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M-1’s Jerry Millen appeared on Steve Cofield’s ESPN1100 radio show prior to the Strikeforce event this past weekend and had some interesting things to say about the failed negotiations between M-1 and Zuffa to bring Fedor to the UFC. If Millen can be believed, which is admittedly questionable, Fedor essentially called Dana out during the meeting for all the negative things he’s said in the media about Fedor.

“Dana is two-faced. One minute he says [Fedor] is the best fighter in the world and ‘I want him.’ Then [another] he’s the fat guy at the buffet.”

Millen, wasn’t in the meeting, but claims to have been on the phone to hear White’s pitch to Fedor:

“In the meeting, Dana says to Fedor ‘oh, you’re the best fighter in the world, we’d love to have you.’ And Fedor says to him ‘yeah, I hear and read on the internet what you have to say about me everyday.’ And then Dana’s like ‘I’m just a promoter. I’m just trying to sell tickets. I just want to sell tickets.’ And Fedor said ‘that’s what makes you and I different.’ [Fedor] just wants respect and to be treated fairly.”

Although this post comes with a giant “consider the source” disclaimer, it is believable when you consider the type of person Fedor is. And if it is true, it certainly hasn’t stopped Dana from slamming Fedor in the media.

Update: And here’s why it’s difficult to believe anything Jerry Millen says.

“If these guys in the UFC truly wanted to fight Fedor, they’d find a way. Come to his training camp. Come to Stary Oskol, and we’ll do three, five-minute rounds in the ring or the cage. We’ll do it for fun.

“If you really want to fight him for competition, and it’s not about the money for the guys in the UFC, then tell Brock Lesnar to jump his ass on a plane, take a train, and come to Stary Oskol. If these guys really want to fight Fedor, then come to Stary Oskol and lets get it on there for no money.”

Randy Couture, as you might expect, is a little disappointed that Fedor didn’t sign with the UFC, but he’s not surprised. He thinks negotiations might have turned out differently if Fedor was alone, but with M-1 involved, building the brand took priority over the amount of money offered in the contract.

Here’s M-1 VP of something Jerry Millen elaborating on that very topic.

“It boils down to respect. (M-1 Global president) Vadim (Finkelchtein) has been doing MMA for a long time, and he wants the M-1 brand to grow, for profit or for loss. We’re in a co-promotion for Strikeforce as a co-promotion. If it makes a profit, great, we all make a profit. If it makes a loss, we share in that loss. It’s not about the money. If it’s about the money, then you take the sure money, and you take it and say, ‘This money is a payday that we’re going to get, guaranteed, and let’s take this payday. There may even be some bonus structures, and it’s going to make it a bigger payday.’ Or do we take this risk on a co-promotion? Then we can build something…At the end of the day, it’s not about money if you really think about it. You can take a guaranteed figure that’s probably pretty good. You’re going to know at the end of the day what you’re going to get. But if you want to grow your company and get the respect that you deserve? One minute Dana’s saying, ‘Fedor is irrelevant; [expletive] him,’ and then the next day he’s like, ‘Oh, he’s the greatest fighter in the world, I want him. Now he’s back to, ‘This guy sucks.’ So he can’t make his mind up. You see what I’m saying? If he doesn’t get his way, it’s either his way or no way. That’s what it boils down to. [M-1 Global] just wants to work somewhere where it’s fair.”

Like most everyone, yeah, I was pretty disappointed that things didn’t work out between Fedor/M-1 and the UFC. But at the end of the day, it’s their right to do what they feel is best for them. If trying to build M-1 into something bigger was more important to them than the money, then I can respect that. I have serious doubts about them succeeding since Zuffa in all likelihood is going to break open the war chest, but I’m not going to blame them for trying. I just hope this is what Fedor wants, and not M-1 using him to get what they want.

Now that the big Fedor-Strikeforce news has sunk in comments from all the parties involved are starting to come in.

The Jerry Millen show: take four.

Part two with Jerry Millen calling out Freddie Roach for all the “smack” he’s talked resulting in a $5k bet and the Affliction “Day of Reckoning” LA Press Conference after the jump.

More Fedor photos at M1MixFight.com

Sorry Randy, but it looks like Fedor’s found someone new.