Fedor Explains Why He Didn't Sign With UFC

Dakstang · 12-28-2007, 03:27 AM

This comes from sherdog.com

â€œI never met Dana White, never spoke to him on the phone, never exchanged e-mails. However, I did read a lot on the Internet about what he said in regard to me and Vadim. I also read e-mails that he sent to Vadim; all of his correspondence was very upsetting. The contract that we were presented with by the UFC was simply impossible, couldn't be signed -- I couldn't leave. If I won, I had to fight eight times in two years. If I lost one fight, then the UFC had the right to rip up the contract. At the conclusion of the contract, if I am undefeated, then it automatically extends for an as yet unspecified period of time, though for the same compensation,â€ said the Pride champion to Sherdog.com.

The Sherdog article further revealed Fedorâ€™s rationalization of the contractual terms offered by the UFC: "Basically I can't leave undefeated. I can't give interviews, appear in films or advertising. I don't have the right to do anything without the UFC's agreement. I could do nothing without the OK from the UFC. I didn't have the right to compete in combat sambo competition. It's my national sport. It's the Russian sport, which in his time our president competed in, and I no longer have the right to do so. There were many such clauses; the contract was 18 pages in length. It was written in such a way that I had absolutely no rights while the UFC could at any moment, if something didn't suit them, tear up the agreement. We worked with lawyers who told us that it was patently impossible to sign such a document."
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I wouldn't doubt this at all. The UFC has been known to have some ridiculous demands. They lost a great opportunity with this, and in the process lost their Heavy Weight Champion. UFC really dropped the ball on this one.

Zar · 12-28-2007, 10:29 AM

But contracts are made to be negotiated. Fedor's manager simply replied with demands that Fedor fight in Sambo, and also in Russian MMA shows. He also wanted control over Fedor's opponents, as well as guarenteed fights for other Red Devil fighters on each card Fedor was on, he also wated to be the contact person for any of the UFC's Russian cards.

I think the problem was that instead of hitting Dana with a counter offer based on Fedor's needs, he hit him with an offer based on his own wants.

Necro · 12-30-2007, 03:18 PM

That contract sounds insanely retarded...

Fedor Explains Why He Didn't Sign With UFC

This is a discussion on Fedor Explains Why He Didn't Sign With UFC within the MMA - Mixed Martial Arts forums, part of the Sports Forums category; This comes from sherdog.com â€œI never met Dana White, never spoke to him on the phone, never exchanged e-mails. However, ...