Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers Quick Hits
Fabricio Werdum defeats Antonio Silva, Unanimous Decision
I had initially favored Antonio Silva in this fight and needless to say, it didn’t EXACTLY turn out the way I had anticipated. Early on, it seemed like Silva was working an effective strategy of keeping the action on the feet. The first round saw Silva seemingly overwhelming Werdum with heavy strikes, negating any initiative of taking the fight to the ground.
In the second, Fabricio came alive, as he was able to expose mistakes made by “Pezao”, mainly the ingenious decision of the American Top Team product to take the fight to the ground against one of the best jujitsu practitioners in the world; Genius. “Vai Cavalo” was able to reverse position off his back, work scrambles and work a dose of ground and pound round, stealing the second round.
In the tie breaker—round three, the newfound Chute Boxe protégé put his new skills to the test, taking advantage of a weary Silva, establishing control with the muay thai plumb and landing several unanswered knees to the head of his gargantuan foe. And much like the recipe the worked so well for him in the second was effective once again in the third, bringing the action to the ground and establishing dominance in what proved to be the difference maker for the Abu Dhabi veteran in Fabricio, winning the bout, with a 29-28 sweep across the board from all three judges.
With two wins under his belt within his new stomping grounds, Werdum seems like an early candidate in short list of contenders to either A) Take on the unflappable Emelianenko (see below) or B)Vy for a title shot against the uncommitted champion, Alistair Overeem—who has not fought within the promotion, let alone the U.S., since his initial title win over Paul Buentello in 2007.
Gegard Mousasi defeats Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, TKO (Strikes), Rd. 2
A fight originally intended for overseas, Gegard and Sokoudjou both put on a show for the fans in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on Saturday night.
Pegged as the clear favorite, Gegard put his skills to the test against a very game “African Assassin”—where early on, he was able to hang with the former Dream Middleweight champion, blow for blow, and throw for throw. Thierry remained active in the early going, landing a few shots of his own with his speed and accuracy coming into play. Interestingly enough, Mousasi found himself in a bit of trouble in the early goings, as his attempts to bring the fight to the ground proved ineffective when the Cameroonian was able to muscle his way to remain on top.
A close round in the first, either could have one could have made the case for themselves to have taken it on the judges score cards.
The second round began much like the first, however just as has happened so many times before, fatigue began to settle in for the former UFC veteran in Sokoudjou during the second round and Mousasi capitalized.
Reversing position from his back, the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion was able to sweep, remaining on top in half-guard began to begin a flurry of strikes that Sokodjou was not able to with stand. A few moments later, the ware of the strikes began to take its toll on the Super-Hulk tournament finalist, as he rolled o his side not offering any intelligent defense, the referee was forced to step in and award Mousasi his 14th consecutive victory, and 27th overall.
So, what’s next for both men? Sokoudjou will jump right back into action, when he meets veteran and legend Ikuhisu Minowa in the finale of the Super-hulk grand prix tournament, in Japans annual K-1: Dynamite!! 2009 year end show.
Mousasi’s situation appears to be a little bit more fickle. With no obvious contender to challenge him for the light heavyweight title—unless Strikeforce brass is able to land Dan Henderson, which appears to be promising one week and improbable the next; only time will tell.
A return to the K-1 circuit might be in the cards next, since his 2008 performance in the aforementioned Dynamite!! Over legend Musashi under kick boxing rules, where Gegard put on a clinic in just his first professional KB bout.
Jake Shields defeats Jason Miller, Unanimous Decision—Strikeforce Middleweight Title
The once vacated middleweight crown was brought back to prominence when an unrelenting Jake Shields dominated Miller from start to finish, in what some fans considered it to be a “boo-bird” fest.
Miller was strong throughout, though his Brazilian jujitsu black belt counterpart nullified any offense that Miller could present. The early goings in the first saw a patient “Mayhem” allow Jake to take him down and work position without endangering himself in any fight ending situations. Towards the end of the round, the tables turned as Jason reversed position slam him to the ground and establish his own ground and pound.
Save from a near third-round rear naked choke finish on the part of the Bully-beatdown host, it was the only offense he was able to offer his opponent as Jake’s grappling and positioning proved to be too much for Miller.
Props for Jason for not becoming discouraged and giving it his all, but it just wasn’t meant to be his night as the Cesar Gracie protégé was able to go on to become the some-what undisputed middleweight champion for Strikeforce—until we see how Cung Le fairs in his bout against veteran Scott Smith on December 19th—a sure treat for the San Jose fans.
What’s next? Shields has a long list of contenders in Strikeforce’s middleweight stable: Matt Lindland, Benji Radach, Scott Smith, Robbie Lawler, Mo Lawal, Tim Kennedy, Ronaldo Souza…need I say more?
For “Mayhem” and his monkeys, another season of “Bully Beatdown” perhaps? Until he can retain his focus into the fight game and away from teen boppers, any matchup for him in the Strikeforce division is intriguing and always entertaining.
Fedor Emelianenko defeats Brett Rogers, TKO (Strikes), Rd. 2
The legend continues.
Though the mystique of Fedor has been something that has had all fans and pundits alike exasperating for many years…is it diminishing? Some might feel that the effort that Rogers put forward on Saturday night might have shown some chinks in the armor of the 33-year old Russian, but I tend to think not.
Rogers, is a tough fight for anyone. His size and determination make him a dangerous person to lock horns with, locked in a cage. Let alone the fact the he has a Mohawk, I mean…whoa.
Early on in the first, Rogers appeared to be poised and prepared. His game plan—strike first and that he did. The first punch landed on part of Rogers, a jab at that, immediately cut the bridge of Emelianenko’s nose, making a mess of things later on.
Winging punches from the hip, Emelianenko caught Rogers with a left hook, rocked him a bit before following to the ground in an effort to establish some control and work his patented submission holds.
Rogers being the big man that he is was able to power out and reverse the fortunes, capturing Fedor in a sticky situation where he was able to land four powerful shots standing over the behemoth Russian.
Un-phased, Emelianenko tried to lock in an arm bar to no avail.
The round ended with both men having put in good work, Rogers proving that he belonged in the same cage as the consensus number one heavyweight fighter.
The second much of the same as in the first, but with Rogers possibly a little worse for the ware, as he muscled Fedor to the cage, clinched up, but not offering any offense.
Once separated, Fedor landed the same right hand that had Arlovksi kissing canvas, into his 6’5 counterpart, crumbling to the mat, following the action to the ground with three additional strikes before referee John McCarthy deemed the bout finite.
With the win, Fedor extends his winning streak to 27-0-1 (1 No Contest) since a controversial loss to Tsuyoshi Kosaka in his fifth professional bout, by way of cut.
What’s next for Fedor?
A possible matchup with Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum, Sergei Kharatinov (sweet)…pretty much anything he wants—he’s Fedor.
Rogers? The world is his oyster. He proved to everyone that yes he’s no joke, but he can dish out what he receives. Any matchup in Strikeforce’s heavyweight division is intriguing and though Gus Johnson is a tool, I would be intrigued in a rematch with Fedor and “The Grim”, much…much later.
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