Ladies and Gentleman, Fedor Emelianenko
Published by Jim Genia on November 5th, 2009 in Current Events

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If you’re reading this, odds are you already know who Fedor Emelianenko is. If you’ve watched a non-UFC fight show, Googled “best pound-for-pound fighter”, or even just scanned any MMA website out there, the Russian heavyweight’s name has had to have come up. Fedor is the best, the destroyer of top fighters, and regardless of whether he ever sets foot in the Octagon or not, his legacy is already carved out in the blood and bones of vanquished foe after vanquished foe. And on Saturday night, on CBS primetime television, he’s headlining Strikeforce’s biggest and most important card ever.

Yes, it’s time for the rest of the world to know what we know, to witness the full power and fury of the man responsible for defeating (and often crushing) such top-tier (at least, they were top-tier when he fought them) competitors as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Tim Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski, Mark Coleman and Mirko CroCop among others. When heavyweights compete, it’s Fedor’s prowess they aspire to emulate. When they win, it’s his glory they hope to attain. He’s that good and that huge. The big question now is if the former Pride star is enough to drive ratings – is he? Can a Russian who speaks virtually no English make the transition from MMA superstar to mainstream superstar? Strikeforce certainly hopes so, and to make Saturday night’s contest interesting, they’ve paired Fedor up with big puncher Brett Rogers.

It goes without saying that, when their two resumes are compared, Rogers’ barely stacks up. But “the Grimm” has as good a chance as any at providing fireworks, and if his 22-second destruction of fallen UFC champ Arlovski is an indication, he has the legitimate ability to put people to sleep when his fist meets their face. Rogers is about as likely to land that one game-changing punch as anyone. Can he do that to Fedor? Not likely. Rogers will either be TKO’d or submitted by the end of the night. But he’s a viable opponent. Outside of Strikeforce champ Alistair Overeem, who’s either unwilling or unable to fight here in the States, who else among the non-UFC heavyweights is worthy? The answer to that one is “not very many.” Rogers could win, he’ll probably lose, but regardless, the main event for CBS’ latest primetime offering is a compelling one – and the perfect platform for casual viewers to acquaint themselves with “the Last Emperor”.

Also compelling is the co-main event, a middleweight championship contest between ace jiu-jitsu practitioner Jake Shields and MTV “Bully Beatdown” emcee Jason Miller. Both men are highly-experienced masters of their art, and though the edge in grappling unquestionably goes to Shields, Miller certainly has the tools to take him out on the feet while avoiding trouble on the ground. Watch for Miller to win this one via decision after a long, grueling battle.

Then there’s the promising match-up between burgeoning star Gegard Mousasi and UFC and Pride veteran Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. Mousasi absolutely wrecked Renato Sobral to earn the Strikeforce light-heavyweight belt, and this non-title bout should be no different in terms of highlight-reel fodder. Mousasi is the real deal, realer than anything the tough but fallible Sokoudjou has, and barring any errant banana peels and comedic pratfalls within the cage, the Armenian should make short work of the Cameroonian judo competitor.

Rounding out the CBS card is another heavyweight match-up, this one between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champ Fabricio Werdum and Brazilian behemoth Antonio Silva. Silva is big in a circus-freak kind of way, but he should be no match for Werdum’s submission game. This one is ending by tap out.

Stars are made on memorable performances, and the promise of memorable performances can prompt people to tune in. Will Fedor and Strikeforce succeed when the ratings are tallied for Saturday night? Who knows. But one thing is sure: the whole world will know who the heavyweight is by then.

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