The prolonged contract negotiations between Strikeforce and M-1 Global over the services of Fedor Emelianenko have reached the point where Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker can joke about it.

“I’ve been back and forth, back and forth. The lawyers are going back and forth, back and forth. We’ve already been in touch with the State Department about calling the Kremlin and giving us a hand to finish this contract,” Coker said Monday on the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show. “I think we might have to go through the government to get this thing done. In all seriousness, I think we’ll have something to announce here real soon.”

Fedor fought last in June, his second Strikeforce bout, when Fabricio Werdum stunningly submitted him with a triangle choke. He is believed to have one fight remaining on his current Strikeforce contract. Coker said he does want to sign Fedor to additional fights -- as many as four to six -- but he also said he’s willing to promote the Russian heavyweight’s third and final fight on his contract.

“We would definitely fight him,” Coker said, “but if we have an opportunity to have that conversation [for more fights], why not have that conversation?”

Coker also said that pay-per-view and the revenue it could generate is not what’s holding up the deal.

“All I can tell you is we’re closer than we’ve ever been,” he said. “I look forward to Fedor fighting. I believe he’ll be fighting in the first quarter of next year.”

Listen to the full interview (beginning at 20:45) with Coker, who also discussed future Strikeforce matchups.