Fedor, UFC can't agree to terms

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Fedor Emelianenko and M-1 denied earlier reports of the UFC offering him a six-fight, $30 million deal. Icon SMI Josh Gross's Mailbag Submit a comment or question for Josh. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND

With or without Fedor Emelianenko, the UFC plans to continue pushing forward, making money and breaking barriers.

Presiding over mixed martial arts' most successful organization, Dana White made it clear during a conference call with media Friday that his company would not dwell on another round of negotiations with the sport's top heavyweight or his promotional group, M-1 Global.

"We tried everything that we could possibly do to get Fedor into the UFC, we went above and beyond," said White, who drew a line in the sand over the proposal of co-promotion. "I have been able to sign the best fighters in the world over the last 10 years into the UFC."

As an example, White cited Tito Ortiz -- one of UFC's most marketable, successful and controversial fighters during the Zuffa era -- whose re-signing was among several items confirmed during the call.

Additionally, White said a proposed rematch between Dan Henderson and Rich Franklin had been scrapped following negative fan reaction to the bout. In its place, Franklin will meet Vitor Belfort, his contract having been co-opted after Affliction folded, in Dallas at UFC 103 in September. Belfort is one of several fighters under contract to Affliction that White said would enter the UFC or WEC. Henderson, meanwhile, was named the No. 1 contender to Anderson Silva's UFC middleweight title.

News of a three-year deal with ESPN UK was also made official. The network, which airs content in hi-definition and is set to kickoff Aug. 13, and the promoter begin their relationship in earnest with a free tape-delay broadcast of UFC 101.

Though White wasn't interested in answering questions about negotiations with Emelianenko, the biggest story in the sport remains the chasm between UFC and M-1 Global over how best to create fights in MMA.

On Tuesday, White and Zuffa co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta spoke by phone from Europe with Emelianenko and his representatives, who were in California during, what should have been, the final days leading up to a fight against Josh Barnett at Affliction "Trilogy." Though Emelianenko is currently under contract to M-1 -- a company in which he owns a significant equity stake -- for three fights at $2 million a bout, the UFC proposed what all sides agreed was a very generous money offer.

However, "it does not give us a chance to do what we as a company, including Fedor, are wanting to and planning to do," said the fighter's long-time manager and partner, Vadim Finkelchtein.

Rumors of a six-fight, $30 million deal from the UFC were shot down by Emelianenko's camp. Sources inside M-1 Global told SI.com that the UFC offer was for half as many fights at a rate less than what Emelianenko currently receives from his promotional company.

Emelianenko's reply to the UFC the following day didn't need translation. Addressing a small contingent of media gathered at a makeshift press conference in Anaheim, Calif., Emelianenko wore a pullover emblazoned with the EA Sports logo, a clear dismissal of White's decree that fighters wishing to compete in the UFC would refrain from signing a deal with the video game giant.

When he did say something noteworthy, his translator missed it. Asked why he should be considered any different than scores of world-class fighters who have agreed to fight in the UFC, Emelianenko said it was a matter of timing.