The Weekly Wrap: March 6 - March 12

Fedor, Strikeforce Deal

After a period of uncertainty, it appears that Strikeforce and M-1 Global -- the company that represents Fedor Emelianenko -- are close to an agreement that will bring the Russian heavyweight kingpin back to the promotion. He is expected to face Fabricio Werdum next.

Evgeni Kogan, who joined M-1 Global as its director of operations this year, told Sherdog.com that M-1 and Strikeforce have nearly finished tweaking the co-promotional agreement between the two parties. He floated June or July as potential return dates for Emelianenko to Sherdog.com but told Yahoo! Sports any specific date is premature.

The terms that were changed were not disclosed, though Kogan did say there was a feeling the M-1 brand did not get as much media play as the Strikeforce brand in the run-up to the Nov. 7 event featuring Emelianenko vs. Brett Rogers on CBS. Strikeforce and M-1 are believed to be splitting 50 percent of revenue or profits on shows Emelianenko headlines. Emelianenko signed a three-fight deal with Strikeforce under the co-promotional agreement.

Kogan dismissed reports that Emelianenko had injured his hand in a sambo competition in Russia two weeks ago, forcing him to bow out. Kogan said Emelianenko dropped out because he was on course to face his brother, Aleksander Emelianenko, in the tournament.

Strikeforce’s next big show is April 17 on CBS. There was talk the card may be moved to April 24 to avoid an event the UFC is working on staging that night, but the decision has been made not to move the Strikeforce date.

CEO Scott Coker told MMAJunkie.com that it may be the first Strikeforce event to feature pre-taped preliminary bouts. Because three title fights are set for the show, the production needs to budget time for all fights to go 25 minutes. In the event they end quickly, Coker said a yet-to-be-announced preliminary fight will be taped to fill the air time.