Fedor Emelianenko Signs with Strikeforce

After not being able to reach an agreement with the UFC last week, Fedor Emelianenko has signed with the second-best MMA promotion, Strikeforce. The 32-year-old Emelianenko, who has a career record of 30-1, has signed a three-fight deal with the promotion company and should get more media exposure, especially in the United States, where he is largely unknown.

Fedor released a statement after the news broke: "I am looking forward to going back to work and fighting at the highest level. Strikeforce is a top fight promotion that houses some of the greatest fighters in the world. I am prepared to fight any of them."

After the demise of the Affliction promotion, due to the cancellation of their August 1st pay-per-view, Fedor became a free agent, and could sign with any other MMA promotions. Fedor was supposed to fight Josh Barnett in the main event but after Barnett tested positive for steroids, a snowball effect led the Affliction company to go out of business. Emelianenko fought on two Affliction pay-per-views in the main event that were popular, but big financial failures.

Emelianenko will have his first fight for the organization in the fall, against an opponent still to be named. This will be the first fight for Fedor in a cage, as all his previous bouts have been in a boxing ring. Some possible future opponents for Fedor are Brett Rogers, an undefeated heavyweight fighter who had a lightning-quick knockout of former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum, a former UFC fighter, and Alistair Overeem, who is the Strikeforce Heavyweight Champ.

UFC did everything in their power to bring in Fedor to their company, but couldn't agree to terms after the UFC wouldn't let M-1 Global, be co-promoters with them in the future. Had Fedor signed with UFC, he would have added even more depth to the UFC heavyweight roster that already includes: UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar, Frank Mir, Shane Carwin, Cain Velasquez, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko (Cro Cop) Filipovic, Cheick Kongo, Randy Couture, and many more.

When hearing the news about Fedor signing with Strikeforce, UFC boss Dana White responded the only way he knows how: "Fedor is a f---ing joke. He turns down a huge deal and the opportunity to face the best in the world to fight nobodies for no money!" White is right and many people don't believe he is the best heavyweight in the world, if he won't fight the best heavyweights available.

Strikeforce, which airs their live shows on Showtime, will bring in monster ratings for their next live event because of Fedor and could bring heavyweights from UFC, who want to compete with Fedor in the future.