Predictions and analysis about M-1 Global

In this post I will try to give you some preliminary information about new MMA organization M-1 Global.

So here is what I know. By saying "I know" I mean the information I got directly from M-1 camp or from other very reliable sources.

• Fedor Emelianenko is signed to fight in a new organization.
  
• Unlike many journalists have said, Vadim Finkelstein's Russian M-1 is not bought. It is more like a joint venture, and strategic alliance combined with a lot of investments. Therefore we should carefully distinguish "M-1" (over 10 years old Russian Mixed Martial Arts organization) from "M-1 Global" (new global MMA organization, where Russian M-1 is participating).
  
• Fedor will not be the only Russian fighter to fight in it.
  
• As of Saturday, October 20th, Mark Cuban hasn't been part of a new organization. That may change (or has already changed during these two days), because he has his HDNet TV channel and has expressed interest in working with a new organization. I won't be surprised to see the alliance, in which Mark Cuban's channel will get a rights to show content/shows produced by M-1.
  
• I also knew about the involvement of a Sibling Entertainment Group, but these bastards decided to release a statement revealing a lot of information, so I can't call this information exclusive. :)
  
• Monte Cox, a new CEO of M-1 Global is a very respected and influencial MMA manager/promoter. With his connections, M-1 Global can draw a lot of excellent fighters on its side.

There are also a lot of pretty interesting information, which nevertheless shouldn't be treated like a 95% sure like the information listed above. You can decide to trust it or not to, but you should definitely take it into account (so there are no "crazy Internet rumours").

• Japanise organizational partner of M-1 Global will include a significant amount of old PrideFC people.
  
• Randy Couture's withdrawal from the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) has a lot to do with the M-1 Global. Let's see, what they will tell us today on "M-1 Global" press-conference... If not today, then on Randy Couture's own press-conference, which will be held this Thursday. I personally am quite sure that Fedor Emelianenko vs. Randy Couture fight will happen (next year).
  
• Fedor Emelianenko and Josh Barnett have been together attending HCF event in Canada. There is a good chance that they will be fighting in a near future.
  
• The new organization is supposed to be very big. Big enough to fully compete with UFC and wealthy enough to buy some fighters out of their UFC contracts...
  
• I still have a gut feeling (so it's not based on a real information source) that AEG (producer of such HBO Boxing matches as Lewis vs. Klitschko and Mosley vs. De La Hoya, owner of different huge venues and clubs like Los Angeles Kings) still has something to do with M-1 Global...

A small scale analysis
So the M-1 Global organization can really be a huge thing for Mixed Martial Arts industry. By cooperating and concentrating on partners' strongest sides (meaning that events in Russia will be organized by Russian M-1, in Japan by Japanise organization, promotion is made by promotion partners, etc), it can archieve a lot. And as far as I understand, working together with other companies/organizations/people is the essential business strategy for a new M-1 Global organization. Marc Ecko involvement is in the same group - he probably is just a partner, who took part into clothing and PR side of a business.

You can also read an excellent analysis from the mma-analyst.com about Sibling Entertainment Group.

Lets wait for a few hours before getting real information from the official press-conference and see how right or wrong I was. What are your predictions? Please, share them in comments!