Former Pride heavyweight champion and the man that many consider the greatest fighter of all time has had his name brought up by UFC president Dana White quite a few times in a derogatory manner. Fedor has always been reserved and never said much in return. White has said that Fedor threw away a chance to fight Brock Lesnar among other things and has given the impression that the former WAMMA champion wasn’t interested or was afraid to test himself against the best fighters in the world. This narrative has gone unquestioned until Fedor arrived for the Bellator Fan Fest and spoke to SB Nation and MMAFighting.com. Fedor finally opened up about Dana, What he has said, and what took place on that island when he met about coming to the UFC.
“I got the invite [to fight Lesnar] only after I was retired…Everything has its time and place, and it wasn’t the right time for it. This is how God willed it, so it happened. I also believe it could have happened earlier had the UFC — primarily Dana — reached out and actually started a proper dialogue where both parties met halfway. Not just, ‘these are my rules, either take it or leave it…In all actuality, we did have a couple of conversations here and there, and a lot of what Dana White had said came through as inadequate,…Meaning, during the dialogue that happened over the phone one thing would be said but when the paperwork was sent over it would be something completely different…We did meet on the island…It was very short. It was unclear why he came.
Of course, over the conversation one thing was promised, but when the paperwork was received it was something else. There was a very extensive dialogue between me and Dana, as well as Dana’s lawyers, but it didn’t go anywhere. In other words, Dana basically said, sooner or later you’re going to end up fighting here anyway. You’re still going to say yes to this contract I’m giving you…Throughout my entire career, I’ve heard and read on the Internet a lot of negativity coming from Dana…Someone who says a lot of negative things about you and then turns around and invites you to join him, how do you react to that? And it’s not even about money. It’s all about mutual respect, meeting each other halfway. Not just one saying one thing to the other.â€
So who’s lying? Dana White or Fedor Emelianenko?
“I got the invite [to fight Lesnar] only after I was retired…Everything has its time and place, and it wasn’t the right time for it. This is how God willed it, so it happened. I also believe it could have happened earlier had the UFC — primarily Dana — reached out and actually started a proper dialogue where both parties met halfway. Not just, ‘these are my rules, either take it or leave it…In all actuality, we did have a couple of conversations here and there, and a lot of what Dana White had said came through as inadequate,…Meaning, during the dialogue that happened over the phone one thing would be said but when the paperwork was sent over it would be something completely different…We did meet on the island…It was very short. It was unclear why he came.
Of course, over the conversation one thing was promised, but when the paperwork was received it was something else. There was a very extensive dialogue between me and Dana, as well as Dana’s lawyers, but it didn’t go anywhere. In other words, Dana basically said, sooner or later you’re going to end up fighting here anyway. You’re still going to say yes to this contract I’m giving you…Throughout my entire career, I’ve heard and read on the Internet a lot of negativity coming from Dana…Someone who says a lot of negative things about you and then turns around and invites you to join him, how do you react to that? And it’s not even about money. It’s all about mutual respect, meeting each other halfway. Not just one saying one thing to the other.â€
So who’s lying? Dana White or Fedor Emelianenko?
