Fedor Emelianenko vs Antonio ”Big Foot” Silva likely to be pushed back to February 2011 (updated)
MMAWeelky.com has revealed that sources close to negotiations have said a heavyweight bout between Fedor Emelianenko and Antonio ”Big Foot” Silva is in the works for StrikeForce’s January event in 2011. It appears that M-1 Global have come to an agreement with StrikeForce and Fedor will return to the cage as early as January.
Fedor is coming of his only loss of his career, that came earlier this May as Fabricio Werdum submitted the Russian Legend via triangle/armbar in the first round. Fedor currently has one fight left on his contact with StrikeForce and negotiations are on going to extend Emelianenko’s contract with the San Jose based promotion.
Meanwhile Antonio ”Big Foot” Silva fought earlier this month at StrikeForce’s December 4th card that was headlined by Dan Henderson vs Renato Sobral. The lanky Brazilian defeated Mike Kyle in the 2nd round via TKO, Kyle was a late replacement for Silva’s original opponent Valentijn Overeem.
No bouts made official thus far, and are still in negotiation with both fighters, and a scheduled bout between StrikeForce welterweight Champion Nick Diaz and Jason ”Mayhem” Miller is also rumored to make an appearance on StrikeForce’s January event.
Stay tuned here on Lowkick.com for more news as it happens!
***UPDATE***
According to Sherdog.com the bout between Fedor Emelianenko and Antonio ”Big Foot” Silva has been pushed back to February. A source close to the situation could not confirm whether a deal between Strikeforce and M-1 Global has been signed, but it has been agreed in principle that Fedor’s next opponent will be Antonio Silva.
StrikeForce CEO Scott Coker had this to say:
”You know how these things are, they go back and forth. We send them documents; they send them back… we want changes; they want changes. I’m just trying to get the lawyers to hurry and finish it up so we can make some great fights.It’s hard to talk about opponents. Normally, you talk to someone about opponents only after you have a contract with somebody. We’re working through the final stages of the deal. We are not there yet, I wish we were.”
” I can tell you (Silva) will be fighting in a relatively short amount of time here. I f Fedor doesn’t work out, we’ll just move forward and have (Junior) fight someone else. But I’d like to wrap this thing up with M-1 as fast as possible.”
Coker also said that he was pushing for Fedor to take on Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem, but Overeem will be taking a few months off after he won the K-1 WGP last weekend in Japan.
