According to Evgeni Kogan, M-1 Global’s Director of Operations, Californians can expect to see a lot of Fedor “the Last Emperor” Emelianenko next month. In an effort to interact more with American fans, the stoic, Russian fighter plans to attend the Strikeforce: Los Angeles event, featuring Robbie Lawler vs. Renato “Babalu” Sobral, on June 16 at the Nokia Theatre. That same week, Emelianenko will appear at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the annual video game industry conference, to promote “EA Sports: MMA.”

Less than ten days later, “the Last Emperor” will head north to face Fabricio Werdum on June 26, in an unofficial number one contender match. The winner will likely fight current Strikeforce heavyweight champion, Alistair “the Demolition Man” Overeem, for the title.

The champ has made it clear that he wants to face Emelianenko. After dispatching Brett Rogers on May 15, Overeem called out Emelianenko during his post fight interview. “The Demolition Man” also insinuated that M-1 Global turned down previous offers to set up a fight between the two heavyweights.

Kogan refutes those claims, stating that their management team has never seen an official request for Emelianenko to square off against the Golden Glory fighter.

“If (Overeem) can point to where Fedor turned down a proposed fight, we’d like to hear it.”

Despite what Overeem says in the media, Kogan insists that M-1 Global is open to discuss the future title bout.

“We have nothing against Overeem as an opponent and we’re completely open to discussing that fight after June 26, if Fedor does well.”

Should Emelianenko defeat Werdum, Strikeforce will have virtually no other choice, but to set up the long awaited Overeem vs. Emelianenko fight. With demands coming from both Golden Glory and M-1 Global, it will be a tenuous, but necessary balancing act. To not put this bout together would be a travesty in the eyes of many MMA fans.

Strikeforce: Los Angeles and Strikeforce/M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Werdum will air on Showtime.

(Source: Sherdog)