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I'm going to see this Saturday's Strikeforce event live and it's a pretty decent card:
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brett Rogers
Jake Shields vs. Jason "Mayhem" Miller
Gegard Mousasi vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
Fabricio Werdum vs. Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva
I have to admit I am extremely hyped to see this man in person. He is on my "to fight" list, after all. I may challenge him that evening.
The 28 days later music for the first half was awesome.
I believe Fedor has to take Rogers down to the ground fairly immediately and submit him. He can't spend anymore time trying to stand with Rogers than is necessary in order to take him down. If he stands with Rogers any longer than he has to, I think Rogers KOs Fedor. I don't think Fedor should try the approach of unleashing a flurry and then taking down the stunned opponent because I think Rogers will have found his chin even within that small window.
Smart money says Fedor but he has to execute his strategy without flaw because I think he has far smaller a margin of error than many pundits realize. Brett Rogers can KO a buffalo, he's a big, big motherfucker, and he's fucking faster than anyone probably realizes. The man is fast, he swings fast and hard, has good footwork, very light on his feet for a man that size, agile, explosive, and he will find that chin. Underrated muay thai as well, he can knock you out with knee strikes, which he is comfortable unleashing. And I think he will be harder to take down; it's not a given that he'll be taken down. Very dangerous fight for Fedor. Just for the sake of argument, if this was Overeem fighting Rogers, I think Rogers with KO Alistair in the first round.
Gooch: fight expert
Interested to see how Antonio Silva looks, too. The man is exceptionally skilled, especially for a man that size, and will eventually fight Fedor if he can beat Werdum. He hasn't really fought anybody and had this upset loss - a fight I think he would have won had it been in a cage - but really a stunning upset that set him back:
Ideally Showtime would see this progression with their investment in Fedor: a win over Rogers, a win over Silva, and then a win over Overeem for the belt.
1. Fedor should avoid a rematch with Brett Rogers.
2. Fedor should continue to stay out of the UFC.
Otherwise, it was awesome to see Fedor and Mousasi, disappointed in the Jake Shields - Mayhem Miller fight, have no interest in seeing Fedor vs. Werdum.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gooch
turns out Fedor can stand toe to toe with him.
It was impressive. Rogers was waiting to let his hands loose longer than normal.
The explosion for Fedor was incredible. The building literally erupted for the man.
Still very impressed with Rogers and I think this fight does not hurt his career at all. The man is legit, had Fedor in a position few can have him in, attempted to finish, all for a guy who was a tire technician at Sam's Club one year ago. I think he obliterates Silva, Overeem, any heavyweight left in Strikeforce.
Hope to see Fedor - Overeem next because a Werdum fight is absolutely pointless.
no doubt, I was quite shocked that Rogers landed such a clean blow to Fedor's face in the early going.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gooch
nasty hit.