During a revealing episode of the Jaxxon podcast featuring UFC veterans Gilbert Melendez, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, and Luke Rockhold, a stunning revelation emerged about the financial arrangements behind Fedor Emelianenko’s historic Strikeforce signing. The conversation, which covered various topics from PED use to pensions for MMA stars, shed new light on one of MMA’s most significant signings.
The Fedor Signing
In a remarkable disclosure about Strikeforce’s acquisition of Fedor Emelianenko, Melendez discussed how the signing involved Scott Coker’s strong connections in Japan and complex business arrangements. Luke Rockhold then revealed the extraordinary financial commitment the promotion made to secure the Russian legend.
“They gave half the company, basically. They basically gave him half the revenue share—like, it was literally about half the revenue share to bring in Fedor,” Rockhold revealed.
Rockhold went on to speculate that the Russian secret service, KGB, were involved. Which is kinda funny considering KGB was replaced by FSB in 1993 and Emelianenko was signed to Strikeforce in 2009.
PED Controversy and Vitor Belfort
Gilbert Melendez has criticized UFC stars like Vitor Belfort, who he believes were allowed to compete with an unfair advantage due to PED use during the UFC’s earlier years. Luke Rockhold specifically targeted Belfort’s case during the podcast, calling him a “science project” who was deliberately kept fighting in Brazil.
“Vitor, in all seriousness, was a science project, and they were hiding him in Brazil,” Rockhold said. “He could only fight—he went on this run in Brazil. He beat AJ, he beat Bisping, he beat Dan Henderson.”
Rockhold pointed out the dramatic physical changes in Belfort’s appearance between fights: “He morphed when he fought Dan Henderson at light heavyweight. He looked nasty as hell at middleweight, and then he went up a weight class—he’s just like, ‘what the f*** is this thing,’ and then he fought Jones after that and he just got even bigger.”
While acknowledging that many fighters were “doing some TRTs and different things” in the sport’s earlier days, Rockhold emphasized that Belfort’s case stood out for the physical advantages he was permitted to compete with.
Addressing Fighter Welfare
During the podcast appearance, Rampage proposed creating either an “over 40s” division or improving pension and benefits for veteran fighters. Melendez emphasized how newer UFC stars are now earning substantial incomes through endorsements and exposure, while many of the sport’s pioneers face financial hardship.
“A lot of our pioneers and stuff, they’re not doing well financially,” Melendez noted during the conversation with hosts Rampage Jackson and Luke Rockhold.
“Think about the NFL before they started making all their money—they still have a pension,” Melendez explained. “Even though inflation messed them up, they still have a pension where they still get paid.”
