Let the speculation begin.

According to Chad Dukes of The Lavar Arrington Show With Chad Dukes on 106.7 The Fan and announced on air today, a source apparently is telling him that the deal Strikeforce has offered Fedor Emelianenko and M-1 would be for $1 million per fight: $500k from Strikeforce and $500k from CBS for 6 fights (not sure about what happens when he doesn't fight on CBS or perhaps these are all CBS fights?). Any fight would be co-promoted with M-1 and the contract would be non-exclusive. While I was adamant yesterday about the UFC's offer being excellent for Emelianenko, if these details are true the Strikeforce deal is excellent as well. It certainly isn't as financially lucrative as what the UFC has put together, but the clear obstacle of co-promotion is entirely removed.

Here's the rub: Five Knuckles is reporting something similar, but slightly different:

A source close to Emelianenko's camp has informed FiveKnuckles.com that Emelianenko has received an offer from Strikeforce which includes a non-exclusive contract for between $500,000 and $700,000 per fight, guaranteed exposure on CBS shows and a cut of any PPV event he was a part of.

I suppose this could actually be the same offer since a six-fight deal with Emelianenko implies a few of those fights would likely be on Showtime or PPV and not all CBS. The only detail I can add is that this is all similar to what I've been hearing and in fact, more lucrative. Stay tuned for information as it streams in.

Oh yeah, and does anyone else get the feeling that the UFC's mostly laissez-faire attitude towards Strikeforce is about to come to a screeching halt? It's just a guess and I don't blame Strikeforce for trying to capture the sport's top free agent when the opportunity presents itself, but I don't think it comes without significant reprisal. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

UPDATE by Kid Nate: Some more from the Fedor/M-1 side of the fence per Jonathan Snowden:

“The actual guarantee offered Fedor was less than $2 million. The other money would only come into play if the PPV’s did extremely well,” Snowden said. “Fedor was not offered a $5 million guarantee. It is also important for the entire Russian crew to have a chance to help grow the sport there. Although Fedor can make more money now in the UFC than he likely can elsewhere, it wouldn’t allow an opportunity to expand Russian MMA.”

and: