[Reaper329]

It seems that they just signed Ricardo Arona and they are hinting at a Fedor rematch v. Arona. This is going to start to hurt Fedor's legacy IMO when he is only active against guys out of their weightclass

[KingMeso]

Ricardo Arona is one of my favorite fighters. Good to see they are getting a great list of fighters. I'm looking forward to it.

[Reaper329]

It is so pathetic. Fedor is going to announce the mystery billionaire at a press conference on Monday. It smells like Vince McMahon

[jas123]

Arona-Fedor is somewhat interesting. I'd watch it. Somehow I feel like Vince Mc wouldn't fly in Russia.

[Bionic]

Arona is a great personality/fighter. Glad he got picked up somewhere. I bet the mystery millionaire is that Russian oil tycoon that owns that soccer team and I think the world's largest yacht. Saw him on The Fabulous Life Of... I hate that show, BTW!!! LMAO!

[Rogue Drone]

The "Mystery Millionaire", actually Billionaire, who either has a stake in M-1 or will do a deal with them and his HDNetfights is Mark Cuban, the owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.

I'd bet big money that unless Couture's UFC contract was written to financially penalize him for leaving and fighting elsewhere before it's end, that M-1, with or without Cuban will do Fedor_Couture before the end of 2008.The dollar* potential for all, promoters and the two fighters, is too lucrative to pass up.

* - If Couture is fiscally shrewd, he'll want to lock in his pay in Euros, and not in the ever declining US dollar.

[ersatz]

If Fedor can pound on Nog then he shouldn't have too much problems with Arona. Especially since Arona's stand-up and chin are a lot weaker too.

[jas123]

Originally Posted by ersatz

If Fedor can pound on Nog then he shouldn't have too much problems with Arona. Especially since Arona's stand-up and chin are a lot weaker too.

Yeah but Arona's wrestling is much better than Nog's and he's way more explosive. I don't disagree with the end result, though.

[TheNinja]

Originally Posted by Rogue Drone

The "Mystery Millionaire", actually Billionaire, who either has a stake in M-1 or will do a deal with them and his HDNetfights is Mark Cuban, the owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.

I'd bet big money that unless Couture's UFC contract was written to financially penalize him for leaving and fighting elsewhere before it's end, that M-1, with or without Cuban will do Fedor_Couture before the end of 2008.The dollar* potential for all, promoters and the two fighters, is too lucrative to pass up.

* - If Couture is fiscally shrewd, he'll want to lock in his pay in Euros, and not in the ever declining US dollar.

I agree that it is Mark Cuban. The deal with Couture seems to depend on who you talk to. I've been reading that Couture's camp seems to think that in 9 months his contract with the UFC is up. Dana says that if Randy does come back, regardless or timeframe, he has fights left on his UFC contract and cannot fight anywhere else. I have to believe that Dana will not allow this or at least drag it out in court if it comes down to it.

I don't really need to see Fedor vs Arona again. What is Arona going to bring to the table that he didn't the first time or that Fedor hasn't seen before? We really need Fedor vs Barnett, Randy, Gonzaga?

[stxnas]

M-1 World Debut - Fedor vs Rizzo?

Fedor Emelianenko, the famed Russian fighter who is seriously challenging the old adage that no man is an island, still does not have a date for his first fight under M-1 Global.

But does he have an opponent?

Our buddy Brent Brookhouse is passing word from Tatame.com that Pedro “The Rock” Rizzo is in fact preparing for a bout with the former PRIDE heavyweight champion but that the negotiating is still in its infancy.

The Heavy Champion of the Art of War, Pedro Rizzo, who traveled yesterday to Netherlands to help his friend Peter Aerts in the preparation for the K-1 GP final, also has the aim of sharpening his exchanges for a possible fight against the Russian Fedor Emilianenko. “Actually, we received a proposal, but we can´t say from whom. Now it´s too early to speak”, said Jorge Guimarães (Joinha) Rizzo´s manager.

Rizzo may not have much left in terms of star power, but his knockout power and TKO victory over Jeff Monson at Art of War 3 actually puts him ahead of Monson from a competitive standpoint.

While Fedor had hoped to fight on New Year’s Eve, that date was quickly dismissed by M-1 President Monte Cox as being too restrictive.

Hopefully M-1 Global can get something on paper soon as Fedor’s star is starting to fade. No one can question what he’s accomplished in this sport but you can’t build a company of the future on memories of the past.

The clock is ticking.

[TheNinja]

That match should last about 45 seconds.

[stxnas]

I was a little disappointed when I read that as well...it doesn't appear to be set in stone though...

[TheNinja]

Originally Posted by stxnas

I was a little disappointed when I read that as well...it doesn't appear to be set in stone though...

Ya, there aren't too many good HW out there left. Barnett of course. Hunt? who he already beat. Aleks, who he won't fight of course. Sadly, I saw Pedro getting pushed around and winded fighting that big guy on "The Human Weapon". He looked terrible.

[CNorris]

Originally Posted by TheNinja

Ya, there aren't too many good HW out there left. Barnett of course. Hunt? who he already beat. Aleks, who he won't fight of course. Sadly, I saw Pedro getting pushed around and winded fighting that big guy on "The Human Weapon". He looked terrible.

I am pretty sure that was Ricco Rodriguez on the Human Weapon.

[TheNinja]

Originally Posted by CNorris

I am pretty sure that was Ricco Rodriguez on the Human Weapon.

Ahh crap, you are right. I was totally thinking of the wrong guy. I expect Pedro to put up a far better fight than Ricco could (obviously). I still think Fedor will tear through him but at least Pedro has some skills to potentially make it interesting.

[jas123]

Rizzo is a pretty piss poor first match for Fedor and a bad sign for M-1's potential as an org. GET BARNETT.

From the sounds of it, the first event will be in Chicago, and I'll be there.