But to hear the Russian describe it, that deal was doomed from the word "crazy."

"It was not a pleasant thing to hear," said Emelianenko (26-1-0, 1 NC), responding to UFC president Dana White's drumbeat against the fighter's "crazy Russian" management.

"You cannot start a relationship with someone using those phrases."

Though Emelianenko's management, led by Finkelchtein and Apy Echteld, expressed in late July that the UFC offer was extremely lucrative, it also was the most restrictive in terms of likeness rights, exclusivity and other points they did not want their fighter to concede on. The UFC chose not to budge as well.

But in the end the decision not to sign with mixed martial arts most successful promoter, said Emelianenko, was his alone.

Fedor talking about why the UFC deal did not go down.