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EA Sports MMA: The Fate of Fedor

  • By BrianEk, GameSpot
  • Posted Jul 29, 2009 3:33 pm PT

One of the biggest unanswered questions swirling around mixed martial arts games these days has been the fate of heavyweight phenom Fedor Emelianenko. Tapped by some as the greatest fighter alive, Fedor has so far avoided fighting in MMA's most successful organization UFC, though it's a well-known...

One of the biggest unanswered questions swirling around mixed martial arts games these days has been the fate of heavyweight phenom Fedor Emelianenko. Tapped by some as the greatest fighter alive, Fedor has so far avoided fighting in MMA's most successful organization UFC, though it's a well-known fact that the UFC and its company head Dana White have been pursuing Fedor, trying to get him on the roster so that he can face UFC's current heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.

Today, the Fedor story just added a brand new chapter, as EA Sports announced that Emelianenko has been signed to headline EA's upcoming EA Sports MMA. There's little doubt that Fedor is one of the biggest names in the business and this signing signals a clear victory for EA Sports.

Or does it?

Yesterday, the Los Angeles Times reported a rumor that Dana White and Fedor were close to signing a deal that would bring Fedor to the UFC, thus paving the way for what would surely be an immensely popular heavyweight pay-per-view fight pitting Fedor against Lesnar. Now that EA has gone and signed Fedor, it could be that the rumored UFC deal was just that--a rumor--or that the deal died when Fedor signed with EA. Dana White has reportedly made it clear that UFC fighters who leave his organization and are signed by EA Sports would be banned from future UFC deals. That said, exceptions are possible--as was recently the case with UFC legend Randy Couture. There's little doubt that Fedor is a fighter of high enough caliber to warrant a similar exception.

A possible outcome from this entire rigmarole could be Emelianenko appearing in both EA Sports MMA and THQ's next UFC game. The EA Sports press announcement makes no mention of an exclusive deal with Emelianenko, after all. If Fedor does end up signing with UFC, it's plausible that we could be playing two versions of of the Russian badass--one in EA Sports MMA and the other in the next UFC Undisputed game.

Of course it's going to take more than Fedor--exclusive or not--to make EA Sports MMA an attractive buy for MMA fans. I had never heard of the other two fighters announced in today's release--Gegard Mousasi from the Dream promotion, and Renato Sobral from StrikeForce--and I suspect I'm not alone there. Still, rosters are a huge deal in MMA games and with some big unsigned names out there--like former WWE wrestler Bobby Lashley--as well as possible future UFC defections--such as Anderson Silva, who says he wants to focus on his boxing career, it's clear we can expect this sort of roster preening to continue for months to come.

[UPDATE: Reports from Wedensday and Thursday have said that Fedor has turned down the UFC's offer (which reportedly was as much as a six-fight, $30 million deal). If so, it looks like EA might have Emelianenko exclusivity after all. That said, in the world of MMA, things can change at any time so stay tuned.]

78 Comments

  • Hitman6661

    Posted Aug 30, 2010 7:46 am GMT

    first time gamespot member, i think we as fans of the sport could make the fights we want buy not watching the ufc, or strike force ore elite xc or what ever the hell, and forceing dana white and fedor to come to a deal. they will have to come to a deal if the fans jsut stop watching, buying liveing for mma!

  • GetafixOz

    Posted Aug 4, 2009 8:38 pm GMT

    Well I guess it goes to show that UFC cant pwn everyone and everything any more than EA can. I want to see a UFC bout between Dana White and John Riccitiello to finally settle it... LOL....

  • Tommy8930

    Posted Aug 4, 2009 6:14 pm GMT

    UFC undisputed was one of the best games i played i still have it and enjoy it
    As far as MMA goes for EA i dont know lets see what they have to offer
    i still think thq hit the nail on the head with UFC just making it right it has bugs here and there but the next one will be more amazing. Good luck EA!

  • styles_by_miles

    Posted Aug 4, 2009 2:26 pm GMT

    I know that EA is a big corporation, but THQ is another corporation out to make money too. That tactic that UFC has of threatening their fighters with a lifetime ban is not right at all. This is equivalent to only EA having the NFL license. But you know what? In ALL businesses money talks and everything eventually has a price. EA could have the UFC license if they paid enough. Dana can get his revenge by making EA pay through the nose.

  • NetshadeX

    Posted Aug 4, 2009 10:24 am GMT

    Fedor's agent didn't care about money, they wanted a piece of the UFC ownership. Dana White turned them down. It's just russian mob tactics trying to take over profitable organisations. Fedor isn't worth the trouble.. He's aging, hasn't fought anyone worth mentioning in the last 2 years and was getting raped by Arlovski before the lucky punch ended the bout.
    Brock would just ground and pound Fedor into a bloody pulp and he knows it...

  • Frankvincent

    Posted Aug 4, 2009 6:27 am GMT

    MAN!! what the hell Fedor!! He sighed with Strikeforce yesterday.
    You can't claim to be the best, if you don't fight the best.
    I would love to slap his russian, vodka drinking, high school drop out, that calls himself "fedors agent".

    Like Dana White worked his ass off to get this deal, Fedor could of fought Sambo every Thursday if he wanted. Barack Obama would know his name!

    All UFC contracts have a championship clause, which ties the fighter with the company as long as they hold a company title unless they retire as champion. The clause is designed to prevent what has happened many times in the past, with a champion using the belt as leverage and threatening to leave. Dana White even took away the championship clause " First ever in UFC" and still he said no... + Ass load of Money Have Fun Fighting Tomato Cans in strikeforce

  • punkdsk8erdude

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 10:07 pm GMT

    ea should stick with boxing and the fight night series.
    they do that well, and have never previously shown an interest in MMA games.
    i personally didn't enjoy UFC undisputed, so i am open to EA making an MMA game, but UFC is obviously the biggest MMA franchise and so I can't really see how it's gonna work too well with EA sports MMA.
    but if EA can pull off MMA as good as boxing, then we're all in for a real treat.

  • guitarhero92

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 2:46 pm GMT

    If your an mma fan you should be pissed Ea didn't give a s*&t about mma until ufc undisputed 2009 came out. now they're jumping on the bandwagon when they honestly could care less about the sport Screw EA

  • Zanthia561

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 2:23 pm GMT

    LOL anyone who watches UFC knows who Sobral is he got knocked out twice by Chuck Liddell and was the original UFC badboy come on gamespot research this more.

  • fudger2

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 10:19 am GMT

    Fedors scared. All his hype...if he lost to Brock he would take so much crap. Ea's MMA is gonna become worst then live

  • Patrick940705

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 10:14 am GMT

    this game is unbelievable i must get it

  • mattiisfatti

    Posted Aug 2, 2009 10:12 pm GMT

    First of all whoever said randy couture is past his prime is a moron the guy is in unbelievable shape and probably would have beat lesnar if he hadnt gotten hit by a lucky punch.......I dont like lesnar but he would definatly beat fedor.....Fedor is proven world wide but as we've seen time and time again unless u can fight in the ufc ur not the best in the world

  • Maxwellmurder

    Posted Aug 2, 2009 7:45 pm GMT

    Haha Checampbell! You are funny to think Fedor would get destroyed by Lesnar. No wonder you didnt make it in MMA! =D Only joking about the not making it in MMA part. Its a tough business.

  • gallopingrizzly

    Posted Aug 2, 2009 2:38 pm GMT

    Lesnar's chin still has not really been tested. Not saying Fedor would beat him, just saying there's no real evidence that Lesnar has a "granite chin."

  • checampbell

    Posted Aug 2, 2009 2:17 pm GMT

    why would lesnar beat fedor ?

    i aint writing this as a dumb ass jock, but as a guy who tried ( and failed miserably in MMA ) but who still has a load of experience in the game. fedor was rocked many times in japan but always scraped through. as the sign of a champ he did win, but against the sheer power and granite chin of lesnar, he would be destroyed....yes DESTROYED.

    shame they will probably never fight as i would love to be proved right !!

  • suplax

    Posted Aug 2, 2009 1:13 pm GMT

    True the problem in the heavyweight division in UFC is that there not much fighters in this division as there in the others below, they are even "promoting" fighters from divisions below to fight in heavyweight like is the case of Minotauro Nogueira.
    That's why a guy who win like 5 matchs like Lesnar is the champ... it sucks...
    I admire Fedor for not bow for Dana, but Dana will not be easy on him too, this isn't over yet.

  • ghost2046

    Posted Aug 2, 2009 12:24 pm GMT

    the heavyweight devision in the ufc is a joke.brock was givin a title shot with a 1-1 record and beat a 43 year old way past his prime.

  • PepitoneConQues

    Posted Aug 2, 2009 9:59 am GMT

    If he signs into UFC, then he has to fight in the USA, and he would rather fight all around the world.

    UFC's Heavyweight class sucks anyway, Lesnar is champ after winning 4 fights? Fedor doesnt need to waste his time.

  • Cousineau91

    Posted Aug 2, 2009 9:58 am GMT

    Dana has supposedly already offered him a 5 or 6 fight contract, he turned it down because he is a joke that is afraid of fighting the best in the business.

  • marz311

    Posted Aug 2, 2009 6:26 am GMT

    Fedor said he wants to fufill what's left on his contract with M-1 Global. Which is 3 more fights, so maybe he'll smarten up and ditch M-1 Global when the contract is up. The only problem is that it's probably another year and a half of waiting and Fedor may be too old by then to do something worthwhile in the UFC.

  • joeallen06

    Posted Aug 2, 2009 5:08 am GMT

    why is anyone bovvered about it anyway hevywate is the worst wate its all about light heavy

  • roryk666

    Posted Aug 1, 2009 8:43 pm GMT

    i hate fedor!!!! why wont he fight in ufc

  • x8VXU6

    Posted Aug 1, 2009 8:07 pm GMT

    damn I wanted to see fedor beat the crap out of lesnar

  • lhscouchmonster

    Posted Aug 1, 2009 5:48 pm GMT

    ha i love that dana couldn't sign fedor. i hope more fighters go the same route

  • Mercenary848

    Posted Aug 1, 2009 3:29 pm GMT

    I wonder what Dana will do now, he said no fighters would get a place if they were in this game.

  • Keitha313

    Posted Aug 1, 2009 12:32 pm GMT

    I hope UFC dont sign Fedor why should he have to move to America?... What dont say "To prove himself" Because thats preposterous honest to god people have been coming/chasing to fight Fedor Emelianenko for so long, So for anyone to say he needs to go to America?.. Well your wrong simple as this if you want to prove yourself you chase the best their is not vise versa because we all know Fedor is the best in the whole entire heavyweight division.

    I would also like to say i would like to see Brock Lesnar fight Emelianenko because im almost certain Brock would get caught out when he trys to ground and pound away and be made to tap.

  • GodzGladiator

    Posted Aug 1, 2009 11:56 am GMT

    YEA EA!!!!!!FEDOR IS HANDS DOWN THE BEST POUND FOR POUND HEAVYWEIGHT IN THE WORLD..MY FAV IS BROCK BUT WOW FEDOR IS AMAZING..THAT WOULD BE THE BEST HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT EVER...NONE OF THEM WOULD BACK DOWN AND THEY BOTH HIT HARD AS CRAP LOL I'D GIVE IT TO FEDOR THO

  • onep

    Posted Aug 1, 2009 10:59 am GMT

    EA sports had NOTHING to do with Fedor not signing. M-1, Finklstein and company are a bunch of leeches. Thet want to co-promote with the UFC 50/50 for Fedor. Thats like the CFL saying one of their players can sign a deal with NFL but the CFL gets 50% of all the NFL's profit. These Russians have ridiculous demands and I hope them and Fedor fall into obscurety.

  • gwokage

    Posted Aug 1, 2009 10:51 am GMT

    Checampbell... > Why are you so sure that lesnar would destroy fedor?

  • checampbell posted Aug 1, 2009 10:39 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    checampbell

    Posted Aug 1, 2009 10:39 am GMT (hide)

    lesnar would destroy fedor

  • Frankvincent

    Posted Aug 1, 2009 9:34 am GMT

    M1 Global is the WNBA of MMA

  • Frankvincent

    Posted Aug 1, 2009 8:43 am GMT

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6X1TdAp_hs watch
    Dana White puts it the best

  • rsynist1

    Posted Jul 31, 2009 3:27 pm GMT

    Im happy to see people still believe in Lesnar. Dude jumped up 20 pounds in 24 hours just to beat Mir. Fedor is the real deal and he is showing people that you dont have to be in UFC to be big. "Dana White has reportedly made it clear that UFC fighters who leave his organization and are signed by EA Sports would be banned from future UFC deals." That neversaid fighters in other companies would never get to work with UFC. You never know. EA may sign a that chump Kimbo Slice.

  • chesucks

    Posted Jul 31, 2009 2:21 pm GMT

    Fedor sticking it to the man! long live the Last Emperor!

  • BigBacon87 posted Jul 31, 2009 2:04 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    BigBacon87

    Posted Jul 31, 2009 2:04 pm GMT (hide)

    (because his big wins were against past their prime fighters, and he knows he will get his butt handed to him on a plate by Lesnar)

  • BigBacon87 posted Jul 31, 2009 2:03 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    BigBacon87

    Posted Jul 31, 2009 2:03 pm GMT (hide)

    If Fedor was the all powerful force he thinks he is WHY IS HE DUCKING LESNAR. Fight you friggin wimp!

  • mikeadriano1

    Posted Jul 31, 2009 1:50 pm GMT

    and BTW i fully agree with what Gorkface had to say - couldn't have said it better...

  • mikeadriano1

    Posted Jul 31, 2009 1:47 pm GMT

    Dude - thats so funny - i was just thinking the same thing... this dude don't even know who sobral is... and am i dreaming or did he call anderson silva a possible "defection" ?! - anyways hope that the EA game will be better that the ufc one - which honestly could have been a lot better - there is sooo much potential in mma gameplay ! look at fight night for example - u can spend 10 years enjoying this game even though u can only throw punches ! it's time to pick up the pace on the MMA games - and personally i could care less about how good the fighters look and which names u can play with - ufc have tons of fighters but i dont like the game play - if they come up with a kick ass mma gameplay, i could play with ron paul and still wouldn't give a f... !

  • RhysDaye

    Posted Jul 31, 2009 12:49 pm GMT

    maybe they should get some1 who is a fan of mma to write about this. he has never heard of sobral but hes excited about bobby lashley?? get me to cover the next story

  • 10thwonder

    Posted Jul 31, 2009 10:58 am GMT

    Vito164
    Have you seen Fedor fight Hong Man Choi of S. Korea? That guy is no joke, looks like a horse.

  • vito164 posted Jul 31, 2009 10:55 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    vito164

    Posted Jul 31, 2009 10:55 am GMT (hide)

    Dude I would fight anyone six times for $30 MILLION!!!!!!!! Fedor seems to be scared of the UFC! It will just prove how big a chump he really is! Look at the chumps he has beat loosers or has beens or never will be's! KFC's new CHUMP CHICKEN by Fedor!!!

  • TheSteelest

    Posted Jul 31, 2009 10:20 am GMT

    I'm down with what the UFC says... F.. EA Sports. They've all ready monopolized the NFL and they wanted to do the same with MLB and the NBA... I can't stand EA Sports for that... I was once a loyal fan when they first came out with NHL Hockey on Genesis... that's the first I had ever heard of EA. Their games rocked, compared to everyone elses sports games at the time, so that is why I was loyal... Now that they're this giant corporation, they're trying to get like MicroShaft and monopolize every sports genre... that's not cool... that's why Madden is the same f'n game year in and year out with only minor tweeks here and there... I feel foolish and disgusted with myself when I go back year after year to buy the only NFL game out there... it sucks, man... I'm glad that the UFC is taking their stand... At first EA Sports didn't want any part of the UFC because they did not think MMA would take off the way it has... Yes, EA Sports shined off the UFC after the UFC had approached EA to make an MMA game... Look who's crying now!

  • hamelkarl

    Posted Jul 31, 2009 5:55 am GMT

    Fighters don't make the gameplay. I don't care if my fighter don't have the same name than people fighting in UFC. Lot's of game do have fictive characters and people don't care about this... Why should we for an mma game? They could get the money on something else than just buying the right to put a dude in anyway.

  • echoten

    Posted Jul 31, 2009 4:31 am GMT

    @RaikirBLaZE
    I agree the OP should know more about the sport if he is writing a story about it, however next time use better tact. @
    @BrianEk
    Renato "Babalu" Sobral, 35-8, his most notable wins are against "Shogun" Rua and Jeremy Horn in the same night. In consideration that you are a member of staff your response to RaikirBLaZE was just as gratuitous.

  • Gorkface

    Posted Jul 31, 2009 12:16 am GMT

    M-1 and UFC have a unique opportunity with Lesnar vs. Fedor. The large casual fan draw of Lesnar combined with the jaw dropping list of victories by Fedor could lead to an event that helps make MMA as much a mainstream sport as pro boxing. Maybe then the mid-pack MMA fighters could earn a more fitting salary than the peanuts they're making now. They sure train hard enough.

  • dubble66

    Posted Jul 30, 2009 8:31 pm GMT

    Wow! Dana White is such a fascist. People should realise that there is a lot more to MMA than UFC. A lot of the time UFC is hyped so much it is an anti-climax, and way too many of the fights are becoming so important to the fighters that they appear afraid to go for it. Don't get me wrong I love UFC but it's not the be all and end all of MMA. BTW I remember reading that there is little chance of Fedor fighting in the UFC as when negotiations went on before he was rather unhappy about the money that was offered. Maybe that will change if Dana Douche stops being such a scrooge.

  • xtoperchris

    Posted Jul 30, 2009 7:29 pm GMT

    @KoolzKatz
    I think it's still possible if Lesnar could go to strikeforce.

  • xtoperchris

    Posted Jul 30, 2009 7:28 pm GMT

    Dana cannot control the fighters' decision. It's just unfortunate "IF" ufc fighters signed a contract for Dana white and Dana alone is deciding whether to put his fighters in a game.

  • KoolzKatz

    Posted Jul 30, 2009 7:05 pm GMT

    Fedor turned down a six-fight, $30 million deal???!!! Omg thats crazy, maybe he will go to Strikeforce, but i hate the fact that a Lesnar-Fedor might not happen, everyone wants to see that

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