Strikeforce/M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Rogers is LIVE tonight

November 7, 9:37 PMKnoxville MMA ExaminerKatrina Belcher

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STRIKEFORCE/ M-1 GLOBAL: Fedor vs. Rogers

Tonight, Saturday, November 7th, Strikeforce has teamed with CBS to provide fans and fannabe’s with "STRIKEFORCE/ M-1 GLOBAL: Fedor vs. Rogers" a LIVE event in Illinois on the CBS Television Network (9:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT).

After the last UFC event in Illinois, I can help but mention how nervous I am about the referees there – ex-boxing refs do NOT transition well into knowledgeable MMA referees. Pretty much as soon as any of the fighters hit the mat, they’ll be forced to stand right back up, if history is repeated.

The main card will feature Fedor Emelianenko (30-1 MMA record) and Brett “The Grim” Rogers (10-0-0 MMA record) in a much anticipated fight showdown.

Emelianenko was scheduled to fight former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett on August 1, 2009, at Affliction: Trilogy, but Barnett was subsequently denied his license to compete by the California State Athletic Commission after testing positive for anabolic steroids.

Then to add injury to insult, Vitor Belfort, another Afflicition: Trilogy fighter, was reported as a likely replacement, but the next day Affliction canceled the event citing limited time to find a suitable replacement and inadequate time to promote the fight.

Dana White of the UFC was seriously interested in signing Emelianenko, and reportedly offered Fedor a six fight-$30 million, but after Affliction's collapse, Fedor instead signed a 3 (three) fight contract with Strikeforce.

Dana reported told Yahoo's Cagewriter: "I'm in Abu Dhabi right now and my reaction is Fedor is a (expletive) joke. (He) turns down a huge deal and the opportunity to face the best in the world to fight nobodies, for no money. Fedor is a (expletive)."

"I feel sorry for the real fans! I wanted to make the deal but it takes two and it is VERY obvious Fedor doesn't want to fight the best and doesn't give a (expletive) about the fans."

Strikeforce executive Mike Afromowitz told MMAjunkie.com that Emelianenko "will get top competition in Strikeforce as he would've in the UFC."

"There are a lot of potential opponents you could put in front of him that could give him very tough fights right now," Afromowitz said.

Emelianenko is part owner of the M-1 Global organization, and he recently brokered a deal to co-promote events with Strikeforce. "I am looking forward to going back to work and fighting at the highest level.”

On August 26, 2009, Scott Coker, founder of Strikeforce, had announced at Fedor's public workout in New York City that Fedor is scheduled to fight Brett Rogers at a date later to be confirmed. Coker confirmed that Emelianenko's debut date will take place on November 7, broadcast nationally on CBS.

"Strikeforce is a top fight promotion that houses some of the greatest fighters in the world. I am prepared to fight any of them."

The fight tonight for Emelianenko should be interesting, as it will be the first time he’s ever fought inside a “cage.”

On a personal note: GO ROXANNE!

Also of note in tonight’s fight:

• Jake Shields and Jason “Mayhem” Miller will competed to determine Strikeforce’s 185-pound champion in Miller’s Strikeforce debut.
• Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and Gegard Mousasi will compete in a three round non-title bout. Mousasi is the current light heavyweight champion of the promotion.
• Finally, Antonio Silva and Fabricio Werdum will compete in the heavyweight division.

The complete fight cards for the night are listed below.

• Heavyweight bout: Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brett Rogers
• Middleweight Championship bout: Jake Shields vs. Jason “Mayhem” Miller
• Light Heavyweight bout: Gegard Mousasi vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
• Heavyweight bout: Antonio Silva vs. Fabricio Werdum
• Bantamweight bout: Jeff Curran vs. Dustin Neace
• Women's bout (145-lb): Roxanne Modafferi vs. Marloes Coenen
• Welterweight bout: Mark Miller vs. Deray Davis
• Middleweight bout: Shamar Bailey vs. John Kolosci
• Middleweight bout: Louis Taylor vs. Nate Moore
• Welterweight bout: Christian Uflacker vs. Jonatas Novaes