Depending on your state of mind regarding the future of Affliction, one would think that Fedor Emelianenko is the crown jewel of that organization.  How long that Fedor remains in that position is up for debate as he is contractually bound to Affliction.  But that could very well change in the future as UFC president Dana White, in so many words said that Emelianenko will inevitably sign with the UFC.

White went even further, adding that he not only wants Fedor in the UFC, but he has current heavyweight title holder Brock Lesnar as his first opponent.  According to Dana,

“This Fedor thing has gone on and on and on. Eventually, Fedor’s going to be here. I want Fedor. I want him to come to the UFC and everything else.

“This guy (Brock Lesnar) just won the heavyweight title, and we’ll end up getting that deal done. And then we’ll do Brock vs. Fedor, and it’ll be a huge fight.”

There’s a bit of a history between White and Emelianenko.  There have been negotiations between both sides several times, with no real progress.  And it isn’t so much financial as to whom White would have to deal with (Fedor’s agent is none other than Vadim Finkelchtein).  Also factor in the fact that the UFC would have to enter the Russian market, which is untapped.

So obviously, concessions will have to be made on both sides if Fedor expects to fight in the Octagon.  And after Lesnar’s impressive win over Frank Mir Saturday night, it may very well be a matter of not if Fedor signs a contract with the UFC, but when.