Fighting Fedor

(Say something about the pants. I wish you would.)

The relationship between Affliction and the MMA organization/Fedor Emelianenko rental company known as M-1 has always been somewhat sketchy. M-1 gets to make pointless speeches at Affliction pressers with no explanation as to why, they put their ads all over the arena during Afflicton's July event, and generally seemed to have a hand in anything Fedor-related that Affliction even attempted. Now, apparently, the partnership is official:

“We're basically just solidifying our relationship,” Affliction vice president Tom Atencio told MMAWeekly.com of the Russian promotion. “We work well with them. They're one of the few companies we've worked with that if they say they're going to do something, they do it. They've stood behind us, especially with negotiations with the UFC.”

This is part of what Affliction is planning to announce at tomorrow's Trump Tower press conference in NYC. Another part is their involvement in the "Fighting Fedor" reality series. When will this show air, on what channel, and will there be anyone remotely credible in the running to fight Fedor? Hopefully that will all be answered at tomorrow's press conference, though we can tell you right now that the answer to the last question is no.

The new deal between Affliction and M-1, however, should finally put to rest any notion of Fedor fighting Randy Couture in the near future. M-1's Raimond Joost said there was no real possibility of Fedor signing a deal with the UFC, and as long as the UFC has Couture (which should be a healthy portion of his remaining shelf life as a fighter) you know they aren't about to loan him out to the competition. So basically, take whatever remaining hope you had of ever seeing that fight and bury it somewhere deep inside yourself along with your suppressed rage and childhood dreams of happiness.

(Emelianenko vs. Zuluzinho: Are you not entertained?)

For the last five years, Fedor Emelianenko has traditionally booked a fight on New Year's Eve — always in Japan, usually against someone that has no business being in the ring with him. And despite a hand injury sustained in his Affliction: Banned bout against Tim Sylvia, the WAMMA heavyweight champ plans on keeping the streak alive. "I think definitely by New Year's Eve I'll be ready to go," he recently told SI.com. And could he switch things up by fighting in the U.S. against someone competitive? Like, for example, the winner of "Day of Reckoning"'s Arlovski/Barnett scrap? Not a chance, bro:

Early speculation centered on a rematch of Emelianenko's tremendous points win in 2005 over Mirko Filipovic. However, a representative for the No. 1-ranked heavyweight said it's doubtful the fight would take place at this time. In a bout intended for Japanese fight fans, Emelianenko will likely meet a "judo legend or sumo wrestler."

My first thought is: Wow, does this suck for Affliction. They're staking their fortune to their heavyweight division, but if Fedor and his championship belt won't be available again until Spring '09, all they can offer is a few interesting (though ultimately meaningless) exhibitions. And with Emelianenko's right hand as dodgy as it is, "Spring '09" is only a rough estimate; an injury sustained on New Year's Eve could delay his return to Affliction even further. (Regarding the hand, Emelianenko said: "It just seems the hand doesn't really sustain the strength of the strike. So from time to time I'm going to have certain injuries as a result of that.")

Of course my second thought is: Still with the goddamned freaks? Beating up a 90-year-old judoka or Emmanuel Yarborough interests you more than fighting another top ten heavyweight?

And speaking of Fedor destroying cans in totally meaningless fights, Fighting Fedor — the reality show in which MMA hopefuls compete for the chance to get armbarred in less than a minute by The Last Emperor — is in production and will purportedly launch later this year. Look, I'm not calling Fedor a farce, I'm just saying that occasionally he acts in a way that could be described as farce-like.