Rumors: ProElite signs Fedor Emelianenko?

Very interesting rumors are reported by Nokaut.com.

A reliable source has confirmed ProElite, Inc. has offered Russian heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) a four-fight, 18-month contract.

A request for confirmation or comment from Jeremy Lappen, ProElite Head of Fight Operations, has been ignored.

The contract calls for Emelianenko's first two fights in the promotion to broadcast on American television network CBS as a part of the recently inked deal between ProElite and the TV giant.

The final two fights would air on pay-per-view and share proceeds with Emelianenko.

Emelianenko is currently partnered with M-1 Global, an MMA promotion formed solely to stage his fights.

However, ESPN: The Magazine reported on 6 March that Emelianenko and M-1 Global would "divorce". Sherdog.com followed-up on 18 March reporting that Emelianenko was in fact never under contract to M-1 Global.

M-1 Global Vice President Brian Patton denies Sherdog's report.

"I have seen the contract and watched it being signed by all parties," Patton confirmed on 19 March.

ProElite's offer supports Patton's claim, requiring Emelianenko to be announced in ProElite fights as "M-1 Global's Fedor Emelianenko".

Emelianenko is reportedly also being courted by the UFC. It's likely other MMA promotions have shown interest as well.

There's no indication whether or not Emelianenko will accept ProElite's offer.

A lot of rumors are flying around, as we can all see. I don't know anything about the credibility of the source, but business-wisely this is exactly how Fedor Emelianenko's image should be used to promote in the USA: first to market him for free to a wide audience (CBS will do it) and only after a heavy hype, to make him fight in the PPV event.