Former Russian MMA fighter Fedor Emelianenko has accused UFC president Dana White of attempting to put his professional career at risk during negotiations over a potential move to the promotion.
As reported by İdman.Biz, the 50-year-old former heavyweight star recalled his personal meeting with White and explained why he believed the UFC's interest in signing him was not entirely genuine.
According to Emelianenko, the meeting took place in 2009 following his victory over Brett Rogers in Strikeforce. Although White expressed interest in bringing him to the UFC, the Russian fighter remained suspicious of the circumstances surrounding the negotiations.
"When I was a free agent, they showed no interest in me. But as soon as I was under contract, offers immediately started coming in. If I had signed with another organisation, legal proceedings would have followed, and I could have lost the opportunity to fight in the United States," Emelianenko said.
The former fighter explained that the meeting had been arranged at the initiative of his manager, Vadim Finkelstein, with lawyers also participating in the discussions.
Emelianenko believes the UFC leadership was attempting to draw him into a legal conflict with Strikeforce.
"We asked Dana White whether he was prepared to cover the legal expenses. It was clear that I wasn't going to leave Strikeforce. Frankly, I didn't understand the purpose of the meeting.
"I think they simply wanted to put pressure on me. If I had signed with the UFC, Strikeforce would have taken me to court, and as a result, I wouldn't have been able to fight for either organisation," he explained.
Despite his criticism, Emelianenko acknowledged that White had not behaved aggressively during their meeting and had appeared genuinely interested in seeing him compete in the UFC.
However, the Russian made it clear that he disagreed with the American promoter's approach to business.
"One moment Dana says he wanted me in the UFC, the next he says he didn't. Sometimes he claims he regrets not signing me, and other times he says he's glad it never happened.
"He doesn't stand by his words. His way of doing business is not something I agree with. If people consider him a legend, that's their choice. I don't see him that way," Emelianenko added.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight fighters in MMA history, Emelianenko never competed in the UFC despite years of speculation about a potential agreement with the promotion.
Instead, he built his reputation through successful spells in organisations including Pride, Strikeforce and Bellator.
The Russian fighter officially retired from professional MMA in 2023, following his defeat to Ryan Bader at Bellator 290.
His career remains one of the most celebrated in heavyweight MMA history, while his failure to reach an agreement with the UFC continues to be a subject of debate among fans and analysts.
