Strikeforce: Fedor V Rogers

Strikeforce: Fedor V Rogers Analysis and Predictions

Strikeforce: Fedor V Rogers - Saturday November 07, 2009 - CBS 9pm EST.
What's up party people! This Saturday's MMA event will be broadcast on CBS at 9pm EST. Yes this is FREE TV! The event comes via the very distant 2nd. place alternative to the UFC. I can live without the flashy, spectacle-like atmosphere and the over dramatic rethoric from Mauro, but I'm all for watching a solid MMA event, specially with Fedor headlining it. For the boxing fanatics out there that are just getting into MMA, it's OK, we forgive you, and you'll see a format that is much more familiar than the UFC. Also, StrikeForce also showcases female talent... a plus in my opinion. The preliminary card is ok, but some of the matches appear to be mismatches, but overall its still very much worth the attention of the fans. The main card is solid and full of fights with the potential of fireworks. Sit back, get your chips and brew (A Riestling and Sushi for me!) and enjoy some good ole' ass whuppins!

Preliminary card

* Women (145 lbs.) Marloes Coenen (16-3) VS Roxanne Modafferi (13-4)
This match was originally slated as a rematch between Coenen and Erin Toughill, but Modaffi fills in for Toughill due to "medical reasons". Modafferi has also defeated Coenen via split decision and is enjoying a 6 fight winning streak, but has not fought for a year. Coenen is very good on the ground but will most likely be outmatched by a much more rounded fighter in Modafferi. Expect Madafferi to keep this standing and to lay-and-pray if taken to the ground. Modafferi eeks out a decision victory again.

* Bantamweight Jeff Curran (29-12-1) VS Dustin Neace (17-13-1)
Curran washed out of WEC and is currently on a 4 fight losing streak, while Neace has lost 3 out of his last 4 fights. Neace is a competent grappler who is going against a better grappler... preety simple, Curran enjoys a 2nd Round Submission victory in his hometown. This will hopefully be a stepping stone to revitalize Curran's career.

* Welterweight Mark Miller (9-5) VS Deray Davis (5-1-1)
This shuold be a great way for MIller to showcase his grapplin accumen and get back into the swing of things. Davis is adquate on his feet but usually has issues on the ground. Miller will look for the take down and dominte the position and punish davis. After 14 months away from the cage, Miller should welcome his 1st. round submission win.

* Welterweight Christian Uflacker (1-0) VS Jonatas Novaes (4-2)
Jonatas Novae has not competed for over a year and Uflacker, although lacking in experience, more than makes up in talent. Both these guys are Brazilian Jiujitsu specialists and will no doubt provide a grappling clinic for the fans. I'm going with the newcomer; Uflacker 2nd. round submission.

* Middleweight John Kolosci (10-5) VS Shamar Bailey (9-1)
Shamar Bailey has been on a tear and is currently enjoying a 3 fight winning streak. Kolosci was one of the most liked participants of TUF and has the skills to make the fight interesting. Although I like Kolosci, I see Bailey pushing he pace and outworking Kolosci with strikes and finish with a 2nd round ground and pound victory.

* Middleweight Louis Taylor (4-0) VS Nate Moore (5-1)
Here we have two virtual unknowns. Taylor has a wrestling base and is at home in Chicago. Moore trains at AKA and also Wrestled in college. Both these guys are hungry so this may be the sleeper fight of the prelims. I expect Louis to use his physicality and wear down Moore and finaly get a TKO in the 3rd round.

Main card

* Heavyweight Fabricio Werdum (12-4-1) VS Antonio Silva (13-1)
Werdum finds himself in the unusual circumstance of being the smaller fighter. Silva is a Huge heavyweight from ATT with decent Brazilian JiuJitsu and overated stand-up. His only advantage is his size. Werdum's grappling is light-years ahead of Silva's and his Muay Thai has been improving steadily. Silva needs to utilize good takedown defense and his size to bully Werdum in the clinch. Ultmately, Werdum will find his rhythm and get the takedown. Silva will sucumb to ground and pound or to to submission in the 2nd round. Vai Cavalo may be on his way to a title shot!

* Light Heavyweight Gegard Mousasi (26-2-1) VS Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (7-4-0)
The "Dreamcatcher" Mousasi is the current Light Heavyweight champion after his demolition of Babalu; but this will not be a championship fight. He is an impressive specimen from the famed Red Devil Sports Club. Mousasi possesses brutal striking and can also handle himself on the ground. He is also enjoying a 13 fight winning streak, and before his loss to Gono, was enjoying an 8 fight winning streak. All benefits this Armenian's skill and training with the likes of Fedor. On the other hand we have one of my least liked fighters. Sokoudjou has a hell of a punch and nobody can deny his ferosity and power in his punching. However, his cardio has always been suspect and although he is a Judo black-belt, in my opinion his ground work is mediocre at best. Sokoudjou will come out swinging and find more than his match in Mousasi. Another 1st round victory for Mousasi via KO ot TKO.

* Middleweight Jake Shields (23-4-1) VS Jason Miller (22-6, 1NC)
"Mayham" is definitely one of the most exiting fighters out there, and no one can question his sills on the cage. Unfortunately Jake Shields is a beast on the ground with both wrestling and JiuJitsu skills. Although Miller always keeps a fast pace on his fights, Shields will outclass and outfight Miller and gain the upeer hand in the 3rd round via ground and pound.

* Heavyweight FEDOR EMELIANENKO (30-1, 1NC) VS BRETT ROGERS (10-0)
Finally we have "The Last Emperor", the most dominating heavyweight in the history of the sport. For those of you that are unfamiliar with this unasuming, seemingly out of shape Russian... first shame on you, and second, prepare to be awed. Fedor commands one of the most impressive tool kits in MMA: His striking is defined with relatively quick punching with KO power and the uncanny ability to maintan the impact of his strikes even when backing away, he can go with minimal loss to intensity for the entirety of a fight, but most importantly, his combat Sambo is second to none. He destroys people with his ground and pound and works armbars from the bottom with ease. Yeah.. the total package.
Brett Rogers is a heavy hitting monster that can put anybody to sleep if given the chance. He has been tearing through the heavyweights and dismantelled Andrei Arlovski- easily one of the best strikers in MMA - in the 1st. round of their fight. Both these guys will come out swinging so there will be sparks early on. I expect Fedor to slow the pace down and look for the mat. Fedor has flaws, he just never gives anybody the chance to exploit them. I think Rogers has a great chance to test Fedor's chin and put him away... provided he can get his paws on the Cyborg. Unfortunately for Rogers, Fedor can win this match any number of ways; Rogers only has a puncher's chance. Fedor continues his hegemony on the Heavyweigh division with a 2nd round ground and pound.