Scott Coker has plans of his own for Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem
Posted By Anton_Gurevich
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker stated to USA Today that he would like to see Fedor Emelianenko fighting Alistair Overeem, Sergei Kharitonov or Antonio Silva, before the rematch against Fabricio Werdum. More than that, it looks like Coker is not so much interested in a rematch between Werdum and Fedor Emelianenko:
“Whether it’s Overeem or whether it’s Kharitonov or whether it’s ‘Bigfoot’ Silva, or anybody that we put Fedor in the ring next to … I think we’d rather see another fight before he fights Fabricio, instead of getting a rematch,” Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told Fighting Stances this week. “Bigfoot Silva and Fedor, that would be another great fight.”
“I’d like to see Overeem fight ‘Bigfoot Silva, I’d like to see Overeem, when Fabricio Werdum is healthy, fight him,” Coker said. “I’d like to see Overeem fight Fedor at this point. I’d like to see, maybe even Overeem fight Kharitonov at some point.”
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace will not be able to fight anytime soon due to the elbow surgery, leaving Fedor Emelianenko in front of a potentially long layoff. It is clear that Strikeforce want the Russian Icon inside their cage as quick as possible, especially when their Heavyweight division is in its best shape ever. Scott Coker spoke to Sherdog’s Loretta Hunt about the same issue, sharpening his statements about Fedor Emelianenko’s next fight:
“It’s not Fabricio Werdum,” he said. “He already beat (Fedor). To me, it’s only been a month (since the first fight). We saw the Werdum fight already. I think when they eventually hook up and fight again, it will be an amazing fight and event.”
Coker knocked rumors that a proposed Overeem-Emelianenko match served to lock the Russian into a “champion’s clause,” a component of standard contracts that makes it difficult for a fighter to exit a promotion once he wins a title.
“That’s not it at all,” said Coker. “Depending on if there’s any future fights, if he fights Overeem, it might not be a title fight. It doesn’t have to be (for the title). If Fedor is on his last fight with us, we wouldn’t make it a title fight with Alistair. But why shouldn’t that fight happen regardless?”
When asked what might transpire if M-1 Global is adamant that their client only face Werdum next, Coker had a stern reply.
“I just don’t think they’ll have a choice,” he said.
Well, it looks like Strikeforce are clearly having a positive headache here. The biggest loser from the situation might be Alistair Overeem. Ubereem did not fight at Dream and will have to wait a reasonable amount of time for the resolution between M-1 Global and Strikeforce. So who should be Fedor Emelianenko’s next opponent? Voice your opinion, LowKick’ers!