Donald Trump to Team With Fedor Emelianenko for MMA Reality Show

by Jon Azpiri | October 16, 2008 at 10:46 am
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Donald and his Whirlybird

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TV personality and real estate magnate Donald Trump is set to announce plans for a new reality show in which MMA fighters will compete for the chance to grapple with MMA heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko. The show, titled "Fighting Fedor", will be produced in conjunction with promoters M-1 Global and Affliction.

The 6'0", 235-pound Russian is widely considered to be the world's best heavyweight MMA fighter.While Emelianenko has competed worldwide, he only fought in the US for the first time this summer at an Affliction event in Anaheim, California. "Fighting Fedor" producers believe that the show could raise Emelianenko's profile in the US as well as promote the sport worldwide.


A promo video presented by M-1 Global explained that participants from various countries will travel to St. Petersburg, Russia, where they’ll train at the Red Devil camp and compete in the tournament. The video said the show will be on “American TV,” though it doesn’t have a home yet.

“We’re currently having negotiations with many different networks and channels,” said M-1 Global President Vadim Finkelchtein through an interpreter.

Finkelchtein said networks are particularly interested because the show will focus on heavyweights. He also noted the international scope of M-1 Global, which through the M-1 Challenge has hosted events this year in Spain, Holland, England, Korea and Japan.

Trump, the host of NBC's reality show "The Apprentice" is said to be one of the front men for the show, although details of his exact role have yet to be revealed. While the competition on the show may be entertaining, it's unlikely that any contestant will be a match for Emelianenko, who has lost just once in more than 30 MMA matches.


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Jordan Yerman

Is Bas Rutten allowed to compete on this show?

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CJaye

There is nothing about Donald Trump that is news. He stolen from people as his father and they both laugh about it. They are scum! It makes them feel good to kick the little guy and take from the people who work all their life for what they have. He's a shark devouring everything in his path.

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