This article contains no opinions (aside from those myths), only facts with proof and information on where and how you can check these things to be true.
The author is a big fan of UFC, Pride, and everything in between, from Kimbo to Rickson Gracie to Randy Couture and everyone else with the heart and guts to step into the cage or ring. There is no bias in this article!
Myth No. 1
Fedor doesn't (want to) fight top competition.
Fact
The top competition doesn't (want to) fight Fedor.
Proof
Josh Barnett is on video turning down the Fedor fight. You can view it on YouTube. Real Deal press conference (after the fights) Josh says he is beat up and tired to fight Fedor next, yet he does fight Nog (No. 2 in the world) instead...So, I guess he wasn't THAT tired.
Randy Couture tells us in his own press conference (YouTube) that he was offered $3 million to fight Fedor in Bodog, but chose instead to take $300k (10 times less money) to re-sign with UFC to fight Tim Sylvia.
Werdum stated on the front page of Pride website: "I'm not ready for the likes of Fedor."
Mirko Cro Cop stated, on his own website after the 2006 GP: "I will not take the Fedor fight now, due to my foot injury." (Notice that Cro Cop had no problem fighting lesser opponents WITH his foot injury, nor did Cro Cop have a problem fighting Fedor when Fedor's hand was broken...)
Need more proof? Listen to the wise words of Wanderlei Silva: "NOBODY wants to fight Fedor."
Myth No. 2
Fedor is afraid of the UFC.
Fact
UFC is afraid of Fedor.
Proof
UFC president Dana White went on the record to confirm that Fedor's management offered the UFC to have Fedor fight there on several occasions. Dana turned it down, according to himself. If we use our heads a little bit here, we can clearly see that Dana White is not going to let his best fighter get beat up, and then let Fedor just leave the UFC...That would be a marketing disaster.
The ONLY way UFC will sign Fedor is if they can have him for at least 4 fights. And if he wins them all, he MUST re-sign again, and again, and again... He can NEVER leave undefeated unless he retires (Official clause in the UFC proposed agreement, which Fedor rejected) Also, if Fedor loses one fight UFC has the right to tear up the contract! (UFC standard offer is two lost fights, not one). This is unacceptable.
Think of it this way: if UFC is NOT afraid of Fedor, than why not let him fight Randy on a 1-time deal which Fedor has been asking for for years? (Notice! This would be in a cage, under UFC rules)
(Hint: because Dana White (UFC president) knows Fedor will most likely win and leave, ruining UFC's image)
Myth No. 3
Fedor is afraid of the UFC's rules.
Fact
Fedor fought under UFC rules and won.
Proof
Fedor has already fought under UFC rules in USA (vs. Tim Sylvia). He did just fine.
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