PRIDE, Dana White May Take Legal Action Against Emelianko

PRIDE, Dana White May Take Legal Action Against Emelianko

Fedor Emelianko has pretty much declared himself a free agent. Mixed Martial Arts number two organization, Bodog Fight, wants him. Dana White and the UFC, which now owns PRIDE, claims Emelianko is theirs and they are willing to ensure the reigning Heavyweight champion stays with PRIDE.

FightOpinion reports that Zuffa (UFC parent company) lawyers are looking at PRIDE’s financial records and contracts right now in Tokyo. Therefore, due diligence is supposedly taking place as we speak (the asset transfer is/was supposed to happen on May 1st).

From FightOpinion:

If the PRIDE fighter contracts are personal service contracts, they likely could/would not be transferrable to third parties in an asset sale deal. In other words, fighters could possibly choose to be free agents if they wanted to be (or if they wanted to expose any loopholes in the deals).

Then we had these three questions to Dana White from FightOpinion:

If you say that guys are locked up to PRIDE contracts (exclusive or non-exclusive), then why are you trying to negotiate new deals?

What’s the point of buying the PRIDE assets from DSE if the contracts are worthless or of little value?

If the PRIDE contracts are personal service deals, how could you possibly get an injunction against a fighter in a court.

White is also said to be unhappy with Fedor Emelianko's appearance last week in Russia for Bodog Fight. Bodog Fight's "Clash of Nations" received overwhelmingly positive reviews and helped the up-and-coming MMA organization secure a massive television deal in Russia.

Emelianko told Sports911.com days before that fight when asked about current negotiations:

"I am in negotiations with both Pride and Bodog but that is a question for my manager."

Bodog Fight founder Calvin Ayre expressed to Sports911.com this past week:

"We are happy to entertain any ideas he (Fedor Emelianko) may have working with Bodog in the future," said Ayre, who had nothing but kind things to say about Emelianko. "(Fedor) is an unbelievably classy guy. He doesn't seem to have any type of weakness. He is a complete fighter. Unbelievable!"

But Emelianko fighting for Bodog again won't happen if White has his way.

“He’s not a free agent and absolutely we’d slap an injunction on him,” White said.

Bodog Fight is preparing to shoot Series 5 of its reality fight show in Whistler, British Columbia this June. Ayre announced to Sports911.com that a major television deal was in the works in Europe and sources close to the company also claim that Bodog Fight could be looking for added television coverage in the States as well. The show is currently showcased on ION (formerly PAX), a troubled infomercial-filled cable network in the process of redefining itself. UFC, meanwhile, is broadcast on the popular and established SPIKE TV.

Still, ION does have extensive coverage throughout the US and this has helped to garner viewers for Bodog Fight.