you the truth, I don't think MMA should be an Olympic sport. In my opinion, it could be an Olympic sport only on the amateur level. In MMA you have Olympic Champions in Wrestling, Judo and many other sports, that's why I don't think that making MMA in the Olympics is necessary to push the sport forward. I'm not interested participating in the Olympics. I think that I'm already past this stage of my career.
Comments
I can see why M-1 would hold a grudge against Barnett. If it was possible for Fedor to have emotion, he probably wouldn't like Barnett.
I'm pretty sure Fedor and Barnett are close friends.
Makes sense...Barnett has tested positive more than once and Big foot tested positive once also and they have already stated that they think Overeem is taking banned substances also so doing a strict drug testing seems fair
Sry M1 you may get strict drug testing for Fedors event, but the whole tournament wont be tested the same, as the fights will be in diff States, and Im sure Coker would be happy for just a simple piss test for barnett.
excellent!
I think its a good idea Coker has a habit of letting fighters do what they
want as long as every fighter was treated the same and they had time for there bodies to overcome
no doubt Fedor is the greatest fighter to ever live.
so humble , but at the same time so focus.
Overeem vs Fedor is going to happen people
and its going to be Epic!!!!!
Fedor isch eifach de best kämpfer wos git....
"Fedor has an exit clause in his contract, if he gets into a losing streak."
man, Strikeforce is so whipped by M-1
What is wrong in not wanting to do a Liddell or a Shamrock? What is worng in wanting to compete as long as you feel you are up to it? Seems sensible to me.
it just seems awful childish to me. The best lessons a fighter can learn is from losing and it seems to me like M1's trying to protect Fedor's allure. it's already been proven that he's human so why not just let him fight on now for himself and not for the expectation, win or lose?
Because greed is a mother ****er...
i dont get the weaks there, agree with you on that one
I could be wrong but I think that clause benefits SF more than M-1. If Fedor is on a losing streak I would imagine they would like to not have to pay him and that clause would seem to make cutting him all that more easy. That said, I am just guessing here and I also do not think Fedor will see and big losing streaks.
I think fans will always want to see Fedor fight, he's already cemented a legacy that will never be broken.
But this is all hypothetical of course. And I agree that it will not come to this as I have Fedor down to win the tournament anyway.
Fedor, as always, is pure class, a real martial artist in the way he fights, speaks and carries himself. I really cant stand for M-1, I cringe whenever i ear Vadim Finkelstein speak, even the mention of his name kind of upsets me, but Fedor really makes me remember why I like this sport and have embraced the martial artist ways!
The way Fedor carries himself is a good example for young fighters if indeed the translations of what he says are true. I have my doubts doe Ed Soares has no problem mistranslating A.Silva comments. Wouldn't surprise if M1 were the same.
Drug testing is good
smart move by fedor, i just hope this doesnt get reduced to a 4 man tournament
SF isn't playing around with the drug testing.
Vadim Finkelstein = Ed Soares
Fedor is pure class...
Everybody that
Sharp
if they do strict drug testing, they could cancel the whole trounament by now.
M1 is not playing around taking drugs is big problem in all sort of sports.Put Overeem on Roids can win the whole turnament in one day without gassing out
I like the article, and agree with M-1 for having concerns about the drugs testing, but why isn't anyone commenting on the good part of this ..... Fedor has successfully injured everyone, broken some guy's ribs, busted some guy's face - that's what has me excited
To see Fedor beat some fools down again, and prove he is the best!!
I LOVE YOU FEDOR!!!!!
The all time of a great fighter and I hope hes makes it through the tourmanent to be a champ again.imo
After losing to Werdum the jury is out on Fedor. I personally regard him stil as the #1 HW, but it remains to be seen if he is in decline of if the old Fedor magic is still there. I really hope to see Fedor - Overeem as Overeems improved stand up and massive strength gain will pose problems and be a very tough test for any HW, fedor included. that's assuming they both win their matches of course and nothing is certain.
Whether Fedor wins this tourny or not, he is the greatest HW champ to have existed in my lifetime and all the new breed have a long long way to go before they can be compared in terms of achievement.
If Fedors jock strap was on Ebay. the higest bidder would be from this sight.