MMAVu

Preliminary numbers are in for the “biggest pay-per-view in UFC history” according to Dana White, and it’s not. The number is imressive however, clocking in at over 800,000 buys. A quick calculation later, the revenue generated was $35,960,000. Not too shabby at all in these dark, economic times.You add that to the live gate revenue of $4,800,000 and the event was one of the most profitable in the organization’s history…not to mention the most expensive in fighter salary. The disclosed fighter pay was over a million dollars, not to mention the undisclosed money.

The final pay-per-view tally will likely still be higher once the numbers trickle in. Still hard to fathom at the Fertittas and White paid $2 million for the struggling organization back in the day.

No, he still only has one loss in MMA, that was due to a cut… the loss came from the 2008 World Sambo Championships, and was his first in the Russian self-defense combat sport in eight years.

With that loss fresh in his mind, and a whirlwind media tour planned leading up to his Jan. 24 Affliction 2 bout with Andrei Arlovski rapidly approaching, Fedor has canceled the press tour in order to focus solely on training. Fedor suffered the Sambo loss to Blagoy Ivanov of Bulgaria earlier this month. Said Emelianenko of the decision to skip the media blitz:

Andrei Arlovski is a dangerous fighter and has looked in prime condition and at the top of his game in his last few fights. He is one of the top 3 heavyweights in the world. This is not a fighter I will defeat if I am taking shortcuts in training.

One thing to note is that Fedor considers Sambo his “hobby” and he approaches the sport differently that he does MMA, which is, “his job.”

Fedor last competed in July, where according to UFC President Dana White, “Did everyone a favor by getting rid of Tim Sylvia.” Fedor tooled the former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia and tapped him out in 36 seconds.

I’m definitely looking forward to a focused and determined Fedor taking on Arlovski. This is a dream match on par with the recent Couture vs Lesnar bout to the hardcore fans who have followed Fedor’s career since Pride in Japan. Should be a ring-a-ding dong dandy.