So why didn't Fedor sign with the UFC back in 2009?

JDS and Cain were not even on the radar at that time.
UFC's top fighters were Brock, Carwin, Mir, Big Nog, Crocop
Fedor had already beaten Nog and Crocop. Carwin was a white Brett Rogers. And Lesnar...lol.

Strikeforce had Sylvia, Arlovski, Barnett, Overeem, Bigfoot, Verdum, Cormier, Rogers
Sylvia was the longest hw champ in UFC history. Arlovski was also an ex champ and on a winning streak. Barnett was an ex champ that many thought was the man who really would have a great chance of beating Fedor. Overeem looked unstoppable. Rogers was a black Shane Carwin. Cormier was an olympic wrestler running through his opponents.

The strikforce HW division clearly looked better at that time.

And they folded. Makes it easy to understand why the UFC is focused on building stars and not a well rounded fight league. Fedor was at the time best lb4lb, and couldn't draw enough to sustain.
 
JDS and Cain were not even on the radar at that time.
UFC's top fighters were Brock, Carwin, Mir, Big Nog, Crocop
Fedor had already beaten Nog and Crocop. Carwin was a white Brett Rogers. And Lesnar...lol.

Strikeforce had Sylvia, Arlovski, Barnett, Overeem, Bigfoot, Verdum, Cormier, Rogers
Sylvia was the longest hw champ in UFC history. Arlovski was also an ex champ and on a winning streak. Barnett was an ex champ that many thought was the man who really would have a great chance of beating Fedor. Overeem looked unstoppable. Rogers was a black Shane Carwin. Cormier was an olympic wrestler running through his opponents.

The strikforce HW division clearly looked better at that time.
JDS & Cain were top 10 & for sure, Cain was on the radar post UFC 100, DC wasnt neither. And you dismiss CC & Nog yet to defend SF you throw AA's name in there? DC being a black Carwin means what now? And Reem was spending most of his time in K1 & and had fought how many times in SF from the time he signed with SF to the 2009? I still contend their hw rosters were pretty even.
 
The best HWs were in strikeforce and they offered him a better deal. This really had to be explained to you?

Strikeforce offered more money.

Strikeforce HW division was the best at that time.

So more money + chance to fight the best guys.

The deal was obviously better with Strikeforce.
Money talks.

3 main reasons from what I heard, 1. he doesn't like being treated poorly, money doesn't seem to make up for being treated poorly to Fedor. 2. Strikeforce was co-promoting with M-1 which Fedor is a part owner of. 3. Strikeforce had the better HW division anyway.

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I don't buy "UFC don't treat fighters as people" I also don't think he was afraid of UFC fighters

It was a number of things, most importantly to Fedor, the UFC didn't want to give him any leeway with his Sambo career, and he didn't want to sign away his likeness. There were also matters of money.
 
It was a number of things, most importantly to Fedor, the UFC didn't want to give him any leeway with his Sambo career, and he didn't want to sign away his likeness. There were also matters of money.

According to Dana, they (the UFC) did cave on the Sambo demand eventually.
 
UFC demands n conditions were unrealistic.

They didn't want to co promote with m1 n put too many restrictions on fedor
 
Probably was paid even and got to fight equally or better fighters. He did go 1-3 in SF beating tire repair man Brett Rogers. Hmm....
 
The best HWs were in strikeforce and they offered him a better deal. This really had to be explained to you?

Strikeforce offered more money.

Strikeforce HW division was the best at that time.

So more money + chance to fight the best guys.

The deal was obviously better with Strikeforce.
Money talks.



why do you morons comment when you don't know what happened? ufc offered millions more, but m1 insisted on co promoting. Fedor lost millions for the chance to get subbed by werdum and beat up by bigfoot.
 
If you could comprehend what a 15% ownership stake in M-1 netted Fedor in financial compensation, you would understand his bargaining position.

He made great money without ever leaving the sofa from every M-1 card off of every M-1 fighters efforts. He has money, and had vested control in M-1. He demanded a measure of "control" as he had in M-1 in the UFC, and they wern't having that.

Sambo is much bigger in Russia than MMA. He is extremely well off and basically considered "royalty" in the motherland as a Sambo World Champion. He gained fame in Russia and acquaintance with Vladimir Putin as a result of his status as a Sambo Master, not as an MMA fighter. UFC also poo-poo's competing in combat Sambo. Screech!!!!!!!!!
 
It's weird there would be a restriction on sambo, yet many UFC fighters can participate in submission fighting outside of UFC.

They can strike in Sambo too, that's probably the difference they see.
 
Fedor was worth more then the UFC would offer at the time.

UFC promoted their brand knowing it had more longevity than a single fighter's career...both played hardball, both were right
 
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