Einemo Returns to UFC, Teammate Bahadurzada Could Follow
The UFC and Golden Glory have apparently found common ground.
Heavyweight submission specialist John Olav Einemo (pictured) Wednesday announced that he will return to the Octagon, though no debut date was mentioned. The news comes on the heels of an announcement from Einemo's Golden Glory teammate, Siyar Bahadurzada, who tweeted on Tuesday that he had been offered a contract with the UFC.
While UFC president Dana White confirmed the Einemo signing at
today's UFC 135 press conference in Denver, Bahadurzada's status is
still in flux. According to the Shooto 183-pound world champion, he
is still deciding whether to sign the deal.
“I [have been] offered a UFC contract, but nothing is signed yet,” Bahadurzada tweeted. “My team and I will discuss it and let you know when it's signed! Thanks for [your] patience!”
Three members of Golden Glory were recently released by Zuffa following a conflict over fighter payout procedures, as Marloes Coenen, Alistair Overeem and Einemo all received their walking papers. Following his release from Strikeforce on July 29, Overeem was signed to a UFC contract on Sept. 6 as a member of Golden Glory. However, “The Demolition Man” yesterday released a statement announcing that he had parted ways with his longtime team.
Though Einemo is known for his potent ground attack, he elected not to display those skills in his lone UFC appearance on June 11, instead engaging with Dave Herman in a back-and-forth slugfest en route to a knockout defeat. Prior to that “Fight of the Night”-winning performance, the 2003 ADCC gold medalist had lost only to Fabricio Werdum in seven pro outings, falling to “Vai Cavalo” at Pride 31 in 2006.
Recognized as one of the most aggressive fighters in all of MMA, Bahadurzada has won six-straight fights. The 27-year-old Afghanistan native recently captured the Ultimate Glory welterweight tournament crown, knocking out Derrick Noble, John Alessio and Tommy Depret in the process. The Sengoku veteran holds half of his 20 career wins by KO and has never been knocked out in his nine years as a pro.
Heavyweight submission specialist John Olav Einemo (pictured) Wednesday announced that he will return to the Octagon, though no debut date was mentioned. The news comes on the heels of an announcement from Einemo's Golden Glory teammate, Siyar Bahadurzada, who tweeted on Tuesday that he had been offered a contract with the UFC.
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“I [have been] offered a UFC contract, but nothing is signed yet,” Bahadurzada tweeted. “My team and I will discuss it and let you know when it's signed! Thanks for [your] patience!”
Three members of Golden Glory were recently released by Zuffa following a conflict over fighter payout procedures, as Marloes Coenen, Alistair Overeem and Einemo all received their walking papers. Following his release from Strikeforce on July 29, Overeem was signed to a UFC contract on Sept. 6 as a member of Golden Glory. However, “The Demolition Man” yesterday released a statement announcing that he had parted ways with his longtime team.
Though Einemo is known for his potent ground attack, he elected not to display those skills in his lone UFC appearance on June 11, instead engaging with Dave Herman in a back-and-forth slugfest en route to a knockout defeat. Prior to that “Fight of the Night”-winning performance, the 2003 ADCC gold medalist had lost only to Fabricio Werdum in seven pro outings, falling to “Vai Cavalo” at Pride 31 in 2006.
Recognized as one of the most aggressive fighters in all of MMA, Bahadurzada has won six-straight fights. The 27-year-old Afghanistan native recently captured the Ultimate Glory welterweight tournament crown, knocking out Derrick Noble, John Alessio and Tommy Depret in the process. The Sengoku veteran holds half of his 20 career wins by KO and has never been knocked out in his nine years as a pro.
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