The dust has settled on Strikeforce's contractual coup.
The former Pride heavyweight champion, Fedor Emelianenko has signed with the company — allegedly for $1 million a fight for three bouts.
While this move certainly changes the MMA landscape, it creates as many questions as it provides answers.
Was it a mistake for the UFC to let Emelianenko slip through its hands? Will Strikeforce regret the terms they've agreed to in exchange for the bragging rights associated with having the world's best heavyweight on their roster? What about the fans?
In every deal, there are winners and losers. Let's look in depth at this one.
Winners
Brett Rogers: Strikeforce's rising star was working at Sam's Club earlier this year, changing tires. Now he is the odds-on favorite to fight the Russian star in the main event of what will surely be a heavily promoted card. While no fight has been announced, Rogers and Emelianenko seemed excited about the prospect, especially when Affliction was looking for a replacement fighter to face Emelianenko on its ill-fated third show.
M-1 Global: M-1 Global gets a chance to promote all of Emelianenko's fights internationally. There are already talks of a major show in Japan combining talent from the Japanese promotion Dream, M-1 Global and Strikeforce.
UFC: Many within the company likely breathed a sigh of relief when Emelianenko rejected the UFC's offers last week. There was plenty of concern that Emelianenko would not be worth what would have been the biggest money deal ever offered to an MMA fighter. Emelianenko doesn't speak English and doesn't have what many inside Zuffa consider a marketable look.
