Dana White just dropped a bombshell, finally explaining why heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko never stepped into the octagon under the UFC banner. It turns out, UFC’s head honcho is actually happy the deal fell through! This is wild, considering Emelianenko is universally considered one of the greatest fighters of all time who somehow never fought in the UFC.
The “What If” That Haunts MMA History
White confessed on “The Pivot” podcast that he and Lorenzo Fertitta were absolutely gunning for a dream fight, pitting the Russian phenom against Brock Lesnar. They threw a massive pile of cash at Emelianenko, an offer so huge that when the deal ultimately collapsed, White and Fertitta literally breathed a sigh of relief. Can you believe it? White explicitly said, “We never got a deal done with Fedor. When me and Lorenzo got on the plane and left wherever we were, we looked at each other and said, ‘Thank God they said no,’ because we offered him so much money. You get in that room and you just try to get that deal done… We wanted to do him vs. Brock Lesnar at the time. I don’t regret it.” That’s a truly wild take on a failed negotiation for one of the greatest ever!
The Path of “The Last Emperor”
Emelianenko carved out an incredible career, building his legacy as one of the best to never fight in the UFC. When the UFC bought Pride in 2007, “The Last Emperor” was the lone megastar who didn’t make the jump to the promotion. He went on to fight in Strikeforce, but again, when UFC acquired that promotion in 2011, Emelianenko moved on. He wrapped up his legendary run in Bellator, finally hanging up his gloves after a knockout loss to Ryan Bader in 2023. So, while we never saw him under the bright UFC lights, his impact on the sport is undeniable.
What It Means For The G.O.A.T. Debate
We might never see a fighter like Fedor again, and White’s comments just add another unbelievable layer to the legend. While the UFC definitely missed out on a massive payday and a truly historical matchup, the story behind it is pure gold. It makes you wonder what other massive deals were almost struck in sports history, doesn’t it?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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