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Fedor Emelianenko, Josh Barnett, Alistair Overeem and the Non-UFC Heavyweight Mess

Basically, we just want to know what the hell is going on right now with these heavyweights.

Basically, we just want to know what the hell is going on right now with these heavyweights.

As most people have heard by now, Josh Barnett is the major heavyweight that DREAM is going to be booking for their late March show, but is still without an opponent. Tim Sylvia has turned down a fight with Josh Barnett and will instead fight Wes Sims in Canada because Ohio refuses to license the fight, and on top of that, he is apparently fighting Mariusz Pudzianowski in Massachusetts. Sylvia's road to recovery is apparently taking easy fights in hopes of being signed to UFC again. Antonio Silva was also called upon, but apparently has plans for Strikeforce in April against either Andrei Arlovski or Brett Rogers. So this is telling us the following; Sylvia is still a goof, Silva vs. either Andrei or Rogers is in discussion and Josh Barnett is potentially putting his career in the US on the line to fight in DREAM by crossing the CSAC who have refused him a license. 

Then there is Fedor Emelianenko. According to some message board poster, Fedor is currently training for an upcoming fight, claimed to be in the US. It is not hard to believe that Fedor is training for an upcoming fight, but it is a tough sell that it is for a fight in the United States just yet. There is a chance that his camp believes things with Strikeforce, but according to sources within M-1, things look rather grim. According to M-1 Global, Strikeforce has not honored the contract that they signed with M-1 and the only way Fedor will fight in a Strikeforce cage again is if they sign a new contract. M-1 is looking for a partner and to have Strikeforce cards featuring Fedor to be fully co-promoted cards. 

To put it bluntly, M-1 Global is looking at other potential partners right now if Strikeforce doesn't shape up. Generally speaking, that does not mean there is a healthy relationship with Strikeforce and that the chances of seeing Fedor fighting outside of Strikeforce have gone up. Now, is this just them trying to scare Strikeforce into conceding to their demands or are they seriously shopping Fedor and M-1 Global around is the question. 

So where does the horse meat-eating Alistair Overeem fit into this equation? K-1 has listed him as a possible participant in the K-1 World Grand Prix in Yokohama, and this lines up with our previous reports of Alistair having one last K-1 bout in March or April. I've recently spoken to one of the most outspoken men in combat sports, Bas Boon, the manager of Golden Glory fighters like Alistair Overeem and Sem Schilt. Bas and his relationship with M-1 Global is no secret, they do not agree with each other, but both Boon and Finklestein have gone on record with HKL saying that they would do business with each other in regards to booking Overeem vs. Fedor. When prompted as to who GG has been in talks with for Overeem to fight and if it will be in K-1 or DREAM, he offered a very uncharacteristic response that he could not comment, as they were still negotiating. Bas Boon does not "no comment." That could mean a lot of thing, so take it as you will.

SBN coverage of DREAM.13

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Wouldn't call Pudz an easy opponent.

A dumb opponent is more fitting.

Sylvia has exactly nothing to gain from beating a 1-0 strongman and everything to lose, much like the Mercer fight. Pudz is aggressive and if Tim isn’t really in the fight he could get demolished. The Sims fight is a confidence booster I would guess to get Tim’s legs under him again, but still means very little if he wins. Point is the management of Tim’s career is what’s laughable, not Tim himself.

Without pain, without sacrifice, we would have nothing.

by lowellthehammer on Feb 28, 2010 4:46 PM EST reply actions  

"M-1 Global is in talks with other potential partners right now"

This statement is quite laughable in my opinion. As if there are other large promotions that would accept the same demands as Strikeforce. UFC won’t co-promote, I doubt Bellator sees much value in Fedor right now, they prefer to focus on young talent and don’t even have a heavyweight division. Only Dream is a possibility, but if M-1 saw opportunites there, I’m sure you’d think they’d have done something before now.

by Daeron on Feb 28, 2010 5:58 PM EST reply actions  

Like I mentioned..

I think it is just to scare Coker and Co. at this point. FEG is the only option right now and I’m sure everybody involved knows it. The thing is, FEG would have no problem with this co-promotion thing as it could mean fresh, cheaper faces in their ring and possible easy wins for their big names.

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by Dave Walsh on Feb 28, 2010 6:42 PM EST up reply actions  

Tanigawa confirmed Overeem for the Yokohama K-1 card.

He was directly asked, “Will Overeem fight at DREAM.13, or K-1 Yokohama?” And Tanigawa said, “Not at DREAM.13, definitely at K-1 Yokohama.”

So consider that mystery solved.

by AnonymousA on Feb 28, 2010 6:50 PM EST reply actions  

I thought it was Ohio that wouldn’t sanction the fight between Tim and Wes not Iowa.

Just BE.

by mattman73 on Feb 28, 2010 10:40 PM EST reply actions  

I’d really like to see Barnett/Allistar v. Fedor in either Japan or America.

But i guess he Fedor is arguing with his management but is still training for a fight, I hope he splits like Gegard and gets away from the assholes.

by OptimusPiss on Mar 1, 2010 12:57 AM EST reply actions  

Fedor Emelianenko

i hope, that Fedor is negotiating also with the UFC – maybe there is still the time to organize the fight against Brock Lesnar – as this would be the most expected fight in the actuall MMA world…

All fights of Fedor Emelianenko and much more…

by Radovan on Mar 1, 2010 4:59 AM EST reply actions  

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