2 publishers · first seen Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:00 UTC · updated Fri, 30 Oct 2026 02:11 UTC
Fedor Emelianenko has criticized Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White for the promotion's past attempts to sign him, saying White repeatedly changed his account of their negotiations. Emelianenko said the UFC did not pursue him when he was a free agent in 2009 but approached him after he re-signed with Strikeforce, a move that could have led to legal proceedings. He questioned the timing and sincerity of the UFC's interest, suggesting it was intended to block his ability to compete.
Emelianenko also denied negotiating a fight with Francis Ngannou, clarifying that he only mentioned a hypothetical boxing match. The 50-year-old, who retired in 2023 after a loss to Ryan Bader, said media reports distorted his comments. He expressed distrust toward White's business practices, contrasting them with more respectful approaches he has encountered.
Content auto-generated. May contain inaccuracies.