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link:Вадим Финкельштейн: «Сделаю все, чтобы организовать Федору матч-реванш» | AllBoxing.ru - Все новости бокса, MMA, бои на видео
Vadim, enough time passed since Fedors loss to Fabricio Werdum. Have you changed your opinion on what happened? What was the main reason of what happened?
This was just a mistake. Fedor was carried away and missed the grip. It was not a fatal mistake and is not a shameful loss, and Fedor, to me, is better and I am sure he will prove that.
What is next? When will Fedor fight and who is going to be his next opponent?
I want a rematch very much and I will do everything in order to make it happen.
What is preventing?
So far we didnt manage to sit down to negotiations with Strikeforce to discuss Fedors next fight. As many comments and internet polls show, it is the rematch that fans want to see. At the same time Strikeforce President Scott Coker stands his ground and wants to impose on us Alistair Overeem. I cant say that we are against it and Fedor already agreed to fight him, however, I think fight with Werdum is more interesting now. The fight is more intriguing.
Dont you think that Cokers wish is strange somehow? Let me explain: no matter how great fighter Fedor is and no matter if everyone was sure he is stronger than Werdum, but it was Fedor who lost the fight? Then why Coker wants to give title fight to a fighter who lost his last fight?
That is their policy. What did you expect if earlier they gave title fight to Brett Rogers who lost to Fedor. But in general I consider that for Strikeforce title it will be an honor if Fedor owned it. Whatever happened he is still number one and we dont want the title fight now in principle. Fedor has one fight left in the contract with Strikeforce, and if he wins what will be next? We would have to fight further, defend it?
Why not?
You know, I think a belt must be real and valuable. Fedor fights under the aegis of M-1 Global, and we decided to create belts only from this year. World M-1 Selection finished now and worthy fighters have been defined and they can now fight for belts. I repeat: a belt must be very valuable. And the belts that are just formal do not cost a thing. When Fedor is asked why he does not strive for a belt he responses that he does not collect belts. There must be one belt which is not owned by anybody else and which is respected. As was Prides belt, for example.
We, M-1 Selection, have twenty world champions: kudo, jiu-jitsu, karate champions and etc. and all of them have belts. My objective is to make such belts that will be really valuable and fighters will prize them and try to own them at any cost. That is why we dont strive for Strikefarce belt. In future, if we work further and find mutual understanding, then, probably will create such a belt. But now it is early to talk about it.
I see. Vadim, could you comment on regular statements of the UFC president Dana White where he says that he is not interested in Fedor after his loss to Werdum?
You know, it is going to be a kindergarten if I comment on each his statement. One day he says one thing and different thing in the same day. Finally I think he will take his words back. And all his statements about how I am a crazy Russian and Fedor is overrated is demonstrated by last UFC HW title fight between Lesnar and Carwin. Me thinks, it was such a disgrace. You call Lesnar number one fighter in the world? Fighter who has record of 5-1? That is why overrated HW fighters are in teh UFC. But it is definitely not Fedor.
White is just shuddered that Fedor never was in teh UFC, but he is nevertheless is recognized as number one. Though you understand in what circumstances we are now, and in what circumstances they are. They write only negative about us and the first Fedors loss made UFC celebrate. Fedor was immediately lowered in ratings and, if they can call Lesnar number one, then believe me, Fedor is still the best.
By the way, after the fight Werdums coach stated that Fedor was still the best. Why do you think he said so?
Because they are just normal people who see and understand everything. Before the fight many underestimated Werdum saying that Fedor would walk through him. But Werdoom is the best ground fighter in the world at the moment. He is the updated Nogueira. To tell the truth I personally was concerned about the fight even being sure Fedor is potentially much stronger. I was afraid of just a mistake like that... But it is ok and as Fedor said himself: That who does not fall, does not stand up. And I will do everything possible to arrange the rematch.
What is happening to Russian MMA? For example, some years ago Alexander Emelianenko was a top fighter, Kharitonov was in top ten, Roman Zentsov was considered strong Pride fighter... And now we have only Fedor. Maybe Russian MMA is in a wrong path? Or maybe we need some time and our fighters will show up?
You know, there is not much Russian MMA. Besides us nobody does anything. In USA tournaments are held weekly, in every casino, in every city and state. They have experience. Selecting experience. Why did we start M-1 Selection? Because, you know, it is not profitable and nobody else does nothing. If before there was Pride and I had opportunity to introduce there our fighters like Roman Zentsov, Omar Suloev, and etc, now we do not have such opportunities. But we have the strongest school, excellent, talented guys who have to get experience somewhere that is why we are developing our project.
To tell the truth, last year M-1 Challenge where there was team vs team format did not suit us. As there a team could win but fighters were not distinguished. That is why this year we changed our format and, to me, it was perfect. We have distinguished many excellent fighters in America, Europe and in Russia. Every guy is worthy to be a hero of a book... Every of them have his own character, style and charisma. And it will not be surprising that very soon our fighters start to fight everywhere and win. Though we do not try to beg a help from somebody, but try to negotiate and agree. At the moment, for example, we are negotiating with some foreign TV channels.
And we all have to understand at last that America is not end of the world. Why do we think that if something happened in America it is the best? For example Shlemenko won Bellator and everyone started saying he is a star and all. No, Shlemenko is good and showed good fights, but what is Bellator? Believe me, this competition is of the same level as others, but most our fans thinks that if it is American it is the best. At the same time every out champion is not worse than Shlemenko if not better.
What is the problem? Our fans do not understand that Russian MMA is not worse?
You know, we abase ourselves saying that a fighter is the best if he is in USA. Our fans have an interesting approach: they want high level fighters in Russia, however do nothing for that. As, for example, almost nobody buys t-shirts here as they do in USA, they do not buy tickets... For example, we made a tournament in Atlantic-City and every fighter there sold tickets. Fifty, a hundred tickets, every fighter. And in our case every fighter comes and asks for free tickets for his friends. There fighters understand that it all costs money organization, filming, salaries. Absolutely different mentality... Where every fan buys t-shirts of their favourite fighter, buys tickets, try to support them... And we have to learn to support our fighters.
Vadim, enough time passed since Fedors loss to Fabricio Werdum. Have you changed your opinion on what happened? What was the main reason of what happened?
This was just a mistake. Fedor was carried away and missed the grip. It was not a fatal mistake and is not a shameful loss, and Fedor, to me, is better and I am sure he will prove that.
What is next? When will Fedor fight and who is going to be his next opponent?
I want a rematch very much and I will do everything in order to make it happen.
What is preventing?
So far we didnt manage to sit down to negotiations with Strikeforce to discuss Fedors next fight. As many comments and internet polls show, it is the rematch that fans want to see. At the same time Strikeforce President Scott Coker stands his ground and wants to impose on us Alistair Overeem. I cant say that we are against it and Fedor already agreed to fight him, however, I think fight with Werdum is more interesting now. The fight is more intriguing.
Dont you think that Cokers wish is strange somehow? Let me explain: no matter how great fighter Fedor is and no matter if everyone was sure he is stronger than Werdum, but it was Fedor who lost the fight? Then why Coker wants to give title fight to a fighter who lost his last fight?
That is their policy. What did you expect if earlier they gave title fight to Brett Rogers who lost to Fedor. But in general I consider that for Strikeforce title it will be an honor if Fedor owned it. Whatever happened he is still number one and we dont want the title fight now in principle. Fedor has one fight left in the contract with Strikeforce, and if he wins what will be next? We would have to fight further, defend it?
Why not?
You know, I think a belt must be real and valuable. Fedor fights under the aegis of M-1 Global, and we decided to create belts only from this year. World M-1 Selection finished now and worthy fighters have been defined and they can now fight for belts. I repeat: a belt must be very valuable. And the belts that are just formal do not cost a thing. When Fedor is asked why he does not strive for a belt he responses that he does not collect belts. There must be one belt which is not owned by anybody else and which is respected. As was Prides belt, for example.
We, M-1 Selection, have twenty world champions: kudo, jiu-jitsu, karate champions and etc. and all of them have belts. My objective is to make such belts that will be really valuable and fighters will prize them and try to own them at any cost. That is why we dont strive for Strikefarce belt. In future, if we work further and find mutual understanding, then, probably will create such a belt. But now it is early to talk about it.
I see. Vadim, could you comment on regular statements of the UFC president Dana White where he says that he is not interested in Fedor after his loss to Werdum?
You know, it is going to be a kindergarten if I comment on each his statement. One day he says one thing and different thing in the same day. Finally I think he will take his words back. And all his statements about how I am a crazy Russian and Fedor is overrated is demonstrated by last UFC HW title fight between Lesnar and Carwin. Me thinks, it was such a disgrace. You call Lesnar number one fighter in the world? Fighter who has record of 5-1? That is why overrated HW fighters are in teh UFC. But it is definitely not Fedor.
White is just shuddered that Fedor never was in teh UFC, but he is nevertheless is recognized as number one. Though you understand in what circumstances we are now, and in what circumstances they are. They write only negative about us and the first Fedors loss made UFC celebrate. Fedor was immediately lowered in ratings and, if they can call Lesnar number one, then believe me, Fedor is still the best.
By the way, after the fight Werdums coach stated that Fedor was still the best. Why do you think he said so?
Because they are just normal people who see and understand everything. Before the fight many underestimated Werdum saying that Fedor would walk through him. But Werdoom is the best ground fighter in the world at the moment. He is the updated Nogueira. To tell the truth I personally was concerned about the fight even being sure Fedor is potentially much stronger. I was afraid of just a mistake like that... But it is ok and as Fedor said himself: That who does not fall, does not stand up. And I will do everything possible to arrange the rematch.
What is happening to Russian MMA? For example, some years ago Alexander Emelianenko was a top fighter, Kharitonov was in top ten, Roman Zentsov was considered strong Pride fighter... And now we have only Fedor. Maybe Russian MMA is in a wrong path? Or maybe we need some time and our fighters will show up?
You know, there is not much Russian MMA. Besides us nobody does anything. In USA tournaments are held weekly, in every casino, in every city and state. They have experience. Selecting experience. Why did we start M-1 Selection? Because, you know, it is not profitable and nobody else does nothing. If before there was Pride and I had opportunity to introduce there our fighters like Roman Zentsov, Omar Suloev, and etc, now we do not have such opportunities. But we have the strongest school, excellent, talented guys who have to get experience somewhere that is why we are developing our project.
To tell the truth, last year M-1 Challenge where there was team vs team format did not suit us. As there a team could win but fighters were not distinguished. That is why this year we changed our format and, to me, it was perfect. We have distinguished many excellent fighters in America, Europe and in Russia. Every guy is worthy to be a hero of a book... Every of them have his own character, style and charisma. And it will not be surprising that very soon our fighters start to fight everywhere and win. Though we do not try to beg a help from somebody, but try to negotiate and agree. At the moment, for example, we are negotiating with some foreign TV channels.
And we all have to understand at last that America is not end of the world. Why do we think that if something happened in America it is the best? For example Shlemenko won Bellator and everyone started saying he is a star and all. No, Shlemenko is good and showed good fights, but what is Bellator? Believe me, this competition is of the same level as others, but most our fans thinks that if it is American it is the best. At the same time every out champion is not worse than Shlemenko if not better.
What is the problem? Our fans do not understand that Russian MMA is not worse?
You know, we abase ourselves saying that a fighter is the best if he is in USA. Our fans have an interesting approach: they want high level fighters in Russia, however do nothing for that. As, for example, almost nobody buys t-shirts here as they do in USA, they do not buy tickets... For example, we made a tournament in Atlantic-City and every fighter there sold tickets. Fifty, a hundred tickets, every fighter. And in our case every fighter comes and asks for free tickets for his friends. There fighters understand that it all costs money organization, filming, salaries. Absolutely different mentality... Where every fan buys t-shirts of their favourite fighter, buys tickets, try to support them... And we have to learn to support our fighters.