Vadim explains why he lets M-1 fighters go to the UFC

Vadim Finkelstein: I'm sure - our soldiers will soon become UFC champions
Posted on January 9, 2014.

Almost simultaneously, several fighters had much experience and earned fame in the tournament M-1 Challenge signed contracts with the American organization UFC. We asked the President of M-1 Global's Vadim Finkelstein comment on this trend.



Vadim, how do you assess the prospects Rashid Magomedov , Mairbek Taysumov and Alexander Yakovlev in the UFC? 

I am very happy in general for all Russian fighters who will appear in the UFC. I am confident that they're Americans and destroy the hegemony of Brazilians, and they have already started doing - talking about this success Nurmagomedova Habib , Ali Bagautinova , Rustam Habilova and others, and I think that the men of M-1 is sure to support this victorious movement. As far as I know, Mairbek Taisumov already made a successful debut in UFC, with which I congratulate him!

We are all very long road to go, including myself, laid the 16 years on the development of MMA in Russia, and now I'm sure - our soldiers can become champions in the near future in many weight classes in the Octagon.

With the recognition of MMA as a sport in Russia and poyavleninem Union MMA, went rapid development of mixed martial arts clubs across the country, championship cities, regions, federal district, every year more and more athletes are coming in soon and MMA fighters overwhelmed by a wave of Russian and American coast wash away the local champions. I think that is indicative of the fact that even those men who have a M-1 did not take first place in the United States have become champions in different MMA-organizations.

M-1 Global is one of the oldest organizations in the world - you spend the competition since 1997, and many experts recognize you one of the strongest leagues in the world, why did you let fighters in UFC?

Because in the UFC at the moment undoubtedly assembled the strongest fighters in the world. I believe that our matchmaker Alexander Kharlamov Shuldyakovym and Stanislav gigantic work is done to identify new talents, they are looking for them around the world and in M-1 Global avenues we grow to the level of stars.

We are concerned about the fate of every athlete who has worked with and I do not want to break his talents career if they will do a specific proposal from the UFC - we'll let them. We have men of the highest level and they deserve to fight the best in the world, I believe in them and want them to confirm that the victories in the Octagon. But I do not want them to go down the stairs, buried his talent in some other foreign tournaments in which there is really no such competition and fighters such as we have - so I do not let them go to any other organization except the UFC.

Whether in a constant dialogue with the UFC?

To the extent possible. As you well know, Dana White - a very colorful personality, which adheres to the image edakogo scumbags, for which there is no authority, so it is difficult to directly conduct business. But we made up a constructive dialogue with Lorenzo Fertitta and Executive Vice President Lawrence Epstein. We are open for cooperation. They promised that if they plan tournament in Russia, then we will sit down at the negotiating table, but so far in their own words, they are not going to spend here UFC.


http://www.mixfight.ru/mma/interviews/2014/1/9/Vadim_Finkelstein_Uveren_nashi_boycy_skoro_stanut_chempionam/

fka wrote:Well this is concerning to say the least......

Not even TRYING to keep talent in fact are happy to help usher them right to the ufc .....
Doesn't this sound familiar?

M-1 straight up saying they think ufc has best fighters and they WANT their former fighters to be in ufc is sickening ....

Mma is in trouble guys

nodogoshi wrote:His explanations make sense to me. It's kind of a highroad approach.

There's a lot of talent in Russia. If the Russians come to dominate MMA in the US, that could reverberate to Russia. The viewerships are mostly different, also. It isn't like the UFC and M-1 are really in direct competition.

fka wrote:Even if all the imports they have acquired win I don't think its going to do anything but make the zombies say ufc definitely has acquired all the best fighters because now they are ufc fighters.

I just can't get behind the logic that releasing your top talent to ufc is going to do anything positive for your region of mma be it Asia or Russia.

I can understand that yeah people will see m-1 s status be validated should their fighters win but why not be aggressive in growing like a NA TV deal or recruiting more Brazilian Japanese and American talent?

I guess for me this issue digs deep because I've felt fir quite a while ANY org be it onefc ksw or m-1 step up their game get some international talent and some north American TV deals or ppv now and then and get MMA on a higher level overall.

To me giving up your talent and claiming its just to solidify their status with octagon victorys is a cop out....

Since when does winning in the ufc solidify anything?

Its just bad omen imo

kayneoTheRisingWarrior wrote:The problem with fighter they don't even read  the dam UFC contract.
You hear lot of fighter get screw.

fearthefightergroupieThe contract is a masterpiece. So much so I should capitalize it. The Contract. I mean “masterpiece” as in it is the most brilliant, close to airtight document in sports I’ve ever seen. It essentially gives Zuffa, the legal masterminds behind The Contract, a legal way to own another individual. They own your body, likeness, tattoos, identity, autograph, your right to “refer to yourself as a UFC fighter,” your dignity, and your soul…in perpetuity, even after death. Too bad for your family if you get killed in the Octagon [note: DOING YOUR JOB]; they owe you and them nothing.

And by the way, you can’t sue them. According to The Contract, Zuffa is waived of indemnity, i.e. they do not assume any liability for anything that happens to you. If your attorney believes a clause of The Contract violates the Bill of Rights, tough shit [note: I assume you’ve all read Jonathan Snowden’s piece on The Contract (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1516575-the-business-of-fighting-a-look-inside-the-ufcs-top-secret-fighter-contract) - if you haven’t, you shouldn’t be watching the UFC. I’ve also spoken to Dr. Zev Eigen, Esq., a labor law attorney and law professor, extensively regarding this and other issues, such as fighter safety].

You must first go through mandatory “internal arbitration,” to which there are the following possible outcomes: you lose, and you’re cut, or you win, meaning you can actually take your grievance to a court of law. In the latter case, you’d incur massive legal costs and sacrifice possibly years of your fighting career, and you’re cut from the UFC. Either way, you’re screwed.



http://fearthefightergroupie.tumblr.com/post/69600630870/thoughts-on-ufc-contracts-how-badly-does-mma-need-a

KSW wrote:I agree with fka, letting your stars go to the UFC doesn´t help M-1 at all it only helps the UFC. If a boxing promotion let their stars sign with Golden Boy Promotions does that help them?

nodogoshi wrote:I was never intending to imply that it helps M-1, more so that it isn't necessarily a direct blow. I'm sure they want to retain their talent, but if they can't pay them enough to keep them, there is no shame in letting them get on. Also, I'm against contracts that lock fighters up. Say a 4 fight contract is fine, but after the fights, the fighter should be free to move on. I want fighters to be in control of their own career as much as possible. A promoter trying to lock up fighters that fight in their shows is not conducive to this. Of course that's precisely what the UFC does, but that doesn't mean I think M-1 should do it. Two wrongs don't make a right.

And I was sort of reflecting on the sentiments that Vadim seemed to reflect in the interview, that there are many good Russian fighters who are going to do, or are doing great in the US shows. As an observer, I like to see Russians come in and steamroll the American opposition. A lot of Russians fight with a much more appealing style.

KSW wrote:I agree with fka, letting your stars go to the UFC doesn´t help M-1 at all it only helps the UFC. If a boxing promotion let their stars sign with Golden Boy Promotions does that help them?