Five reasons to watch ‘Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers’

Five reasons to watch 'Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers'

November 2nd, 2009, 12:37 pm · Post a Comment · posted by CARLOS ARIAS

Brett Rogers, left, and Fedor Emelianenko pose at Sunday's Chicago Bears game. PHOTO COURTESY OF CBS.

Russian sensation Fedor Emelianenko makes his U.S. network TV debut against Brett Rogers at "Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers" on Saturday at 9 p.m. on CBS at Sears Centre in Chicago, Ill.

Here are five reasons to watch the show:

1. Fedor Emelianenko: It's must-see TV whenever the No. 1 heavyweight in the world fights, and Fedor is just that. Not only is Fedor widely considered the top heavyweight in the world, but many even consider Fedor the best fighter pound-for-pound in the history of mixed martial arts.

Also, Fedor is known for delivering the goods whenever he steps in the ring. In his past two fights for Affliction, the former Pride heavyweight champion completely annihilated former UFC heavyweight champions Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski.

2. Can Fedor become a star in the U.S.: The UFC pushed hard to sign Fedor as a free agent when Affliction went under. UFC president Dana White recognized Fedor's potential for stardom in the U.S. The deal with the UFC fell through when the UFC was unwilling to co-promote with Fedor's company, M-1 Global. With co-promotion off the table, Fedor and M-1 Global went with Strikeforce.

Fedor's talent and results in the ring are unquestioned, but can Strikeforce succeed where Affliction failed? Fedor will have the full weight of the Showtime and CBS publicity machine behind him. All he has to do is produce in the ring. It's going to be interesting to see if he can pull it off.

3. Brett Rogers could pull off an upset: Rogers is a considerable underdog, but he is a live underdog. The 6-5, 265-pounder has ended all 10 of his fights inside the distance. Only one fighter has gotten out of the first round with him.

This is a devastating puncher. When someone possesses the kind of destructive punching power in his fists that Rogers does, he always has a shot.

The problem is he's not nearly as effective on the ground as Fedor, who is a submission master. Can Rogers keep the fight standing and force him to slug it out?

4. Jake Shields vs. Jason "Mayhem" Miller: Cung Le vacated the Strikeforce middleweight title to pursue a career in acting and now Shields will move up from 170 pounds to challenge the always entertaining Miller, the star of MTV's "Bully Beatdown."

Miller's elaborate ring entrances are more than worth the price of admission, but the well-rounded Team Quest fighter can also fight. Shields, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Cesar Gracie, is a submission wizard. This should be a very exciting fight.

5. Gegard Mousasi is in action: The 24-year-old sensation brings a 13-fight winning streak into his bout against Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou.

Mousasi became a star overseas when he beat Denis Kang, Donk Sik Yoon, Melvin Manhoef and Ronaldo Souza to win the 2008 Dream Middleweight Grand Prix.

Mousasi continued his impressive run when he needed 60 seconds to dispatch Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Renato "Babalu" Sobral in his Strikeforce debut on Aug. 15.

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