Some official information about the separation in M-1 Global.
NEW YORK -- M-1 Global announced today a mutual agreement with Vadim Finkelstein/Finkelchtein, manager of former PRIDE champion Fedor Emelianenko, to release the heavyweight from his contractual obligations.Remember what I said in my last point of that analysis? This is exactly what is happening! :)
March 28, 2008
M-1 Global, Fedor agree to go separate ways
“There is so much going on in the world of mixed martial arts right now that we have decided it is in our best interest if our company and Fedor go our separate ways,” said M-1 Global President and CEO Monte Cox.
“During the past six months the landscape of MMA, especially in the U.S., has dramatically changed. The sport continues to gain mainstream acceptance and we believe we will be in a better position to capitalize on these new opportunities with this agreement.”
“Because Finkelchtein already uses the ‘M-1’ name in Russia and Europe, we have mutually decided to avoid any confusion between our two organizations. Shortly, M-1 Global will announce a new name for its operations and its first event.”
“Fedor is a tremendous fighter and a great person… we wish him only the best in his future endeavors,” Cox said.
“We appreciate the support that Monte and the M-1 Global team have given Fedor,” said Finkelchtein, who will continue to promote events under the 'M-1' banner throughout Europe and the top-ranked heavyweight's homeland. “We wish M-1 Global great success and hope to work with them sometime in the future.”
Monte Cox and Mitchell Maxwell are trying to convince that it was Vadim Finkelstein and Fedor Emelianenko, who left M-1 Global. If that is the case, why to change the name? Or why to take a name that so closely reminds of Finkelstein's "M-1" (without "Global" part) in a first place? No reason unless the starting position is plain wrong.
Once again I am reading between the lines, but this is what actually seems to happen (in Q&A style).
Q: So M-1 Global is dead?
A: Not exactly. The name lost one word "Global" and some people from the "American management". This "American management" wants to give the impression that they were major players and the promotion is dead without them. It doesn't seem to be true, judging from their performance and other latent signs.
Q: So Fedor Emelianenko left M-1 Global?
A: He definitely left the Monte's organization (which they still try to call M-1 Global). It doesn't mean that he left "M-1" promotion - the real successor of M-1 Global organization. Vadim Finkelstein still seems to be Fedor's manager. Maybe Fedor will fight in M-1. Maybe (and most probably), he will be at least temporarily fighting in another MMA promotion. Heck - it may even be Monte's new organization! :) Not a very realistic scenario, but nevertheless.
Therefore I don't see any reasons to scream about the death of the organization. Small changes happened, but it's still very much alive.
1 comments:
Apparently Tim Sylvia has signed with the American half of M1, which is called Adrenaline MMA now. mmajunkie reckons: "The organization and M-1 Global split ways this week, and the M-1 name will return to Emelianenko's manager and former M-1 president, Vadim Finkelchtein" Heres hoping Fedor fights Couture and Sylvia, as defeating them would push him straight back to the number 1 spot in a lot of peoples minds.
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