Did Strikeforce Ruin Fedor's Career?

[calgaryballer]

Dana

@modrndaywarrior they blew it on EVERY level! Really screwed fedors career up

Bloody Elbow

Remember when Strikeforce swindled Fedor away in the summer of 2009? How would you feel if someone told you that Fedor would fight (regardless of results) Brett Rogers, Fabricio Werdum, and Antonio Silva in lieu of Alistair Overeem? Strikeforce made the mistake of trying to build to a PPV fight with Alistair Overeem instead of giving fans that fight right away. It's the same reason the UFC can't afford to let Anderson Silva fight Yushin Okami between now and the looming GSP superfight.

This isn't to troll. If you had told me that Fedor would fight luminaries like Brett Rogers, Antonio Silva and Werdum, I would have laughed in your face. Coker wasted 3 Fedor fights in hope of building up a PPV that is now pretty much dead in the water. An Overeem/Barnett PPV I might buy, but that is about it.

Blame obviously lies with Fedor and M-1 as well, with their constant renegotiations, etc etc, but I think the bulk lies with SF for not doing absolutely everything in their power to make the Fedor/Overeem fight back in 2009

Schiavello

"I thought it was a big mistake putting Fedor and Alistair on the side of the draw together to meet in the semifinals. They should've done it first up. They should've done it first up, this should've been a big pay-per-view event tonight, the hype of Alistair versus Fedor," HDNet broadcaster Michael Schiavello told Bloody Elbow Radio in an exclusive interview. "There would've been no injuries, no hassles, no contractual disputes. It would've been done and dusted. We would've had an effective outcome, either Alistair or Fedor, and now we're probably never going to get to see it,"It would be done and dusted.Now we're probably never going to see it."

[Liquidrob]

uh, no

No legacy was ruined first off, but M-1 and Fedor take the blame, it is a co-promotion, you can't force guys to fight as much as MMA fans think you can, how was that Silva/Machida fight? Did Fitch and Kos fight yet? Rashad fighting Jones soon?

M-1 and Fedor made these match ups and Fedor lost 2 out of 3, if he beats Werdum, if he beats Big Foot than everything is fine, but he didnt train like he used to and doesnt seem to care, it all lies on M-1 and Fedor, Strikeforce just gives them guys to fight and a platform to preform on

[Warner2BruceTD]

His career isn't ruined. Guys get older and everyone loses eventually. That was a great fight last night, people should focus on that.

And I won't even entertain thoughts of his legacy being ruined. That's just crazy.

M1 is more to blame for his recent career moves than SF or the tournament brackets. I can't kill Coker for doing Overeem/Werdum first, because he made the brackets under the assumpyion of title matches being part of the deal. Fedor never neede M1, they needed him. His loyalty to his shady buddies is what tarnishes his reputation, not Coker.

[Warner2BruceTD]

His career isn't ruined. Guys get older and everyone loses eventually. That was a great fight last night, people should focus on that.

And I won't even entertain thoughts of his legacy being ruined. That's just crazy.

M1 is more to blame for his recent career moves than SF or the tournament brackets. I can't kill Coker for doing Overeem/Werdum first, because he made the brackets under the assumpyion of title matches being part of the deal. Fedor never neede M1, they needed him. His loyalty to his shady buddies is what tarnishes his reputation, not Coker.

[Liquidrob]

You can just tell he hasnt trained like he has in the past, said it in my 'does fedor care anymore?' thread, still a legend, but if you dont train hard, you usually are not going to win

He used to be the guy who said 'the man must be elimanted', he isnt that guy anymore

[EmpireWF]

Someone said, it may have been Bas, he's been busting his ass more than usual in training of late.

Then someone else said he didn't change up anything with his training and went about it the same.

I don't think his performances against Werdum and Silva are about him "not training hard enough" other than having a mental lapse (or perhaps cockiness) and simply being overpowered by a larger man.

[calgaryballer]

I'm fine with the tournament brackets. But you can't tell me we'd me looking at this differently had he signed with the UFC. Assuming he goes 1-2 in the UFC I can guarentee you we'd have seen

First, a fight with Randy Couture. Non-title, the fight Randy quit the UFC for. Fedor makes his debut against a legend of the sport. If Randy wins, thats a money fight for the UFC. If Fedor wins, he beat a legend and is now known to all MMA fans

Second, he takes a fight in the middle of the year as he did in real life. Brock is returning from his disease and they have the epic fight for the UFC HW title. To keep the 1-2 record, lets assume that Fedor loses here. It proves Brock's legit and makes the next fight even bigger. Or, Fedor wins, he's now the champion and has two huge scalps on his belt

Third, if he beats Brock, he gets Cain for the title. A super huge match. A loss and Cain gets an instant shot of credibility. A win and Fedor's legend is in tact. Again, assuming he loses he goes up against JDS to either gain some momentum back or build JDS for a title shot if he loses.

I enjoy seeing Fedor fight anyone, but if these are the last three fights of his career, I have to think that they would have been handled better in the UFC. A trio of Randy-Brock-Cain/JDS is better than Rogers/Werdum/Silva any way you slice it. Even if he loses 2/3 in the UFC

[Kuzzy Powers]

Altho I dont think his career is "ruined", I do agree with what CB is saying. If this was how Fedor was going to go out I would've preferred to atleast see him fight THE REEM and have THE REEM end his career.

[Liquidrob]

funny how no one blames Fedor, Fedor is M-1, they wanted these fights, he didnt win them, case closed

This is how they managed his career, to think they would just sign off on any fight at this point is crazy talk, they got the fights they wanted, they even tanked the CBS show for some strange reason, but in the end you win and things are better

[Warner2BruceTD]

Yes, those UFC fights are far more attractive, but again, I blame M1 not SF. Dana doesn't play the co promotion game, so he isn't going to play the fake co promotion game, either. Why should he pay M1 a dime, when they bring nothing to the table?

If anyone wants to play the ruined career angle, M1 should be the target.

[Liquidrob]

people are obessed over Brock who has proved to not be skilled

Werdum has some of the best wins at HW currently and Big Foot can hang with anyone, guy is a monster

[SHOGUN]

Dana is just mad he couldn't use Fedor to build up his own fighters.

No, his career or legacy was not ruined by Strikeforce.

[Kuzzy Powers]

funny how no one blames Fedor, Fedor is M-1, they wanted these fights, he didnt win them, case closed

This is how they managed his career, to think they would just sign off on any fight at this point is crazy talk, they got the fights they wanted, they even tanked the CBS show for some strange reason, but in the end you win and things are better

I blame Fedor and Mafia 1 more then anyone.. if Stikeforce could've blew their load with a fight vs THE REEM they would've done it already im sure. As far as the tournament goes I still think it was right to try to set up the match up of THE REEM/Werdum vs Fedor second round.. Big Foot just put a damper in them plans. M1 was just trying to protect Fedor all this time, picking the fights that would seem to benefit Fedor the most from a being able to win perspective (ie avoiding THE REEM), unfortunately for them it kind of backfired.

[Warner2BruceTD]

people are obessed over Brock who has proved to not be skilled

Werdum has some of the best wins at HW currently and Big Foot can hang with anyone, guy is a monster

Don't go down this road, you know better.

[manchild24]

im a fan of MMA and really only watch the big fights, I know some of the guys so Im not going to pretend I know everything and whats going on. I never even of heard of Fedor until I bought the UFC 09 and learned more about the sport. (not gonna lie, I thought MMA was gay I remember watching Gracie and Id think this isnt fighting all they do is get on the ground and choke you.) But honestly after playing the game I got a much better understanding of it and really appreciate what they do.

My question is this, if Fedor is "the man" and UFC is top dog why didnt he come to UFC and fight? Im just asking

I may be his jinx. I finally got to "see" him fight on the Showtime match when he lost for the first time. i feel asleep as they were walking to the cage. Well last night I feel asleep again when Fedor was walking to the cage and well you saw what happened.