<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Top ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko will fight Tim Sylvia on July 19. The Russian mixed martial arts champion confirmed the bout to Sherdog.com on Tuesday. "[Sylvia] is a good fighter, a strong fighter, the former UFC heavyweight champion, which is important," Emelianenko said via telephone from Stary Oskol, Russia. "I am looking forward to fighting him and training hard for this fight." While Emelianenko was short on details, Sherdog.com has learned through sources close to the negotiations that Fedor-Sylvia would headline a card tentatively scheduled for the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, the home base of HDNet Fights. Attempts to confirm the fight with HDNet went unreturned, however sources indicate the bout will air on the Mark Cuban-owned network and is rumored to be promoted by Affliction, a clothing brand closely tied to MMA.</div>
Cool. Good for tim. Hate the guy, but he's manned up and taken the fight no one expects him to win. He's got nothing to loose and everything to gain. If he looses he's still a top ten, if he wins he is considered one of if not THE best HW's Good for fedor for taking a real fight in the absence of a legit contract. Seems like he heard all the criticism and wants to prove himself as the best heavy in the world and worthy of a HUGE contract. Celtic, how pissed are you that this will be on HDNet?!!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Flush @ Apr 8 2008, 06:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Celtic, how pissed are you that this will be on HDNet?!! </div> VERY!! I have to start calling Videotron now!!! a little update.. looks like it may go PPV first! <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>According to a published report, a heavyweight clash between former Pride Fighting Championship heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko and former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia to take place on July 19 is in the works. Greg Savage and Evengi Kogan of Sherdog.com first reported the news on Tuesday afternoon. The Sherdog report, which quotes Emelianenko as a source, goes on to indicate that the fight is tentatively scheduled to take place at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas. One of the primary promoters for the event appears to be the clothing line Affliction, while Mark Cuban’s HDNet could be involved in some capacity. MMAWeekly.com later issued a report of their own, which included a quote from Sylvia’s manager, Monte Cox. Cox would not confirm or deny the report, however, he did say Sylvia was open to the idea of a bout against Fedor but that nothing has been signed. The MMA Weekly and Sherdog reports vary slightly, as Sherdog quotes Fedor as confirming the fight while MMA Weekly quotes Sylvia’s camp as saying nothing has been signed. As of Tuesday evening, all indications made to FiveOuncesOfPain.com (www.FiveOuncesOfPain.com) were that a deal had yet to be signed but could be finalized shortly. Sources also indicate that while HDNet could be involved, the initial airing of the event would most likely take place on pay-per-view. We have also learned that a very strong undercard is being planned for the event as well.</div>
more news <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Emelianenko's manager: Sylvia fight not signed Although the two fighters appear close to an agreement, heavyweights Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) and Tim Sylvia (24-4) have not signed bout agreements for their reported July fight. Sherdog.com first reported the bout, learning of the fight directly from Emelianenko. The fight is expected to be held under the Affliction banner and will likely air on Mark Cuban's HDNet high-definition station. However, Vadim Finkelstein, Emelianenko's manager, threw up a caution flag and said the details are still being worked out. Additionally, a representative for Sylvia confirmed the pending status with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) overnight. As Finkelstein told m1mixfight.com: "At the moment we can't certainly say the bout will take place come July because the contract is not signed. However, the both parties are involved in the negotiation process and we are about to break the finishing tape although we haven't come to an agreement concerning every detail as of yet." While Finkelstein makes the bout sound promising, it's worth noting that the Russian can be a shrewd negotiator. As MMAjunkie.com previously reported, EliteXC offered Emelianenko a four-fight deal that would have paid a minimum of $300,000 to $500,000 per fight. However, EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw later confirmed that Emelianenko and his camp wanted $2 million per fight. Those tough practices have also apparently slowed a potential deal with the UFC, with whom Finkelstein and Emelianenko have on-again, off-again negotiations. Emelianenko, 32, held the PRIDE Fighting Championships' heavyweight belt for more than four years before the organization's eventual demise this past summer. Although he's defeated some of the most notable fighters in the sport, he's fought few (if any) top-tier guys in recent years. He last fought in December at the Yarennoka! New Year's Eve 2007 show, where he defeated 7-foot-2 Hong Man Choi with a first-round armbar. Sylvia would arguably be his toughest test since an August 2005 fight with Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic.</div> man if this deal falls through too... I just don't know what Fedor's motivations are.. well actually I do and it sucks because it's obviously $$$$$ above all else.
Every time I hear Vadim Finkelstein's name mentioned it is in a negative connotation. He is supposedly the puppet-master behind Fedor Emelianenko. A lot of the problems seem to stem from him.
