Alistair Overeem Says Bout with Fedor Emelianenko Has to be Next

Next weekend Fedor Emelianenko will gun for his second Strikeforce win against Fabricio Werdum, and when you have a dude whose last loss occurred when people still used the term ‘Y2K’, it’s pretty understandable why almost everyone is expecting Fedor to win. This despite the fact, that, sorry “Last Emperor” die-hards, the Russian has looked beatable […]

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Next weekend Fedor Emelianenko will gun for his second Strikeforce win against Fabricio Werdum, and when you have a dude whose last loss occurred when people still used the term ‘Y2K’, it’s pretty understandable why almost everyone is expecting Fedor to win. This despite the fact, that, sorry “Last Emperor” die-hards, the Russian has looked beatable in his last couple of outings against Brett Rogers and Andrei Arlovski.

Of course, if Fedor does win next Saturday, then one would think (and pray) that Strikeforce will make the logical and fiscally promising choice, and roll with Emelianenko vs. heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem. Especially in light of the fact that finally, newbie fans who don’t follow MMA abroad, actually got to see who this so-called Overeem was when he beat down Rogers last month in St. Louis (it was the Dutch fighter’s first fight in North America since 2007). Overeem recently spoke with MMA Bay, and had this to say about who Fedor should fight next, provided he takes out Werdum.

“My number one priority is to defend my belt at Strikeforce and keep fighting as much as I can. For me the fight with Fedor makes the most sense. If Strikeforce has the number one fighter in the world then it’s crazy that its belt holder (me) is not fighting him. I know the fans want it so therefore I want it. I would love to fight the man that’s considered by most people the best in the world.”

We agree Alistair. Not putting together Overeem vs. Emelianenko- that’s effin crazy talk. To bet on the June 26th Strikeforce head here.

Evgeni Kogan: M-1 Management Is Not Ducking Overeem

Filed under: Strikeforce, FanHouse Exclusive, M-1 GlobalM-1 Global Director of Operations Evgeni Kogan says “more likely than not,” Fedor Emelianenko’s third fight under his Strikeforce contract will be on pay-per-view and that M-1 Global is willing to…

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M-1 Global Director of Operations Evgeni Kogan says “more likely than not,” Fedor Emelianenko‘s third fight under his Strikeforce contract will be on pay-per-view and that M-1 Global is willing to accept any opponent — including Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.

In this interview below, Kogan recently spoke with MMAFighting.com about what’s in store for the future of Fedor and M-1 Global’s relationship with Strikeforce.

M-1 Global Exec Denies His Group is Avoiding an Inevitable Fedor-Overeem Match-Up

(Fedor, didn’t I lay out the black tie for you?)
Ray Hui from MMAFighting spoke with M-1 Global director of operations, Evgeni Kogan and asked him why the heavily anticipated Fedor Emelianenko-Alistair Overeem Strikeforce bout has yet to materiali…


(Fedor, didn’t I lay out the black tie for you?)

Ray Hui from MMAFighting spoke with M-1 Global director of operations, Evgeni Kogan and asked him why the heavily anticipated Fedor Emelianenko-Alistair Overeem Strikeforce bout has yet to materialize.

According to Kogan, contrary to popular belief, his company has very little to do with picking opponents for their client and he says that they would take a fight with Overeem if it were offered to them.

"The matchmaking for this is more coming out of Strikeforce than from our side. We are open to fighting basically whoever is put in front of us," Kogan explained. "There has never been a point where [a fight with Overeemt] was offered and turned down. M-1 management is not ducking Overeem, and once again, if that fight is presented to us, then that’s what that fight will be."

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M-1 Global: Political Seat Will Not Hurt Fedor Emelianenko’s Fight Career

Filed under: FanHouse Exclusive, M-1 Global, NewsEven if Fedor Emelianenko ends up winning a seat in the Russian Parliament, his country’s politics will not take away from the top heavyweight’s fight career, says M-1 Global Director of Operations Evgen…

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Even if Fedor Emelianenko ends up winning a seat in the Russian Parliament, his country’s politics will not take away from the top heavyweight’s fight career, says M-1 Global Director of Operations Evgeni Kogan.

“I don’t think it would be particularly strenuous,” Kogan tells MMAFighting.com. “We’re talking about a particular region in Russia that he’s in. We’re not talking about federal politics as far as Russia is concerned … It’s not necessarily a strenuous task for him to deal with that and fight at the same time.”