Fedor hasn't paid his dues | WILD BEATDOWNS!

Roy Jones, Jr. pays his promoter dues by schooling Jeff Lacy
When I first heard about the negotations between Fedor Emelianenko and the UFC falling through, I thought maybe Fedor was ducking Brock Lesnar and the elite competition of the UFC (FYI : post-UFC 101 pound-4-pound rankings) and trying to maintain his silent aura.

However, now I'm more inclined to think that as part-owner of M-1 Global, Fedor is trying to build up his own promotion - which would be fine.

Except as a promoter, Fedor hasn't paid his dues. At all.

Fedor's golden era as a fighter came during his Pride days, before MMA was as big as it is now. And MMA is as big as it is now because of the UFC.

To be the best, you have to beat the best. To beat the best, you have to know the best. If you can't beat the best, you join forces with the best.

The bottomline is that the UFC represents the best.


What have you done for me lately?
courtesy of Susumu Nagao
Who knows? But I would think Dana White would be more inclined to share his profits with M-1 and jointly promote events if Fedor shows he can clean out the UFC's heavyweight division and prove himself as a pay-per-view draw.

Until then, there's no chance.

Even Oscar De La Hoya had to pay his dues, and he has more mainstream marketability as a retired fighter than Fedor will ever have.

Roy Jones, Jr., one of the most exciting boxers of all time, is doing crazy promotional schtick and going on MMA Live to promote his cards, in addition to trying to revive his old flashy form. I used to think he was desperate for cash for still fighting at age 40, but I now think it's more probable that he's trying to make a name for his Square Ring Promotions.

In other worlds, Jones is paying his dues.

Now it's Fedor's turn.

Doing a demolition derby of the UFC's heavyweight division would do wonders for his marketability - more than an exhibition against Gegard Mousasi ever will.