5. Carlos Condit vs. Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 132

I admit, part of the reason why this fight got on this list is because I’m vindictive. I really, really don’t like Dong Hyun Kim. I don’t like his style, and I certainly didn’t like the trash-talking he did before this fight. I wanted Carlos Condit to KTFO him, and then Carlos Condit went out and KTFO’d him. It was an awesome moment and a big step forward in Condit’s career, and I think Condit deserves a shot at the UFC Welterweight Championship because of it. So while part of the reason is mean-spirited, I think this fight definitely deserves a spot on this list based on its merits, its dramatic finish, and what it did for the career of Condit.

4. Wanderlei Silva vs. Chris Leben at UFC 132

The shortest of the three one-round fights featured on this list, Silva vs. Leben earns a spot as one of the best fights of the month because we got exactly what we paid for. We knew how good both Silva and Leben were at brawling, and we all hoped that they’d meet in the middle at the sound of the first bell and start throwing bombs. And that’s exactly what they did, resulting in a spectacular KO of Silva in under thirty seconds.

3. Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader at UFC 132

Just about everyone, even me, had this fight pegged as the final loss of Ortiz’s UFC return and perhaps the final fight of his career. Instead, Ortiz showed up like a man possessed and promptly destroyed Bader faster than even current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. It’s incredibly rare to see a fighter virtually resurrect himself with one performance, but that’s exactly what happened here and that’s exactly why this fight gets a spot on this list.

2. Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber at UFC 132

The previous three were all one-round fights, but their dramatic ends and the fact that all three fights featured major stars is reason enough to put them on this list. This, however, was a five-round war of attrition that saw both men pushed to their absolute limits. Above all else, I think this fight, the main event of UFC 132, proved that lighter-weight fighters are here to stay and can be just as exciting as any of the larger weight divisions.

And the number-one best fight of July 2011 is…

1. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson at Strikeforce “Fedor vs. Henderson”

This was honestly the only fight I felt really moved by that didn’t take place at UFC 132, which I think was one of the best events in UFC history. Nothing else besides this fight matched up to the excitement and anticipation of the previous four encounters. But this fight definitely stood out above the previous four as an amazing encounter between two veteran legends. It was a finish I’ll never forget and that will likely inspire debate for years to come. It was a fantastic one-round fight, and definitely the best fight of the month.

And what about you, fans and friends? What were some of your favorite fights of the month?

The Under-Appreciate Undercard Award: The prelims of “Fedor vs. Henderson” receives this award for having several interesting outcomes and great finishes… but only for the people in attendance. For the viewers watching at home, like so many non-UFC events the prelims were nowhere to be found. It’s too bad, too: there were three finishes, two of which came in the first round, and one of which was a gigantic upset that came in at just fifteen seconds. Add in a controversial win for Gesias Cavalcante against Bobby Green, and you’ve got a recipe for a show that really should’ve been seen.

The Scott Smith Award For Most Inspiring Comeback After Getting Your *** Kicked: No one. Not even Scott Smith, the inspiration behind this award, was able to make a comeback after getting pummeled. Quite the opposite in fact: instead of spending three rounds getting beat down and then mounting an improbable highlight-reel comeback… Scott Smith just spent three rounds getting beat down. It’s unfortunate, and I think it sends the message that perhaps 170 just isn’t working for Smith.

The “What Did You Expect?” Award: This one goes out to all the fans critical of Tyron Woodley following his performance against Paul Daley. Don’t even try to kid yourselves: we all knew Woodley wanted to take this to the ground. When you have a fighter like Daley that is so very good in one area and so very bad in another, of course you want to take him out of his element. You’d have to be crazy (or Nick Diaz) to not try and do so. The only thing that surprised me in this fight was Paul Daley’s improving takedown defense. It wasn’t the prettiest, flashiest, or most entertaining performance, but Tyron Woodley got the win and he did it his way.

The New Face of Women’s MMA Award: This one goes out to new Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion Meisha Tate. By the way, it feels great to finally stop calling that the Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Championship. It may not be “business as usual”, but thanks go out to Zuffa for being the ones more than likely behind that name change. Anyway, with Cristiane Santos still in contract disputes and Gina Carano more than likely taking time off to promote her movie, Meisha Tate became the de factor Face of Women’s MMA at “Fedor vs. Henderson”. Here’s hoping she brings some stability to her division and starts racking up defenses on her belt.

The “Thanks for the Memories” Award: Fedor Emelianenko, plain and simple. Whether or not he retires is open to debate, pretty fierce debate right now in fact, but if I ever met the man in person and could only say one thing to him, “thanks for the memories” would honestly be it. I know people will still be debating the merits of Fedor Emelianenko by the time we’re all old men watching UFC 350 as it’s directly streamed into our brains, but for me? There was nothing like watching Fedor Emelianenko fight in his prime. That’s something I will never, ever forget.

So that’s what I think. And remember, it’s all in good fun… mostly.

It’s that time once again. Another major MMA event has come and gone, and it’s time for my unofficial “Best Performance of the Night” award. Considering how many interesting performances were turned in during Strikeforce’s “Fedor vs. Henderson” event, it was definitely a bit of a challenge to single out one fighter and give him (or her) this award. But even though I’m going with the obvious pick, I feel perfectly fine in doing so. Here’s why Dan Henderson’s amazing stoppage win over Fedor Emelianenko took home “Best Performance of the Night”.

Let’s begin as we always do: by putting the situation into context.

Coming into this bout with Fedor Emelianenko, longtime MMA veteran Dan Henderson was on a serious upswing. He took a few steps back when contract negotiations with the UFC broke down and he went to Strikeforce only to lose to Jake Shields, but even that only momentarily deterred the wily veteran. All told, Henderson had won five out of his last six fights with three (T)KO’s before stepping into the cage with Emelianenko. And in that time, Henderson managed to both revitalize his career and claim the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship.

His opponent, Fedor Emelianenko, was at a crossroads. The man once hyped as an inhuman wrecking machine had been made to look human on not one but two separate occasions. Many people thought it was a fluke that Fedor Emelianenko lost the first time. Many people considered that a multitude of factors led to him losing a second time. Many people seemed unable to grasp even the notion of Emelianenko losing a third time.

Of course, the flip side of the argument contended that Emelianenko was never all that great and that his recent troubles were proof positive that he was all hype and nothing but hype. It’s one of the great ironies of the sport that a man so humble and sincere remains one of the most polarizing figures in MMA today. Emelianenko fans are just about rabid in their adoration, the cynics almost equally as fervent in their hate. But both could agree on one thing: this fight would decide the future for Fedor Emelianenko.

And in one of the best performances of his career, Dan Henderson defeated “The Last Emperor” and he did something no man, not even the gargantuan behemoth Antonio Silva, had ever been able to do: he didn’t just rock Emelianenko, he legitimately knocked him unconscious.

It was one of the most hectic, intense first-round fights in recent memory. It began with both men throwing bombs, it nearly ended with Henderson going down and out. But Henderson managed to stay alive and get back to his feet, nailing an uppercut that caused Emelianenko to go limp and face-plant the canvas. What followed was a stoppage that many contend was early, although some contend was justified.

As I said in the past, I’m deliberately choosing to stay out of this argument because, as a realist, I honestly think there isn’t much of a point. I won’t stop people from arguing, I won’t even argue against the arguing (try to wrap your head around that), but I will focus on the bigger picture. And the bigger picture is this: in a career that spans decades, promotions, championships, brutal wars, brilliant knockouts, and everything here, there, and in-between… this was one of the proudest moments of Dan Henderson’s career.

That’s what I’ll be taking away from this fight. Feel free to argue about whether or not the stoppage was early, but at the end of the day, let’s give credit where credit is due. There’s not a doubt in my mind that Dan Henderson deserves this award for “Best Performance of the Night” at “Fedor vs. Henderson”.

5. Tarec Saffiedine’s second-round beatdown of Scott Smith.

Tarec threw everything except the kitchen sink at Scott Smith and Smith just wouldn’t stay down. It takes a lot of power to KO someone like Smith, and Tarec just doesn’t have it right now. Still, I think that the combined power of his second round flurry would’ve stopped a good amount of opponents. Even if he didn’t earn the stoppage, Tarec Saffiedine gave Scott Smith one hell of a beating, most notably in Round 2. It was such a heinous beatdown that one judge even scored the round a 10-8, and it was definitely one of the best moments of the night.

4. Tim Kennedy’s fired-up post-fight speech after beating Robbie Lawler.

Tim Kennedy is a warrior, there’s no other way to describe him. He’s tough as nails, and he handily won a fight while bleeding like a faucet. Afterwards, he gave a very passionate speech about the armed forces. A few people are already saying that Kennedy may have gone a bit overboard, but I disagree. Kennedy gave a great post-fight speech after a very complete performance against a very tough challenger.

3. Paul Daley actually showing some takedown defense and making his fight with Tyron Woodley competitive.

A made a certain bet with a certain friend that Paul Daley couldn’t defend a certain number of takedowns. Lo and behold, he actually defended far more of them than I ever thought possible. It still wasn’t enough to save him from a loss, but still, it was more than enough to give him a serious shot of defeating Tyron Woodley. Daley even embraced Woodley after three rounds of Woodley trying to do nothing but take him down. Not only is Paul Daley seemingly maturing, he also seems to be evolving and finally learning good takedown defense. That was a big surprise to me, and it deserves a spot on this list.

2. Meisha Tate submitting Marloes Coenen.

Speaking of unexpected occurrences, who thought that Marloes Coenen would end up getting submitted my Meisha Tate? Especially after Tate spent almost an entire round on her back defending submissions. Other than the obvious first-place winner, this was the most unexpected outcome of all the “Fedor vs. Henderson” fights.

And my personal pick for the best moment of “Fedor vs. Henderson” is…

1. Dan Henderson dropping and stopping Fedor Emelianenko.

How could anything else be number 1? For his entire career, Emelianenko has never been stopped due to strikes. Practically no one has even wobbled his chin. But at least for a few seconds, Emelianenko was legitimately knocked unconscious. The debate on whether or not this was an early stoppage still rages, but it was undoubtedly a moment we’ll be talking about for months. So of course it takes the top spot on this list.

So there you have it, fans and friends: those are the moments I’ll be remembering from Strikeforce “Fedor vs. Henderson”.

Next for Scott Smith: Smith just hasn’t looked that good in Strikeforce’s Welterweight division. With Smith getting up there in years and now having a three-fight losing-streak, I think a return to Middleweight is called for. Aside from Robbie Lawler, Tim Kennedy, Ronaldo Souza and a sparse handful of others, Strikeforce’s Middleweight division is pretty barren right now. If Strikeforce doesn’t release Smith for his three-fight losing-streak, I think Smith should jump back up in weight and fight Melvin Manhoef.

Next for Tarec Saffiedine and Tyron Woodley: Each other, with the vacant Strikeforce Welterweight Championship on the line. My early prediction for this fight is that Woodley’s takedowns are just too good right now, and let’s not forget that Woodley has already beaten Tarec. I smell a repeat performance with Woodley winning the vacant championship in a fight that honestly probably won’t be that good.

Next for Tim Kennedy: A rematch with Ronaldo Souza and another chance to claim the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship. With how close their first fight was and the experience Tim Kennedy has shown in his recent fights, I’ve got a good feeling about this rematch. It’ll probably be just as neck-and-neck as their first encounter, and I think Kennedy has a real shot at dethroning Souza.

Next for Marloes Coenen: I think the Bantamweight experiment just isn’t working for Coenen, so like Scott Smith, a jump back up in weight is called for. Coenen should fight Amanda Nunes, who hasn’t been seen since her amazing first-round KO win.

Next for Meisha Tate: A rematch with Sarah Kaufman, who already holds a victory over Tate. That should be a pretty fun fight so long as the right Tate and the right Kaufman show up. When Tate is not afraid to go for broke, she can and does finish fights. When Kaufman isn’t afraid to strike, she can and does put on entertaining fights. Hopefully this fight ends up delivering.

Next for Dan Henderson: It’s a tricky situation that “Hendo” finds himself in. He could wait on the sidelines and face the winner of the upcoming Roger Gracie vs. Muhammed Lawal bout. Other than that, I’m drawing a blank on worthy contenders for Henderson’s throne. Ovince St. Preux is a distant possibility, he’s on a good win-streak but he’s competed mostly on “Challengers” shows. It’s honestly really tough to say what the future holds for Henderson right now.

Next for Fedor Emelianenko: Retirement, plain and simple. You could make a case for him sticking around for one more fight and possibly a rematch with Henderson, but in all honesty, I just want Fedor Emelianenko to retire right now. I think he has nothing left to prove and that it’s become clear that his advancing age has begun to wear down on him. Although I’ll always enjoy watching him fight, I just don’t want to see Fedor lose anymore. So I think it’s time for him to call it a career.

Dan Henderson defeats Fedor Emelianenko by TKO (referee’s stoppage due to strikes) at 4:12 of Round 1. Miesha Tate defeats Marloes Coenen by submission (head and arm choke) at 3:03 of Round 4. Tim Kennedy defeats Robbie Lawler by unanimous decision. Tyron Woodley defeats Paul Daley by unanimous decision . Tarec Saffiedine defeats Scott Smith by unanimous decision. JZ Cavalcante defeats Bobby Green by Split Decision of Round 1. Tyler Stinson defeats Eduardo Pamplona by KO at :15 seconds of Round 1. Alexis Davis defeats Julie Kedzie by unanimous decision. Derek Brunson defeats Lumumba Sayers by submission (rear naked choke) at 4:33 of Round 1. Gabriel Salinas-Jones defeats Bryan Humes by submission (brabo choke) at 1:19 of Round 3.

For two rounds of their three-round fight, Tarec Saffiedine put on the best performance of his career against Scott Smith. I never doubted Tarec’s skills as an upcoming Mixed Martial Artist, I only thought he wouldn’t be able to contend with Smith’s versatility and veteran status. Nothing could be further from the truth: round 2 in particular was a perfect example of Tarec showing signs of becoming a champion one day. He may’ve played it a bit safe in Round 3, whether it was in fear of a comeback or simply because his assaults on Smith gassed him out a bit, but still, I think Tarec definitely earned his shot at the vacant Strikeforce Welterweight Championship.

The same can’t be said for Tyron Woodley, sadly. Don’t get me wrong, I knew exactly what would happen. I was surprised that Daley’s takedown defense had gotten that good, but still, Daley’s Achilles Heel will always, and I do mean always, be the ground game. To be honest, I was surprised Daley didn’t pull another Josh Koscheck moment since Woodley wanted absolutely nothing to do with Daley’s stand-up and even employed some “Lay and Pray” tactics a few times. I’m not too high on “T-Wood” right now, but a win is a win and he’ll probably be fighting Tarec for the vacant strap.

Tim Kennedy and Robbie Lawler had a very hard-hitting war that I enjoyed for the most part. There’s not much I can say about it in particular, it was just a good fight on many different levels even though it wasn’t a “great” fight per se. Kennedy’s fired-up post-fight speech combined with his toughness displayed against Lawler definitely makes me believe that Kennedy is ready for another shot at Ronaldo Souza and the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship.

It’s too bad that Marloes Coenen had one good fight at 135 and has now had two bad fights at 135. Well, this wasn’t a bad fight entirely, she did have Tate in a lot of trouble a few times. But I think the drop to 135 is really beginning to slow Coenen down, and without the belt and with Cristiane Santos still a free agent, maybe a return to 145 is called for.

And the main event… what to say about the main event. If this truly is the last we’ve seen of Fedor Emelianenko, at least he went out on his shield. I know the subject of whether or not the stoppage was early is already lighting up the internet, but allow me to say this: as a realist, I won’t debate the stoppage because nothing I say or do will change the fact that Henderson won.

Instead, I only wish to remember the good days. I’ll always remember Fedor Emelianenko as a humble man, who had a shroud of mystery put on him by the media thanks to his ability to absolutely destroy people. But underneath that shroud was one of the kindest, gentlest souls that ever fought for a living. Fedor Emelianenko is still the greatest Mixed Martial Artist of all time, and he’s a pretty amazing person as well. And that’s what I’ll remember most about him. And that’s all that matters to me. And frankly, I think that’s all that really should matter.

Whether he retires or not, I’ll never forget Fedor Emelianenko. “Fedor vs. Henderson” was a pretty good event overall, even with the bittersweet finale that may have seen Fedor’s career come to a close.

5. This could be one of Strikeforce’s last mega-cards.

With much of the internet still reeling from the news of Alistair Overeem’s departure, and with both Fedor and Henderson rumored to be walking from Strikeforce if they lose this fight or even if they win, this just might be the beginning of the end for Strikeforce. Luckily, this event is packed with stars. As the roster continues to get whittled down, that’s going to cause Strikeforce to spread out more of their bonafide stars in order to make individual shows more appealing. “Fedor vs. Henderson” is an interesting mix of veterans, legends, prospects, and championships… and it may be one of the last of its kind.

4. The winners of the two Welterweight fights will likely face each other for the vacant championship.

With Nick Diaz leaving for the UFC and leaving the Strikeforce Welterweight Championship behind, you have to think that this is the only path to take that makes sense. So, with that said, that should motivate all four men (Paul Daley, Tyron Woodley, Scott Smith, and Tarec Saffiedine) to come out guns blazing and looking to assert themselves in the post-Diaz era of Strikeforce Welterweights. And that should make their fights even more exciting.

3. The winner of the Middleweight fight gets to rematch Ronaldo Souza.

Robbie Lawler and Tim Kennedy are two very different fighters that posed two very different threats to Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Ronaldo Souza. Even though he beat them both, both Lawler and Kennedy are top-division fighters and it only makes sense to put them against each other with the winner getting a rematch against “Jacare”. This is an interesting fight that could end in many different ways, so it’s definitely worth watching.

2. Marloes Coenen and Meisha Tate will more than likely be fighting for the future of Women’s MMA.

Since being acquired by Zuffa, Strikeforce has reduced its focus on its women’s MMA division, some would say drastically. But if anything can make the Zuffa brass think twice about abandoning WMMA, it’s this fight. These are two of the best and most popular female fighters in the world going toe-to-toe for what could be five full rounds. It should be a great fight, and it should also be a firm indicator on what will happen to WMMA in the immediate future.

And the number-one reason to watch “Fedor vs. Henderson” is…

1. The main event, period.

I’ve talked about this event for so long and through so many articles that I’ve honestly ran out of things to say. Well, almost. So to end my pre-event coverage on “Fedor vs. Henderson”, let me say this: I wish neither man had to lose. I’ve followed both of them for a long, long time, and I’m proud to consider myself a fan of both. If this fight lives up to the hype, it should be one of the best, most nostalgic fights of the year. There’s no way I’m missing this one.

So there you have it, fans and friends: five great reasons to tune in and see “Fedor vs. Henderson”.

Scott Smith vs. Tarec Saffiedine: I’ve just got to go with the veteran here. I think Saffiedine will eventually work his way to the top or near it, but it won’t be against Strikeforce’s “Comeback King”. Tarec will make Smith work for it, but Smith has been in there with the best and he’s even beaten a few of them. Humbling losses aside, Smith still commands my respect for continually facing the best for the last several years running. Scott Smith wins by TKO in Round 2.

Paul Daley vs. Tyron Woodley: We all know what’s going to happen here. Tyron Woodley is going to take Daley down and keep him there. It’s going to be the Josh Koscheck fight all over again, except maybe with more Ground and Pound. The only hope Daley has is to nail that massive bomb and walk away with a first-round KO. All other outcomes end with Tyron Woodley taking home the Unanimous Decision.

Tim Kennedy vs. Robbie Lawler: Tim Kennedy displayed some good striking against Ronaldo Souza and has always been a good ground fighter, so I think he’ll be pretty evenly-matched against Robbie Lawler. I think Kennedy has better wrestling than Lawler, so Kennedy will stand for a bit but shoot for and keep getting the takedowns once he feels Lawler’s power. Like Daley/Woodley, Lawler has go to nail that bomb. Otherwise, Tim Kennedy is too versatile and well-rounded. Tim Kennedy wins by Unanimous Decision.

Marloes Coenen vs. Meisha Tate: Part of me wants to side with Tate, but I think the odds are just too stacked against her. I don’t think Tate has the punching power to knock Coenen out, and she’ll have problems getting the takedown due to Coenen’s long frame. Even worse, those long legs of Coenen will wrap up the smaller Tate before long and Tate will have to submit or risk either napping or something snapping. Look for Coenen to win by submission in either Round 2 or 3.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson: That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? I hate to have to pick between two of my favorite fighters, and I do hope that this fight lives up to its potential. I’m echoing the sentiments of my friend here: if this fight sucks, I’ve lost all faith in Strikeforce.

That said, my stance on this subject remains unchanged: I’ll always believe in Fedor Emelianenko. I think Emelianenko is going to beat Henderson, but I think it’s going to be a complete war of attrition. Fedor’s combined assaults both on the feet and on the ground will just be too much for Henderson, the grizzled veteran. In the end, my prediction is that this will be a “Fight of the Year” candidate and that Fedor Emelianenko will win by Unanimous Decision.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends.

5. Fedor Emelianenko may have his eyes on retirement rather than this fight.

It pains me to start off this list with this reason, it really does. Remember, I consider Fedor Emelianenko the greatest Mixed Martial Artist of all time. But I just can’t shake the feeling I got when Fedor openly talked about retiring following his tough loss to Antonio Silva. Fedor has always been mentally strong, but part of me believes that his heart may not be in it anymore, in full or in part. That’s just a suspicion, though, which is why it’s starting off this list.

4. Dan Henderson is riding a wave of momentum not seen since the PRIDE days.

I think even his three-fight win-streak in the UFC that included his monster KO over Michael Bisping doesn’t quite come as close to Henderson’s current streak. Henderson has looked like a force that can’t be stopped in Strikeforce’s 205 division, he made quick work of both Renato Sobral and Rafael Cavalcante. Henderson isn’t just the best fighter at 205 in Strikeforce, he’s one of the best fighters in Strikeforce period. And that’s a huge motivational advantage going into a big fight like this.

3. If you’re a good enough fighter and you’re not dealing with a gargantuan weight difference, size honestly doesn’t matter.

As I’ve described before, a twenty-five pound weight difference is downright minuscule compared to a fight where an average Heavyweight fights this “new breed” of Heavyweight that has to cut weight to get to 265 and actually has skill. Let’s not forget, many fighters have moved up in weight to challenge themselves against the best and a few have had very memorable runs because of it. And let’s not forget that this sport of ours was practically founded on the principle that size doesn’t matter… just ask Royce Gracie.

2. No matter how old he is, no matter how good the chins of his opponents are… if Henderson hits you with that bomb, you’re done.

The last three wins of Dan Henderson’s career have all come by (T)KO. And the one TKO should’ve realistically been a KO, since all three of those wins were “KTFO” moments. Dan Henderson still has plenty of tricks up his sleeve, that’s the only way he can still nail that bomb after all these years. Everyone knows it’s there, everyone tries to avoid it, but when it connects, you can’t do anything about it because you’re too busy losing your grip on consciousness. Fedor Emelianenko has never been properly stopped due to strikes, but if Henderson nails that killer hook, he’s got a chance of crumbling Fedor’s seemingly-impervious chin.

And the number-one reason why Dan Henderson could beat Fedor Emelianenko is…

1. Fedor Emelianenko is on a two-fight losing-streak.

Did I expect Fedor Emelianenko to retire (technically) unbeaten? I honestly did. Even with my “anything can happen in MMA” stance, even with my “if you’ve never been knocked out before you just haven’t met the right striker” stance, even with all of that… I never expected Fedor Emelianenko to lose. Now he’s lost twice. The enigma has been solved, “The Last Emperor” has been taken from the throne. It’s now undeniable that Fedor Emelianenko can be beaten. And that’s the biggest reason why Dan Henderson could beat Fedor Emelianenko.

5. Since he’s getting older, Light Heavyweight is a better weight for Dan Henderson and at 205 the weight difference isn’t as bad as people assume it to be.

Think of it this way: at 205 going up against Fedor at 230, Henderson has to cope with a weight difference of twenty-five pounds. When Fedor was 230 going up against Antonio Silva, who has to cut weight to 265 and probably weighed somewhere around 280 when he stepped into the cage, Fedor had to deal with anywhere from a thirty-five to fifty pound difference. The last time Henderson fought at Middleweight, he began to show signs of slowing down. Henderson looks healthier at Light Heavyweight, he’s been dominant so far in Strikeforce at Light Heavyweight, and the weight disparity is in line with what most smaller Heavyweights have to deal with when going up against the “new breed” of hulking behemoth Heavyweights that have actual skill on top of their mountains of muscles.

4. The UFC itself has done this.

It’s funny that a lot of people are criticizing this fight when in fact the UFC has done something like this and worse, even. If having a champion move up in weight to take on a larger opponent is the basis for a “freak show” fight, then fights like BJ Penn vs. Georges St. Pierre 2 was a “freak show” fight, or Anderson Silva vs. James Irvin, or Anderson Silva vs. Forrest Griffin. In fact, you could make a serious argument that Silva/Irvin was more of a “freak show” fight than this fight, because Irvin had done absolutely nothing to earn a shot against Silva and the fight was booked primarily to steal viewers from the Affliction promotion.

3. Fedor Emelianenko has never been the biggest Heavyweight.

As I mentioned in my first part of this two-parter, the fact that Dan Henderson has fought at Middleweight is the biggest reason why this fight could be perceived as a “freak show” fight. But let’s not forget that Fedor Emelianenko has never been the largest, most muscular Heavyweight. At a chubby (most would say “healthy”) 230, people have been thinking that Fedor Emelianenko could and maybe should cut to Light Heavyweight ever since Werdum beat him. Although Dan Henderson is a smaller fighter, make no mistake: Fedor Emelianenko is not Brock Lesnar or Antonio Silva.

2. Dan Henderson has talked about the possibility of fighting Fedor in the past.

How is it a “freak show” fight when one of the fighters has specifically mentioned in several interviews all throughout the years that he’s interested in facing his opponent? Henderson may not have seriously pursued a fight with Fedor until Strikeforce offered it to him, but he was always open to the possibility of fighting “The Last Emperor”. No one is being forced to fight here, they both want to fight each other in order to test their skills and get another great fight on their amazing, star-studded records. That doesn’t sound like a “freak show” fight to me at all.

And the number-one reason why this isn’t a “freak show” fight is…

1. It’s two legends fighting each other.

Fedor Emelianenko has earned my respect throughout the years. So has Dan Henderson. Since practically the start of their careers, both men have been fighting the top competition in the world, in rings and cages throughout the world. Both are veterans of many, many fights and both hold a commandingly positive record that is highlighted by brilliant finishes, dramatic submissions, and even amazing come-from-behind victories. If that’s the formula for a “freak show” fight, then I’ll dare to say it: I’d like more of this kind of “freak show” fight.

The Event: Strikeforce “Fedor vs. Henderson, currently scheduled for July 30, 2011 at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The main card will be broadcast live on the Showtime network starting at 10 PM ET and PT.

Why You Should Care: The main event between Fedor Emelianenko and Dan Henderson is a “dream fight” for any longtime follower of the sport. If that wasn’t good enough, you’ve also got a championship on the line. And to top it all off, you’ve got a trifecta of interesting non-title match-ups that will more than likely determine the next people to compete for a Strikeforce championship.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Fedor Emelianenko needs a win badly, and Dan Henderson wants to beat the MMA icon in hopes of becoming one himself. They’ll come out of their corners of the cage without any hesitation and looking to dramatically finish each other. It’s a battle of legends, and it has all the makings of a legendary fight.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: So far, Marloes Coenen has been both hot and cold at 135 pounds. She’ll need to be on her A-game when tackling the unique challenges that Meisha Tate poses. This is simply a matter of the two best fighters in a division fighting each other, and this fight has several interesting possibilities that should all make for an excellent encounter.

Why You Should Watch This Card: With just one event, Strikeforce will bring some stability after the Zuffa purchase shook the promotion to its core. With this event, we’ll know where both Fedor and Henderson stands. We’ll know if championship-level women’s fighting has a place near the top of an MMA card. We’ll know who will challenge for the Middleweight Championship, and we’ll also probably know the two men who will battle to win the vacant Welterweight Championship. There’s a lot on the line for this event, and if that motivates all the fighters to bring their best, this should be one of the best cards of the year.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: I honestly can’t think of a reason, so I’m taking the road far less traveled and omitting this section from this entry into my “Crash Course” series. No matter who you are, you should probably watch this event. It’s just that good.

Closing Thoughts: Outside of the UFC, I have to say that this is my most-anticipated event for the rest of the year. I sincerely hope that my favorites like Fedor Emelianenko pull through, and I look forward to what should be some very memorable encounters. With the way Strikeforce has changed since the Zuffa purchase, many people think that Strikeforce is on life support and will be gone soon. But even if Strikeforce will soon be no more, at least it’s going to go down in a blaze of glory, promoting great events and awesome fights up until the very end.

5. Henderson is only two fights removed from a humbling loss to Jake Shields.

Believe me, I can and will discuss how Fedor losing two straight could end up being a major advantage for Henderson when I post that topic tomorrow. But let’s not forget that Henderson had one good round against Jake Shields before spending the next four on his back, getting dominated. Let’s also not forget the two very tough losses Henderson was handed in the UFC. It may not be the biggest advantage, which is why it starts out this list, but the fact that Henderson has been beaten eight times and even humbled a few times should give Emelianenko some sort of mental advantage.

4. Fedor’s chin is outstanding.

After two rounds of being absolutely dominated by the behemoth known as Antonio Silva, Fedor Emelianenko wanted more. At one point, Antonio Silva had Fedor Emelianenko in Full Mount and was unloading on him with massive punches from his pair of gargantuan fists. It was a situation that a few of Silva’s opponents had found themselves in before… and they all got knocked out. Emelianenko’s chin is still great to this day, so even if Henderson is able to drop the bomb, Fedor just might be able to power right through it.

3. Emelianenko’s top game is quite good, and he’s always had a slippery bottom game.

Emelianenko has always had a fantastic top game, and he’s never stayed on the bottom for long. That wasn’t true against Antonio Silva, but there’s a reason for that. As much as I like Antonio Silva and respect his skills as a ground fighter, the fact that he probably weighed in excess of 280 pounds when he stepped into the cage against Fedor was the chief reason why Fedor couldn’t get out from under him. Against Henderson, Fedor has a real shot of keeping this fight wherever he wants it and getting out of any of Henderson’s successful takedowns.

2. Emelianenko will likely have a size/strength advantage.

Being a bit shorter or a little less heavier didn’t matter as much back when Fedor was ruling over PRIDE FC with an iron fist, since most (if not all) of the guys with freakish physiques were glorified “freak show” fighters. But in today’s world of massive Heavyweights that are world-caliber fighters, Fedor’s relatively smaller size has begun to give him problems. He won’t have those problems against Dan Henderson, and for the first time in a while, Emelianenko will face someone that is actually smaller than him. And that’s a pretty big advantage.

And the number-one reason why Fedor Emelianenko could beat Dan Henderson is…

1. It’s Fedor Emelianenko.

You can love him or you can hate him, but I truly consider Fedor Emelianenko the greatest Mixed Martial Arts fighter of all time. That’s just how I feel, and I honestly don’t know if anything will ever be able to change that opinion. Win or lose, Fedor Emelianenko is a champion. He’s an incredibly humble man, and a true ambassador of the sport. Others may have left him, but I’ll always believe in Fedor Emelianenko. Because it’s Fedor. And that’s the best reason why he could beat Dan Hendrson.

5. There’s really nobody for Henderson to face in the Light Heavyweight division.

The one flaw that continues to hamper Strikeforce time and time again is the relative weakness of most of their weight divisions. At 205 specifically, no one (and I do mean no one) has been able to hold onto that championship. Even worse, they keep winning it in dominant fashion only to get humbled and lose it in their next fight. Realistically, Henderson has to wait for some upstart 205’ers to work their way up the card or else face a host of former champions whose prestige took a real hit when they lost the title.

4. All the other good Heavyweights for Fedor to beat are either tied up in the Grand Prix, recovering from losses, or fighting elsewhere.

Alistair Overeem is pretty angry at Strikeforce right now and has signed to fight at another organization, although he’s contractually allowed to do so. Even Andrei Arlovski is going to fight in another promotion soon. Everyone that won their first fight in the Grand Prix is still in the Grand Prix, everyone else just got done fighting and needs time to recover. The other Strikeforce Heavyweight fighters aren’t really big enough names to deserve a fight against Fedor.

3. This is the last fight of Dan Henderson’s contract and Zuffa needs an excuse to let him go if he plays the same card twice.

When Dan Henderson has to renegotiate his contract with the now Zuffa-owned Strikeforce after this bout, it may open up old wounds. Remember, the UFC practically forced Henderson to sign with Strikeforce. The UFC didn’t take too kindly to Henderson holding out for more money, so they promptly showed him the door despite the fact that he was coming off of one of the best knockout victories of his career. Zuffa would look like an even colder corporation if they let Henderson walk as a Strikeforce champion. But if he’s coming off of a humbling loss and still asks for more money? That may be a good enough reason to let him go, even with the title.

2. Fedor Emelianenko is on a two-fight losing-streak.

What do you do with the man who commands the highest pay rate in the company but has lost two fights in humbling fashion? You give him a third fight against an opponent where his reputation will be even more damaged if he loses… and then you cut him. This is a win-win situation for Zuffa, who gets to reduce at least one of the highest salaries in Strikeforce. And believe me, given their history, Zuffa will be more than happy to cut Fedor on the heels of a three-fight losing-streak.

1. Dan Henderson has fought at Middleweight.

Try as I might, I just can’t take this away from the cynics. It’s true: Dan Henderson is a smaller fighter. He’s a Light Heavyweight at best, and he’s taking on a man that routinely weighs in at 230. The blow is softened somewhat when you realize how good of a fighter Henderson is… but still, this is the strongest indicator that at least part of this fight has a “freak show” factor.

Dan Henderson is a veteran of almost forty fights, and has been competing in Mixed Martial Arts since 1997. Henderson would compete for the UFC twice, both times at UFC 17, before embarking on a Japanese excursion that would carry him into the new millennium and beyond. In one of the most legendary MMA promotions of all time, PRIDE FC, Dan Henderson set himself apart as one of that organization’s best fighters.

Henderson fought everyone, and I do mean everyone, in PRIDE. He even once held two titles at the same time in the organization. Henderson would transition to the UFC and promptly lose back-to-back fights, although he would rebound with three straight victories. In the UFC, Henderson’s crowning achievement was an amazing KO win over Michael Bisping at UFC 100. After contract negotiations between Henderson and the UFC broke down, “Hendo” would end up signing to Strikeforce and is now currently the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion.

His opponent, Fedor Emelianenko, is widely regarded as one of the greatest Mixed Martial Arts fighters of all time. Until 2010, Emelianenko carried an astounding 31-1 record. Even more astounding, many fans believe that he was technically undefeated due to the nature of his loss (it takes some explaining, so look it up if you’re interested). But then Fabricio Werdum shook the world as we knew it and submitted Fedor Emelianenko in the first round. And then Antonio Silva brutalized Emelianenko for two rounds and forced a doctor’s stoppage at the start of the third.

For so long, it was simply assumed that it was impossible for Fedor Emelianenko to lose. Now he’s lost two fights in a row, and both have been stoppages. I’m not the only one that believes that Fedor will retire if he loses this fight. Thankfully, I’m also not the only one that believes that this is going to be an incredible fight.

I really want Fedor Emelianenko to win this fight, and I think he can. He’ll definite have a size advantage, that’s for sure. He’ll be able to stand and trade with Henderson without fear of being bullied in the way that “Bigfoot” Silva was able to bully him. Emelianenko also has a great ground game considering he’s going up against the wrestling-based Henderson.

But Henderson can seize the moment if he wants to badly enough. He’s looked great in his last two fights, and I think we’re right in the middle of Dan Henderson’s big comeback. If Henderson doesn’t let the pressure get to him, he definitely has a shot at beating “The Last Emperor”.

In the end, this should be an incredible fight and it’s one of those fights where I wish neither man had to lose. There’s no way I’m missing this one.

MMA Junkie gives us an interesting breakdown of the situation. The report was completely bogus, meaning that someone managed to hack Strikeforce.com. The report also gives an interesting theory: once Strikeforce was acquired by Zuffa it underwent substantial restructuring, and that meant firing some employees. Perhaps one of those employees decided to pull a prank on their former bosses.

Whatever the case, whoever is behind this is probably laughing a whole lot right now. In terms of internet lingo, I can’t think of a reason why someone would do this except that they “did it for the lulz”.

As interesting as a match-up between Anderson Silva and Fedor Emelianenko sounds, this report immediately felt bogus to me the second it was stated that Emelianenko could weigh in at 185 pounds.

I know Emelianenko isn’t the fittest Heavyweight in the game, but he’s not Roy Nelson. And that’s not meant to disrespect Roy Nelson, only to offer up a comparison. Emelianenko is chubby, and he could lose a few pounds, but he routinely weighs in at or around 230. I think Emelianenko could drop to 205, sure. It’d be hard for him since he’s never cut weight before, but I could see him making Light Heavyweight and showing up in really good shape when he does.

But losing an additional twenty pounds when he has to lose at least twenty-five already if he wants to make Light Heavyweight? That’s forty-five pounds he needs to drop, and I simply don’t think Fedor Emelianenko has that in him. Perhaps if this was the start of his career, and if the start of his career had taken place in the here and now, where monstrous weight cuts are becoming increasingly normal. But with Emelianenko’s many years in rings and cages across the world, with rumors of his retirement continuing to grow on a per-fight basis… Fedor Emelianenko at Middleweight just ain’t happening.

I think the reason why this rumor gained so much attention in the short time that it was posted is very simple: as fight fans, these are fights we all want to see, but we’ve come to terms with the fact that we’ll probably never see them. So we stick to fantasy match-ups where everyone is in their prime and everyone fights at the same weight class. Then, when something comes along that gives us even a glimmer of hope that these fights will become reality, we spread it as quickly as we can simply in the hope that it’ll be confirmed as true.

In the end, we’ll have to be content with Fedor Emelianenko fighting Dan Henderson, with Anderson Silva fighting Yushin Okami, with Georges St. Pierre fighting Nick Diaz, and with Anderson Silva vs. Georges St. Pierre being the only super-fight that still has a real chance of happening. And no matter how big or small you consider that consolation, I think we should all simply sit back and enjoy our favorite fighters fighting whomever is put in front of them for as long as we can and for as long as they decide to continue fighting.

5. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson

It’s the last call for a legend, and one of the greatest MMA fighters in MMA history. If Emelianenko can’t beat Dan Henderson, I have a strong feeling that he’ll retire. And Dan Henderson is currently riding a major wave of momentum now that he’s Strikeforce’s Light Heavyweight Champion. It’s going to be an awesome showdown between two of the best old-school MMA veterans still actively competing today.

4. Jon Jones vs. Quinton Jackson

It may not have the bitter rivalry of the inevitable showdown between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans… but this is certainly one colossal match-up. I honestly and fully believe that this fight will set the stage for years to come: depending on how Jones does against Jackson, we’ll know for sure whether or not Jones is “the chosen one” that will break the curse of UFC Light Heavyweight Champions losing the belt in their first few fights. I definitely can’t wait to see this fight.

3. Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami

Yushin Okami can’t beat Anderson Silva… right? Of course he can. Anybody can beat anybody, and anything can happen in Mixed Martial Arts. And this is a rematch that’s been years in the making. To a loyal contingent of fans, Okami is one of the most under-rated, under-appreciated fighters currently fighting in the UFC. To a vast majority of people, Anderson Silva is the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. Any time Anderson Silva fights, you can definitely expect it to chart high on my lists like this. The fact that there’s such an interesting story between Okami and Silva is just icing on the cake.

2. Alistair Overeem vs. Antonio Silva

Now this is a fight everyone can really dig their teeth into. Alistair Overeem has been living up to his nickname “Demolition Man” for a long time now, although he didn’t give the best performance against Fabricio Werdum. Meanwhile, Antonio Silva gave arguably the best performance of his life when he defeated Fedor Emelianenko. Whether you’re an Overeem fan, a “Bigfoot” fan, or simply a fan of great fights, this should definitely be the premiere showdown for the rest of Strikeforce’s year.

And my number-one most-anticipated fight for the rest of 2011 is…

1. Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre

The night Nick Diaz faced Paul Daley, I was on the edge of my seat from the moment that fight started. When Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre goes down, I won’t even need a seat. I’ll be too busy pacing back and forth. I’ve followed Nick Diaz for a long, long time, and in that time, he’s changed from one of the fighters I absolutely despise to one of only a handful of fighters I consider my favorites. Even though he’s incredibly controversial and one of the biggest “bad boys” in MMA, I just can’t help but love Diaz’s take-no-prisoners style and his gruff type of “us against the world” affection that he shows to both his fans and his teammates. I know that Nick Diaz is a legitimate “best in the world” athlete, and I want him to prove that against Georges St. Pierre. But to do that, he’ll have to beat a man that I consider one of the greatest Mixed Martial Artists of all time. This isn’t just my most-anticipated fight for the rest of 2011, it’s probably my most-anticipated fight of the last few years. Everything, and I do mean everything, will be on the line when Nick Diaz fights Georges St. Pierre.

5. Paul Daley vs. Tyron Woodley at Strikeforce “Fedor vs. Henderson”

Say what you will about Paul Daley, and I’ve personally said plenty in my time, but the man is an entertaining fighter. His recent loss to Nick Diaz was one of the most exciting one-round fights of the year. Meanwhile, Tyron Woodley has been making waves on the lower-level “Challengers” shows with his growing skill and his finishing ability. With Daley’s original opponent bowing out, this is the opportunity of a lifetime for Tyron Woodley, especially now that the Strikeforce Welterweight Championship has been vacated. And that, combined with the fact that Paul Daley is rarely not entertaining, should result in one heck of a fight.

4. Pat Curran vs. Ronnie Mann at Bellator 47

Whoever wins this fight has got to be the favorite to win the entire “Summer Series” tournament. Both men gave fantastic performances in their first-round fights, and have been giving fantastic performances for quite some time. I don’t know what to expect from this fight, but only because both men are so versatile and can finish their opponent in so many different ways. It’s going to be an all-out war, and it should be one of the best fights of the month.

3. Marloes Coenen vs. Meisha Tate at Strikeforce “Fedor vs. Henderson”

In the fight that won her the championship, Marloes Coenen proved that her long arms and legs coupled with her skills as a veteran are enough to beat just about anybody. In her first defense of the championship, she proved to have the heart of a champion and never gave up, winning her fight in the fourth round despite being picked apart up until that point. Now, Coenen faces Meisha Tate, one of the most popular and well-rounded women’s fighters in Strikeforce. Can Coenen deal with such an all-around threat, especially after her image took a not-insignificant hit in her last fight? It’ll certainly be interesting to find out.

2. Joe Warren vs. Patricio Freire at Bellator 47.

As the saying goes, the “stars are aligned” for this fight and I’m thinking Freire will be able to take Warren out. Joe Warren’s last fight was one big blunder of a Bantamweight debut, prompting me to “award” Joe Warren my “Flop of the Month” for May 2011. And Patricio Freire has been looking all kinds of excellent lately. Whoever wins this fight will undoubtedly be the best Featherweight in Bellator, and it should be quite the rematch.

And my number-one most-anticipated fight of July 2011 is…

1. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson at Strikeforce “Fedor vs. Henderson”

This will be the fight that decides Fedor Emelianenko’s future. I can’t stand Fedor’s cynics, and it really angers me to think of what they’ll say if Emelianenko loses to a Dan Henderson that comes in at Heavyweight. But if Dan Henderson beats Fedor Emelianenko, it’ll be one of the biggest wins of his career and a crystal-clear statement that he’s back and better than ever.  But if Fedor Emelianenko beats Dan Henderson, he still might retire. I just don’t know what will happen to Fedor Emelianenko, even if he wins this match. And with Fedor one of my favorite fighters and one of the fighters I personally consider as a “best of all time” Mixed Martial Artist, there’s absolutely no chance that I’m missing this fight.

And there you have it, fans and friends!

We head to MMA Fighting for the official word. According to their report, an injury has forced “Cyborg” Santos to pull out of his upcoming fight with the British knockout artist. It is currently unknown who will replace Daley, it’s not even known whether or not Daley will still be competing on the card.

Ironically, both men have one big thing in common: they both lost to Nick Diaz in supremely humbling fashion in their most-recent fights. Heading into his showdown with Diaz, Santos held a barely-positive record of 18-13 and was soundly trounced by Diaz before succumbing to a second-round armbar. Many felt that Strikeforce was grasping at straws when putting someone like Santos, a longtime journeyman, into such a pivotal match-up.

Diaz’s next opponent, Paul Daley, was much more of a threat to Diaz’s reign. In perhaps the most exciting single-round fight of the last several years, Daley and Diaz fought an all-out war that saw both men dazed and hurt several times. After coming back from the razor’s edge and avoiding the first real KO loss of his career, Diaz ended the fight in the first round, stopping Daley due to strikes and giving “Semtex” the first real TKO loss of his career.

I definitely would’ve liked to see this fight, but if one of these fighters had to get injured, I’m glad it’s Santos. I know that sounds pretty insensitive, but I can’t help the way I feel. I think Paul Daley is a great addition to Strikeforce’s roster and gives them a badly-needed injection of talent. I think Daley will be a one-dimensional striker for the rest of his life, but he’s so entertaining and usually so dominant in that one dimension that I just can’t hold it against him. If he does decide to take a new opponent for “Fedor vs. Henderson”, I’ll certainly enjoy watching him fight.

Meanwhile, Evangelista Santos has never struck me as anything more than an up-and-down journeyman whose performances vary wildly based on the quality of the competition he’s facing. Much like I consider Valentijn Overeem “the other Overeem”, I consider Evangelista Santos “the other Cyborg”.

Of course, the removal of Santos makes me wonder who’s ready and deserving of a shot against Daley. But that just makes me think of an even bigger question that needs to be answered: what’s left for Paul Daley in Strikeforce? I’ll go one step further: what’s left for any Welterweight in Strikeforce?

When will Strikeforce crown a new Welterweight Champion now that Nick Diaz has vacated the belt and signed with the UFC? And let’s be honest: that new champion is going to have a long, hard road ahead of him if he wants to emerge out of the shadow of Diaz. Nick Diaz was one of Strikeforce’s biggest stars and one of its top draws both in television ratings and live attendance/gate receipts. He was mathematically, figuratively, and literally the most-dominant champion in Strikeforce history. Whoever wins the Strikeforce Welterweight Championship now that it’s vacated… I’ll always wonder “could he have beaten Nick?”

And I have a sinking feeling that I’m going to answer “no” to that question, time and time again. So, really, where does the Strikeforce welterweight division go from here?

The news comes from the Twitter of noted MMA journalist, reporter, and author Jonathan Snowden. Snowden recently tweeted the following: “Sources close to both fighters tell me the Fedor Emelianenko and Dan Henderson fight has been finalized for July 30th in Chicago on Showtime”.

If this report is true, an official announcement should come down the pipeline in the next few days/weeks. It was rumored that this fight would be the main event of Strikeforce’s first Pay-Per-View, but it appears that those plans have changed.

Even though a certain section of the fanbase remains pretty cynical about this fight, I honestly think it’s a very interesting match-up. Whether it’s at a catchweight or at Heavyweight, this fight has loads of potential.

I truly think that if Fedor Emelianenko wants to continue to compete at the highest levels in this sport at his age and at this point in his career, then he needs to start fighting smaller competition. It’s true that Emelianenko has felled giants before. But that was the past. That was then, and this is now. And in the here and now, we’ve seen the slow but steady evolution of the massive Heavyweight fighter. No longer do these fighters only have size as their strength, no longer are their gigantic muscles their only benefit. Now we’re seeing a new crop of Heavyweights that combined technique with power, and subtlety with aggression.

Case in point: Antonio Silva. Antonio Silva is a massive man, but that’s not all he has going for him. He’s got good cardio, impressive hand speed and power, a very good chin, and a startlingly-good submission game. Antonio Silva is good at almost everything, and while I wouldn’t go as far as to say that he’s the complete package, he definitely defies the stereotype that giant fighters are just “freak show” attractions.

In short: the Heavyweights may be getting bigger, but they’re also getting better. And that’s just not good for someone who traditionally always comes in near 230.

So, this fight with Henderson is a very smart move. In a perfect world, there would be two distinct Heavyweight divisions so as to eliminate these giant gaps in weight, to make sure that someone who naturally weighs 230 doesn’t fight against someone who cuts to 265 and then may weigh as much as 280 on fight night.  But that just doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen anytime soon, leaving Fedor with one realistic option: fight smaller guys.

All things being equal, Fedor Emelianenko is still a great fighter. He made a mistake against Werdum, and he got manhandled by a much-larger Antonio Silva. Against Dan Henderson, he’ll have the chance to impose his will in the grappling and not have to deal with a mountain of a man taking him down and sitting on him. Dan Henderson is no joke, and he’s a pretty big threat to Fedor, but without any huge weight disparity between the two, this fight will be the competitive war that it rightfully deserves to be.

So not only am I looking forward to this fight, I can’t wait to see it. What about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts on this latest news?

While Fedor may be arguably in the “twilight” of his career, he still manages to entice fans both with his aura and fighting ability, which has laid waste to some of the greatest heavyweight of all time, including Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (twice), Mark Coleman (twice) and former PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix 2006 Champion, Mirko “Cro Cop”.

However, negotiations have come to a stand still and now that strikeforce (the San Jose based organization whom houses both Henderson and Emelianenko) has been acquired under the Zuffa banner, CEO Lorenzo Fertitta will now step in now to help expedite the process.

UFC President Dana White confirmed with MMAJunkie.com that Lorenzo is now working closely with the parties involved on behalf of Henderson and Emelianeko in order to make what would be a historic fight now possible.

“Lorenzo’s working on it,” said the UFC head honcho. “Me getting anywhere near that thing? You’ll never see that fight.”

White has had some choice words for both men in the past, however since Henderson and Fedor are both now under the Zuffa banner, it looks like Dana will have to play ball, and now part of that will be for him to take himself out of the equation as far as negotiations are concerned. White and Fertitta have been known to play off of each other, a sort of “good cop, bad cop” dynamic duo. Where one person fails, the other will succeed.

Henderson, the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, has said that he would be willing to move up to the heavyweight division in order to take on the former PRIDE champion, though the bout has not been pegged to any specific weight-class as of yet.

The match is said to take place later this summer on July 30th and could be the organization’s first foray into the Pay-Per-View market. With Henderson and Fedor possibly headlining, it will be interesting to see how PPV numbers will do with both of these legends already well respected and known throughout the mixed martial arts community.

Sound off in the comment section below.

Let’s start with something we can all agree on: it’s always big news when a champion or former champion moves up or down in weight. People love to talk about Anderson Silva’s runs at 205 and when he’ll next return to Light Heavyweight, people are clamoring to see Georges St. Pierre jump up to Middleweight. In this case, we would be seeing a champion moving up and a former champion moving down.

Now, I know what some are thinking and have even said: isn’t this a bit unfair for Henderson? He’s competed as low as 185, after all.

To which I say: this isn’t Hendo’s first rodeo, and he’s made a career out of fighting at different weight classes. If anyone knows how to add or lose pounds the right way, it’s the man who once held a Middleweight and a Light Heavyweight Championship at the same time.

I wouldn’t consider myself a Dan Henderson super-fan, not like I consider myself a Fedor super-fan, but I certainly think he’s capable of adding ten or even twenty pounds from his current 205 frame and not losing a step in the process.

It would also be very interesting to see how Fedor Emelianenko does when he’s forced to cut weight. Maybe “forced” isn’t the right term, but I would definitely love to see a “leaner and meaner” Fedor Emelianenko. A lot of people have started calling Fedor “fat”, and I absolutely don’t agree with that. Just look at Tim Sylvia’s run at Super Heavyweight for an actual instance of a fighter totally letting himself go after a string of tough losses. But still, if this fight were to happen, and if it were to be at a catchweight, this would conceivably be the first time in his entire career that Fedor Emelianenko doesn’t fight at his natural weight. Try and tell me that’s not something you’d like to see.

Now, here’s something we as fans often do disagree about but also something I believe wholeheartedly: there’s still some fight left in Fedor Emelianenko. At the very, very least he still has at least one last, amazing performance in him. He may have made some mistakes in his last two fights, but a fighter like Fedor doesn’t simply fade off into the distance. If this fight does end up happening, trust me when I say that I know to my very core that Fedor will go out with a bang.

I respect Dan Henderson and like him as a fighter. I admire Fedor Emelianenko and all that he’s accomplished. If this fight is the headlining attraction of a Strikeforce Pay-Per-View, I honestly can think of only a handful of fights that Strikeforce could have made that would have possibly measured up. So long as all the dominoes fall into place, this could be one of the best fights of the year between two of the best veteran fighters still competing today. I can’t say I hope Fedor wins, I can’t say I hope Henderson wins. All I’m hoping for right now is that this fight does indeed happen.

And what about you, fans and friends? What are your thoughts on this potential match-up?

After his last loss against the aforementioned Silva, many speculated as to what would become of Fedor. Though he hinted towards retirement following the defeat, the Russian gathered himself and will still continue to compete.

Though no longer in the illustrious heavyweight grand prix which kicked off last February, there are still favorable matches that Emelianenko could partake in. One bout that is sure to satisfy the most hardcore of fans may be taking shape this July, as it appears that Fedor will be stepping in the cage against current Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, Dan Henderson.

The bout between these two legends has been rumored, or at least speculated, for sometime now, though nothing official has come to fruition.

Henderson recently picked up an impressive knockout win over former titleholder Rafael “Feijao”, one of the main training partners of pound-for-pound best Anderson Silva. The win helped extend a two-fight win streak for the Team Quest co-owner, and in the process, Henderson was become the organization’s new 205-pound champion as of this past March.

In recent interviews, Henderson has stated his desires of facing the heavyweight great, and said he would even be willing to move up to the heavyweight division in order to make the bout a reality. Realistically speaking, it would not necessarily be at a disadvantage should Henderson moved up in weight. Fedor has long been regarded as a fantastic fighter, though his pudgy exterior is evidence of a man who likes his food. Regularly weighing in at 230-pounds, should Emelianenko adopt a stricter diet, he could conceivably be a light-heavyweight fighter, which is an idea he has tied around with in recent memory.

Both men are scheduled to make their return come this July, for the same event which is scheduled for the organization’s first pay-per-view card.

Both men have verbally agreed to the match-up, and though nothing has become official yet, expect to see these two legends fight, most likely at a catch-weight, especially if the organization intends on stepping foot into the PPV field.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the news? Who do you favor in the bout? And do you think Fedor should make a permanent move to the light heavyweight division? Sound off in the comment section below.

The former PRIDE champion was at one point thought to be seemingly unbeatable. While at the peak of his career he officially did have a loss to Tsuyoshi Khosaka, a controversial TKO (cut) loss which stemmed back to his days in Rings, he later avenged his one and only defeat with a TKO of his own.

However, “The Last Emperor” is currently reeling from two back-to-back losses which cannot be mistaken for anything else but for what they were: genuine defeats. However, come this July, the Russian fighter still may have the chance to reclaim what was his.

Recently, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker spoke with Sherdog.com about his prized possession in Fedor, and while some may have given up on the magic that once was connected to Emelianenko, Coker will roll the dice and have him return come this summer.

“Fedor’s gonna fight sometime in July,” said Coker.

“It’s probably toward the end of July or mid-July, but we have fights with Fedor that we’re gonna honor and continue forward. We’re gonna do the co-branding exercise that we do with M-1 every time we do fights with them.”

While many have pointed to the fact that Emelianeko is now officially a fighter under the Zuffa umbrella since the company has recently acquired the Strikeforce brand, there is still work to be done under the San Jose banner.

Coker has stated several times of the distinct possibility that Fedor could return to the eight-man heavyweight grand-prix, which Antonio Silva took him out of when he secured a second-round TKO win over the legend last February. However, it looks like Emelianenko will be seeded into the tourney as an alternate, meaning he could rejoin the tournament should someone fallout due to injury.

But in the mean time, let’s play matchmaker–who would you like to see Fedor step back inside the cage with? In the heavyweight division, we have Andrei Arlovski, Gian Villante, Chad Griggs, Bobby Lashley, Lavar Johnson, Ray Sefo, Valentijn Overeem, and Shane Del Rosario on the list of possible competitors who are not directly involved in the tourney. Sound off in the comment section below,.

Before I begin, I’d like to point out that I’d like to see all five of these matches no matter when they happen and no matter who holds what championship in whichever division. Also, this list doesn’t take into account the army of dominoes that would have to fall into place for many of these fights to occur. In a perfect world where there are no such things as contract disputes and everyone can fight everyone else at their best, these are the five fights I want to see the most.

5. Anthony Pettis vs. Gilbert Melendez

I think of this match and I can’t help but smile. I also can’t even begin to imagine the potential insanity both men could unleash in the cage against each other. Gilbert Melendez is Strikeforce’s best Lightweight by far, while Anthony Pettis has fully and finally reached top-division status after an amazing five-round war with Ben Henderson. This fight would probably set the standard for years to come.

4. Quinton Jackson vs. Muhammed Lawal

It’s two of the best characters in MMA fighting each other… what’s not to love? Also, let’s not forget that both “Rampage” and “King Mo” love to bang and would probably spend every single second of this fight trying to knock each other’s heads off. Plus, I can’t even imagine how awesome the pre-fight trash talk will be between these two. Nothing about this fight or its build-up would be pretty, but entertaining? This fight has that in spades.

3. Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre

Although I don’t have a problem with taking a firm and even controversial stance on important issues, I’m not so rigid in my opinions that a fighter has no chance of winning me over. To this day, Nick Diaz stands out as the clearest example of that rule: I once utterly loathed him, but thanks in no small part to his many brilliant performances, I now consider myself a fan. I’ll go even one step further: he’s one of my favorite fighters, and currently one of the best Welterweights in the business. I’d love to see him fight GSP, who is already regarded as one of the best ever. Both men have a shot at winning this match, and I think Nick Diaz is one of the last, great challengers for GSP at 170.

2. Alistair Overeem vs. Brock Lesnar

This is the kind of fight where you wouldn’t be surprised if the ground shook the first time these two colossal titans locked horns. And that’s really the best way to describe these two hulking behemoths: they have a physique right out of Roman legends. And let’s not forget that these are two of the top Heavyweights in the business. Despite constant abuse from his cynics, Brock Lesnar is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and one of the highest-drawing UFC stars of all time. Despite constant accusations of chemical enhancement, Alistair Overeem is a K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, the Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, and the DREAM Interim Heavyweight Champion. This would be an awesome match no matter where both men are at in their careers when it does finally get around to happening.

And my number-one pick should come as a shock to virtually no one that’s followed me and my musings for any prolonged period of time.

1. Randy Couture vs. Fedor Emelianenko

When you talk about a “legacy fight”, this is what you’re talking about. Neither man has anything left to prove, both men will go down as one of the best in the history of the sport. However, I can and will admit that this fight doesn’t have the appeal it did back when Fedor was undefeated and Randy Couture was the UFC Heavyweight Champion. But none of that would matter if these two ever stepped into the Octagon against each other. I can’t think of a better way to end an era, as I think this fight would virtually close the book on Fedor’s and Randy’s careers. This fight still has an incredible amount of appeal, and it’s still easily the number-one “Strikeforce vs. UFC” fight I absolutely want to see.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What fantasy fights do you hope one day to see?

In fact, after Werdum’s PRIDE days were over once the organization had been purchased by the UFC, he eventually made his way to the Zuffa owned promotion in April of 2007, however succumbed to a lackluster decision defeat to former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski at UFC 70 upon his entry.

Afterwards, the Brazilian would go on to compile an overall record of 2-2, with wins over Gabriel Gonzaga and Brandon Vera later besmirched by a devastating knockout loss to current top contender Junior dos Santos. After the loss, the two parties couldn’t come to terms on a new deal, and Werdum made his own elsewhere, and found his way to Strikeforce. However, now with the acquisition of the San Jose based promotion, Werdum has now become one of the top prizes of the organization.

In April of 2010, Fabricio Werdum became the first man to submit the legendary Fedor Emelianenko, who long reigned as the premier heavyweight fighter on the planet and is often heralded as the greatest fighter of all time.

The win for the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion caught the eye of many, including the UFC head honchos. In a conversation with TATAME.com, Werdum recollects on a talk he had with UFC matchmaker Joe Silva where the executive expressed interest in the Brazilian again.

“Strikeforce was doing well, growing strongly, but let’s face the facts, the UFC is the best of the world, a stronger brand… You have to unit with the best”, said Werdum, who later confirmed that the UFC was in fact interested in hsi serviced again after the win over Emelianenko.

“Now I can say, right? (laughs) Joe Silva told me to call him as soon as I was ‘free’, to call him to negotiate, but now we’re at the same home again (laughs) [sic]“.

With the acquisition of Strikeforce under the Zuffa banner, we could very well see the absorption of many of the Strikeforce talent, and depending on how the rest of the heavyweight grand-prix plays out, Werdum’s assertions of reentering the octagon could become a very real reality.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the news? Should the UFC have tried to acquire Werdum immediately when he defeated “The Last Emperor”? Well, better late than never. Sound off in the comment section below.

At the ripe age of 40, Henderson was able to nab his prestigious strikeforce light heavyweight title when he knocked out then champion Rafael “Feijao” in the third-round of their championship bout last weekend.

Since then, Gegard Mousasi and/or Mike Kyle have appeared as the front runners for Henderson’s newly acquired title, however the former PRIDE star may have other people in mind at this point. In fact, currently it’s the former consensus pound-for-pound best fighter in the world in Fedor Emelianenko, which has recently peaked Dan’s interest.

Recently, the Team Quest co-owner suggested that he would like to get a few more fights in before the year is out, and then have some time to spend in the pleasant surroundings of his budding family.

What that in mind, Henderson has never been one to shy away from a challenge, having competed in his career mostly as a middleweight, however has been inclined to take bigger challenges above his weight should the right opportunity present itself.

Chief among those challenges lies in “The Last Emperor”, the aforementioned Fedor Emelianenko.

“”Obviously, he’s still one of the top guys out there in the world, and it would be a huge challenge,” said Dan of the former PRIDE heavyweight champion, while speaking with MMAJunkie.com. “It would interest me to go up.”

While Dan would undoubtedly give up some size should he meet with Fedor in the heavyweight division, it wouldn’t be by too much. Fedor typically walks around about 230-pounds against Henderson’s 205. Keep in mind, it’s not as if Emelianenko, 34, is exactly the most “chizzled” star in the mixed martial arts world, to say the least.

However, if there was any fight that would lull Fedor back into the fight game and away from any conotation’s of possible retirement, it would surely be against a guy like Henderson, who is as endeared in the MMA community as himself.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the news? Do you think this could be a fight that we see in the foreseeable future? Which weight class should this fight take place? Sound off in the comment section below.

In fact, he’s probably the only friend that remains honest with “The Last Emperor”, despite both men seemingly severing ties some years ago after a falling out. Kharitonov is among the few who has spoken pubicly about Fedor’s camp, and his need to diversify his surroundings in order to better himself as a fighter.

He should know, he used to train with the guy.

Fedor, arguably the most lauded fighter of all time and the former consensus number one heavyweight fighter in the world, has lost..consecutively. In his last outing, Emelianenko, 34, was finished off by American Top Team product Antonio Silva in the quarter-finals of the Grand Prix tourney. Prior to the loss, Fedor was submitted by Fabricio Werdum in April of last year.

Both Sergei and Fedor were under the “Red Devil” banner not too long ago, where the training camp was littered with top-level mixed martial arts fighters, including both Fedor and brother Aleksander Emelianenko, Roman Zenstov, and of course Sergei. Now, the talent has diminished to a few “hopefuls”, but no true competition that push the Russian to his breaking point.

As a fighter, Fedor is one of the best in the sport, but when you lack competitivness in camp, you lack desire.

That is something that Sergei has noticed and has expressed those same sentiments aloud while speaking with BloodyElbow.com recently.

“I am always in shape, I am ready physically and morally. I wish the same for Fedor Emelianenko. I think that he lacks of competition. He needs to fight more in order to become great again”, said Sergei while he is in the midst of his own training camp with his new team in Golden Glory, whom boasts Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem among their prized pupils.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the news? Do you agree with Sergei? What does Fedor need in order to reach greatness again? Sound off in the comment section below.

In a new interview with MixFight.ru, with English translations courtesy of LowKick, Voronov had this to say regarding the bizarre interview he supposedly gave: “First of all, I never gave any interviews after the fight. We were on our way out of the airport, when a boy approached me asking about Fedor’s health. I answered that Fedor feels alright… So he said that it seemed like Fedor didn’t feel so good. I answered that maybe it only seems so, and maybe Fedor doesn’t feel so well (laughing). Then, by these two phrases this lad… came to a conclusion that I was talking about some sort of hypnosis. It’s a total bull****.”

This was a pretty confusing story to begin with, and it just got more confusing. Could it be that something was lost in translation? Or maybe the original Russian sources were a bit too hasty in printing and running with this story? Honestly, I don’t think we’ll ever be able to say for sure whether or not Voronov really said what he now says he didn’t say… you know what I’m saying?

Already a section of the MMA fanbase is criticizing the “MMA Media” for jumping to conclusions and running with the story. Perhaps we are partially to blame for this story spreading as quickly as it did, but in all honesty, this one was just too juicy for me to pass up. A large part of everyday MMA news deals in rumor and speculation to begin with, should we really be faulted when one thing ends up not being true when a whole lot of other things end up not being true on a routine basis?

And as I said, we’ll never really, fully know if Voronov really did never say what the Russian sources claimed he said, or if he was simply trying to save face after a bizarre accusation and an embarrassing interview. I mean, who honestly didn’t look at that story and think “comedic goldmine”? Insinuating that Antonio Silva’s camp engaged in some type of illegal mind control is right out of the National Enquirer.

And to be completely honest, I kinda took this story with a grain of salt from the get-go. It was a pretty bizarre accusation, it certainly came out of left field, and it was certainly a strong departure from the norm, since both Fedor and most of his camp continue to shroud themselves under a veil of silence and secrecy.

At the end of the day, here’s what I’m taking out of this story: it’s a hilarious quote from a camp that usually doesn’t give out quotes of any kind, and whether or not he actually said what he said, it was certainly good for a quick laugh or two. Hopefully now we can all move on and focus on the future: the future for Antonio Silva, the future for Fedor Emelianenko, the future for Strikeforce as a whole. Because that’s where we’re headed, and it’s shaping up to be an awesome 2011.

And what about you, fans and friends? Any new thoughts on this situation now that Voronov is claiming that he never said anything about mind control/hypnosis?

And apparently, the American Top Team has heard enough of it.

In fact, the Brazilian juggernaut is open to a rematch with the former PRIDE heavyweight champion, should the two meet again in the foreseeable future.

Silva met with Emelianenko on February 12 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey where he was able to dominate Fedor in the second-round of their heavyweight tilt, mounting the Russian and dropping heavy bombs. Eventually, the fight was halted in between rounds on the Doctor’s advice when Fedor’s right-eye had swollen shut due to the mounting blows.

Several outlets had the fight even at one round apiece, and have speculated the outcome of the match should Emelianenko had been granted to return for a third-round.

“Personally, I rather enjoyed that fight, and if Fedor would like a rematch, I would graciously and respectfully grant him one,” said Antonio who spoke with <a href="http://mmajunkie.com/news/22527/strikeforces-antonio-silva-if-fedor-emelianenko-wants-a-rematch-bring-it-on.mma”>MMAJunkie.com through his manager Alex Davis who helped interpret.

“I don’t think it would be in his or his camp’s best interest, but that’s not for me to decide. It would set the record straight though.”

Since the loss, the Fedor’s second-consecutive defeat, the former consensus number one heavyweight fighter has hinted towards retirement, much to the disdain of fans. However, his legacy will remain intact. Undefeated in 10 years of competition and legendary battles with some of the world’s best fighters have cemented his place in history as one of the greatest fighters of all time.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of Silva’s comments? Would it be wise of Fedor’s camp to take a rematch with “Big Foot”? The Brazilian likely came into their heavyweight tilt with about 50-pounds over the relatively small Fedor, who usually walks into the cage at 230-pounds at best.

For the time being, Antonio will continue on with the coveted eight-man grand prix as he moves on to the semi-finals where he will meet with the winner of a match pitting Fabricio Werdum against champion Alistair Overeem in their quarter-final bout. Fedor remains the top-alternate in the tournament, as per Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker. Sound off in the comment section below.

We head to MMA Fighting for some interesting quotes regarding Fedor’s future: “If the fighter doesn’t want to fight you’re not gonna want him to fight… And if he wants to retire then it’s time to walk away. But I don’t think that’s the case … and I think the loser of Overeem and Werdum, that would be a great fight for Fedor… I have no doubt he will be back.”

MMA Fighting also recently asked Coker to comment on Dana White, who went on a Twitter tirade immediately following Emelianenko’s loss. Here are some of the highlights from that interview: “At least the guy’s watching, right? …As long as he wants to keep watching Strikeforce that’s a good thing… I respect Dana and what he’s done. Their success is great and our success is great, too.”

I really respect Scott Coker for approaching these two issues from such a unique point of view. I won’t get into an argument over which promoter is better, but I’d just like to note how vastly different Coker seems to be in comparison to Dana White. Coker is looking at all this in a “bigger picture” sense, whereas I think Dana White normally concentrates on the here and now: the next big fight, the next huge buyrate, etc.

Whereas White would’ve launched a counter-tirade of his own, Coker is taking White’s Twitter rant in stride. Whereas White would’ve been prone to speculation if he had a fighter in Fedor’s situation, Coker is an optimistic as well as a realist. It’s a pretty dramatic difference, and I think that’s a good thing for a sport like ours, especially when you consider how different Strikeforce is from the UFC.

I honestly agree with Scott Coker too. It’s a cliché, but sometimes haters will do what they do best. Dana White obviously still has some lingering issues with Fedor Emelianenko and his notoriously difficult management team, and is basically kicking the famed fighter when he’s down. It’s a bit of a low blow, but do we really expect anything else from a guy that’s not-so-sarcastically referred to himself as “The Grim Reaper” of other MMA promotions?

In regards to Fedor Emelianenko’s future, I think Coker has the best possible outlook on the situation. Nobody can force Fedor to fight if he doesn’t want to, but if he still wants to fight, there are still several very entertaining potential match-ups left for Fedor in Strikeforce. It’s Fedor’s right to call it a career when and if he wants to, but if he doesn’t, he’s got no shortage of challengers ready to test themselves against him even if he’s coming off of two straight losses.

And what about you, fans and friends? What’s your take on Scott Coker’s recent comments?

Certainly sounds weird, doesn’t it? But here’s a snippet of an interview one of Fedor’s trainers recently had over at Lifesports.ru, with English translations courtesy of MMA Mania: “…Certain technologies might have been used – certainly, not the ones that would be visible to an open eye. Most likely, they were psychological technologies that influenced both fighters from the distance of the crowd. For this reason Fedor simply wasn’t himself during fight.”

Recently, the manager of Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva responded to these bizarre claims over at “The Underground”, the popular message board/forum of Mixed Martial Arts.com. Alex Davis had this to say regarding the accusation: “Jeez!! I got cought! I will have to come out with the truth now! I hired a Macumbeiro ( Brazilian wicth dr) and we killed a black chicken on the cross roads. After this,over a few beers, I showed the witch Dr Fedors fights, and he was worried that a chicken wouldnt be anough, so we went out and killed a black goat , just to make sure! Very potent stuff! Realy messed Fedors brain waves up! We wanted to try that other military stuff Voronov is talking about,but its expensive technology and we were broke! The chicken and the goat came out way cheaper. Witch Dr is a friend, did it for a few beers and an autograph!”

Obviously, the humor of this situation is not lost on Antonio Silva’s camp.

And to be quite honest, that’s really the only way you can react to this kind of accusation.

I mean, what else are we supposed to believe? That Team Silva had some sort of hypno-ray that influenced Fedor from a distance? Some sort of mind-control device that affected how Fedor fought? It’s stuff right out of a science fiction novel, and it’d be hilarious if it wasn’t so sad. No, wait, it’s still pretty hilarious.

This just comes off as total “sour grapes” on the part of Fedor Emelianenko’s camp. Not only is it a very weak excuse, it’s also a pretty bizarre one and I just can’t see anyone taking this notion seriously. I certainly don’t. As one of the biggest Fedor fans you’ll ever meet, even I can admit that Antonio Silva bested Fedor. I’m not looking for excuses to try and diminish what is definitely the biggest accomplish of Silva’s MMA career. I give credit where credit is due, and if Emelianenko’s camp can’t extend that simple common courtesy, that certainly says a lot more about them than it does Fedor Emelianenko.

And what about you, fans and friends? What’s your reaction to this accusation and the response from Silva’s manager?

Not only is he one step closer to the finals of this prestigious heavyweight Grand Prix, which features some of the best fighters in the world, but Silva also defeated former PRIDE champion Fedor Emelianenko in the process.

The Brazilian juggernaut utilized his size to keep Emelianenko on his back for nearly the entire second-round, mounting the Russian, brutalizing him with a heavy dose of ground-and-pound that left his right eye nearly swollen shut and beaten red. Ringside officials called a halt to the bout, and Silva was declared the winner. However, Antonio lament’s that should Emelianenko had return for the third round, he would have risked more than a loss, but his eye.

Brazilian media forum TATAME caught up with Silva after his win over “The Last Emperor” and he had this to say about Emelianenko, should he have continued into the third-round.

“Many said he could’ve returned for round number three, but I’ll tell you something… Because of Fedor’s heart and his attitude as a professional, he’d have returned for sure, but he hadn’t conditions to fight, because if he returned, he’d have lost his eye, because I’d keep trying to hit it all the time”, said Silva.

“The doctors are there for it, to talk with the athlete and don’t let him to get hurt”.

I for one wasn’t opposed to the stoppage. I was actually proud that Fedor showed the kind of heart and desire to continue in the fight, as the 265-pound Silva gave him plenty of opportunities to quit during the bout, however Emelianenko survived a ground-and-pound barrage, and a deep arm-triangle choke.

So if it was up to Fedor, he would have returned for the third-round, and who knows what would have happened there. In fact, a lot of people had Fedor taking the first-round and Silva with the second obviously, so it could have been anybody’s fight at that point.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of Silva’s comments? Do you agree with his assessment of the bout? Sound off in the comment section below.

Showtime clocked in with 1.1 million viewers for the Fedor / Silva fight.  This is a huge number and bodes well for continued support from Showtime and for the growth of Strikeforce.  However, the next round of fights in the Heavyweight tournament will reveal if Strikeforce can keep this level or if this is all due to the lure of Fedor.  While Dana White tweeted a smiley face… As Fedor went down, the UFC does have some competition here.  This heavyweight tournament has gravitas and respect.  White can’t dismiss this group of fighters as second rate.  With Barnett, Overeem, and Kharitonov still alive, the winner of this tournament will have a legitimate claim as best in the world.

Gian Villante has a lot to learn.  Villante lost badly to Chad Griggs in the second fight of the main card.  Villante had been knocking out guys easily in the Ring Of Combat.  Griggs, I would argue, does not have more athletic ability than Villante, but he was not intimidated by the bright lights and showed more conviction and purpose in his action.  Villante, who once told me that he prefers to just “bang”, must appreciate the need to game plan and strategize.  He will not last long, as a 225lb heavyweight, by simply unloading the chamber in the first minute of a fight hoping he lands something worthwhile.  Villante has the firepower to succeed, but does he have the brainpower to sustain a long career.

Andrei Arlovski may be done.  The way he went down, now the fourth time in a row, instantly had me thinking of Chuck Liddell and how his last several fights unfolded and how he seemed to check out on shots which five years earlier would have been absorbed as the fight continued.  It has to be hard to be near the end of a career, when your hand speed and power may still be intact but your chin just can’t defend itself the way it used to.

I hate the entrance staging Strikeforce employs to bring fighters into the cage.  It reeks of Vince McMahon and the WWE.  The cheapo fireworks and the fighters pimping and dancing up on the stage is a big negative.  There is no rule that Strikeforce can’t copy boxing and the UFC, allowing the fighter to enter on the ground floor surrounded by his team and fans.  This latter approach is just so much more authentic to the history of fight sports and just feels more like a true sport and less like an entertainment product.

Two names we should be hearing about for a long time to come.  John Cholish and Shane Del Rosario.  Cholish is the 155lb Cornell bred wrestler who works on Wall St. by day and trains at Renzo Gracie gym by night in Manhattan.  Cholish submitted Marc Stevens in round two his fight.  The 248lb Del Rosario looked composed and multifaceted, as he weathered the storm brought by Lavar Johnson to take the fight to his home base on the mat, to get the arm bar.

How bout it friends?  What was your big take away from last Saturday’s Strikeforce event?

Though UFC President Dana White would disagree, I think the most well educated mixed martial arts fans would consider Fedor not only as the greatest heavyweight fighter ever, but one of the most greatest fighters of all time.

So when I was live at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey last weekend and saw Antonio Silva utilize his size and skill to subdue the much smaller Emelianenko, several things rang true.

One, Fedor’s skills are finally catching up to the talent that he has spent a majority of his career ahead of. Two, he will run into these same problems time and time again should he continue to face athletes at the top of the heap in the heavyweight class. So when Fedor expressed his sentiments in wanting to retire post-fight last weekend, I wasn’t surprised.

However, both Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker and manager Vadim Finkelstein believe that there are still many great fights to come for “The Last Emperor”.

“You know how that goes. People get very emotional during a fight and we’ll see”, said Scott Coker during the post-fight press conference when discussing Emelianenko’s decision to possibly retire.

“My position is we have many more fights with Fedor and I think he’ll honor his contract.

Perhaps what’s more exciting, is that should Emelianenko dedicate at least one more fight with the organization, he could potentially have the chance to turn things around for himself. The Russian heavyweight could become a top-alternate in the Strikeforce Grand Prix, despite losing in the quarter-final round last weekend against the aforementioned Silva.

“There’s absolutely a possibility that he could be a replacement. There could be an injury and we could get Fedor back in the tournament, but either way he’ll be fighting high-level competition”, lamented Coker.

M-1 Global President Vadim Finkelstein, who also doubles as Emelianenko’s manager, says that a lot of the sentiments that Fedor shared post-fight were expressed out of the emotion of the loss, and that more likely than not we will see “The Last Emperor” in the cage once again. At 34-years-old, Emelianenko, is certainly still primed for a return to the top, it’s ultimately up to him at this point.

“I think Fedor was just really upset that he lost the fight because he was so, the way the fight finished, because he was so prepared for the fight”, said Vadim who commented on the decision made by the ring side Doctor to stop the fight once Fedor’s eye was swollen shut.

“I don’t think it was a clear-cut loss. If it doesn’t get stopped by the doctor, we don’t know what would have happened in that third round. Because of that I think we will see Fedor return.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the news? Does Fedor still have one fight left in him, or should he hang it up as it is? Many people have also suggested that the Russian star should consider a drop to the light heavyweight class–what do you think? Thanks to MMAWeekly.com for the transcribe. Sound off in the comment section below.

At first glance, it’s easy to write off someone like Antonio Silva. The man is freakishly tall, with a monster reach advantage and humongous fists. It’s almost too easy to look at a fighter like that and immediately label him a freakshow. It’s a label that “Bigfoot” has been trying to shrug off since he started fighting, and at “Fedor vs. Silva”, he ripped that label off once and for all.

Leading up to this fight, many people simply didn’t expect Antonio Silva to win. Most fans are willing to give credit where credit is due, however, even those fans have a “yes, but” approach to Antonio Silva. Yes, he was the EliteXC Heavyweight Champion, but he tested positive for a banned substance post-fight and we’ll never really know if he was or wasn’t on anything. Yes, he beat Andrei Arlovski, but that victory came at a time when Arlovski was two fights into a pretty huge downward spiral. Yes, Silva dominated Mike Kyle, but Kyle is usually a Light Heavyweight and had Silva in serious trouble in the early minutes of their fight.

Much of this wasn’t even said in that disrespectful of a manner, but rather as some open and honest “tough love”. Was Silva really ready to make that jump into the shark tank and challenge the best Heavyweights Strikeforce has to offer? Was he really ready to take on a legend like Fedor Emelianenko? All these questions and more swirled around “Bigfoot” before he entered the cage… and all of them were answered by the time he left the cage.

Now more than ever, Antonio Silva proved that he is a complete Mixed Martial Arts fighter. Silva held his own against Fedor Emelianenko’s stand-up game, which is something only a few people have been able to say in the history of Fedor’s vaunted career. In fact, many people believe that Silva outright beat Fedor in the first round thanks to his head movement, the amount of clean, hard strikes he landed, and his ability to control the pace of the fight and where it went.

Then Antonio Silva did what no man has ever been able to do: he outright dominated and humbled Fedor Emelianenko.

Emelianenko has had some close calls and hard-fought wins in the past, but no one ever put a beating on him like Antonio Silva. Silva performed near-flawlessly in the second round, mounting Emelianenko and nearly submitting him on more than one occasion. By the end of the round, one of Emelianenko’s eyes was swollen shut. The doctor had seen enough, and Antonio Silva became the first and only man to ever legitimately beat Fedor Emelianenko primarily due to strikes.

In beating Fedor Emelianenko, Antonio Silva defied all of our expectations and emphatically set the benchmark for the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. By dominating and finishing the legendary Fedor, Silva is now the man to beat, even moreso than Fabricio Werdum. Werdum submitted the legend… Silva bashed its face in and in the process shattered the hopes of the legion of Fedor fans expecting a grand comeback that would begin with Fedor rolling through “Bigfoot”.

So not only did Antonio Silva score the biggest win of his life at “Fedor vs. Silva”, he did it by putting on the best performance of his entire career. Without a doubt, Antonio Silva fully deserves my “Best Performance of the Night” award.

And what about you, fans and friends? Who would you give this award to if you had the chance, and why?

5. Gina Carano announcing her return to Strikeforce.

It’s been rumored to happen for quite some time, and at Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Silva”, the woman known as “The Face of Women’s MMA” announced her impending comeback. Carano’s return is sure to guarantee some great fights in the future, and if it ever happens, a rematch with Cristiane Santos would likely earn main event status once again. I think Women’s MMA needs Gina Carano, so I can’t wait to see how she handles her comeback.

4. Shane del Rosario trapping and tapping Lavar Johnson.

Shane del Rosario and Lavar Johnson were in the middle of a pretty entertaining stand-up war when the fight ended up going to the ground. In an excellent display of his constantly-improving skills, Shane del Rosario flawlessly transitioned to mount and locked in a tight armbar that Johnson had no choice but to tap to. The win was another important milestone in the continuing evolution of SDR, who once again proved why everyone is probably going to be talking about him a whole lot more before 2011 is through.

3. Chad Griggs and Gian Villante swinging for the fences.

Who doesn’t appreciate a good brawl? I can appreciate and enjoy the finer aspects of the fight game, of course, but at the end of the day, isn’t it just plain fun and exciting to see two men swing for the fences and not back down until one goes out? Chad Griggs seemed to be the polar opposite of the tentative fighter we saw beat Bobby Lashley, and while Chad’s win didn’t have much finesse to it, it perfectly displayed Griggs’ serious punching power and formidable heart. It was a one-round war of attrition, and it was definitely one of the best fights of the night.

2. Sergei Kharitonov crushing Andrei Arlovski.

If you didn’t know who Sergei Kharitonov was before “Fedor vs. Silva”, you certainly know now. Sergei gave fans a rude awakening when he put Andrei Arlovski to sleep. Sergei didn’t seem the least bit hurt by Andrei’s punches, he held his own very well, and when the opportunity presented itself, Kharitonov had the kind of killer instinct necessary to quite possibly make a deep run in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, despite the fact that he’s still a “dark horse” candidate. Even though it broke my heart to see Andrei lifelessly gazing up at the lights again, there’s no doubt that this KO was one of the best moments of the night.

But of course, the number one spot just has to go to…

1. Antonio Silva stopping Fedor Emelianenko.

Even if Fedor Emelianenko chooses not to retire coming off of this loss to “Bigfoot”, I truly think we witnessed the end of an era when Silva stopped Fedor. Fedor simply looked… human. From arguably losing the stand-up battle to having his eye swollen shut and reduced to mush when the fight hit the ground, Fedor was a far cry from his previous years of dominance while Antonio Silva put on the best performance of his life. This is a fight we’ll all be talking about and dissecting for a long, long time. It takes the top spot quite easily.

So that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What are your top/favorite moments from “Fedor vs. Silva”?

“Something went wrong from the very beginning, and I didn’t manage to readjust myself.  Maybe it’s the time to leave.”   Then after questioning, Fedor further reinforced the possibility of retirement.  “Yes, maybe it’s the last time.  Maybe it’s high time.  Thank God for everything.  I’ve spent a great, beautiful, long sport life.  Maybe it’s God’s will.”

As usual, there will be a lot of questions about Fedor after this fight.  He was beaten up in that second round pretty badly.  This will cause some to question if he was ever really that good, if his dominance was simply due to fighting mostly overseas rather than in the UFC. 

Not a chance.  After all, it would seem important to remember that all great combat sports athletes, beyond the very rare ones that retire early (Rocky Marciano, anyone?), lose some fights toward the end of their career.  Whether it’s age, the sport passing them by, or a combination of the two, it’s to be expected.  To truly gauge a fighter’s worth, you need to look at their prime, not necessarily the end of their career.

And when you do that, Fedor Emelianenko really has been the best heavyweight MMA fighter of all-time, bar none. 

Fedor started his MMA career with a 32-1 record while fighting, for the most part, in high level promotions.  His only loss during that stretch was to Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, which was controversial in that an inadvertent elbow strike opened up an existing cut, forcing a stoppage.  Of course, later Emelianenko avenged that loss.  During his pre-PRIDE and PRIDE days, Fedor defeated high profile fighters like Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (twice by decision), Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (decision), Renato Sobral (decision), Ricardo Arona (decision), Semmy Schilt (decision), Heath Herring (TKO), Mark Coleman (twice by armbar), and Kevin Randleman (kimura). 

And by the way, that whole if he fought in the UFC during his prime thing just doesn’t apply. After all, remember who the UFC heavyweight champions were during the days when he was top dog in PRIDE.  From 2003-2006, Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski were generally the guys who reigned supreme.  And as everyone knows, Emelianenko later stopped both of them while fighting for Affliction.

In the end, during his long prime Fedor was the best MMA heavyweight in the world.  He has already proven this.  Sure, times have been tough lately.  But that’s generally the case with fighters; it’s to be expected at the end of their careers.  So until a heavyweight fighter comes along and does something remotely close to what Fedor has accomplished, his status as the best MMA heavyweight of all time is secure.

Next for Valentijn Overeem: I think it’s still a fair question to ask how much Valentijn has left in his tank. He beat someone who’s completely clueless on the ground with a submission that anyone half-decent knows how to break. Nevertheless, he certainly seemed to be holding his own while standing. If “Oldereem” does end up replacing an injured Heavyweight Grand Prix participant, I honestly don’t see him making it past his first fight in the official tournament.

Next for Andrei Arlovski: Retirement. I hate to say it, but at this point it’s better to go out with whatever dignity you have left than to follow in the footsteps of people like Tim Sylvia, finding steady work on the regional circuit but never coming anywhere close to capturing your former fame. With this loss, his third stunning KO loss in his four most recent fights, Arlovski has now officially become an after-thought in the Heavyweight division. As a fan of Arlovski, there’s only so many times I can bear seeing him lifeless on the floor with that glazed look in his eyes. It’s time to pack it in.

Next for Sergei Kharitonov: With his dominating performance over Andrei Arlovski, Kharitonov has now officially become many people’s “dark horse favorite”, including mine. I think Kharitonov does have a chance, however slim, to win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. It will all depend on who he faces next: if it’s Brett Rogers, that’s an awesome brawl and I have both men dead even. If it’s Josh Barnett, Barnett’s wrestling will be a formidable (though not impossible) challenge for Kharitonov. Either way, it’s going to be an interesting next couple of fights for Sergei and his new fans.

Next for Fedor Emelianenko: I honestly don’t know, and I suppose this is the question that everyone wants answered. I certainly don’t want him to retire, but I could understand why he did if he chooses to do so. Regardless, I still consider Fedor Emelianenko the greatest MMA fighter of all time. Two losses at the end of a brilliant career should not diminish the incredible victories Fedor has on his record. If this really is the end, I guess all that’s left to say is “thanks for the memories”.

Next for Antonio Silva: With this win over Fedor, Antonio Silva has finally achieved his dream: he is now unquestionably a top-division Heavyweight fighter. It’s been a long and slow journey up the ranks, but Silva has grown from humble beginnings as a “freakshow fighter” and emerged as one of the best Heavyweights on the planet. No matter who Silva ends up fighting next, they’re in for a war. With his crushing victory over Fedor Emelianenko, Silva is now on the short-list of the most likely candidates to win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What do you think is next for the winners and losers of Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Silva”?

Antonio Silva defeats Fedor Emelianenko by TKO (Doctor Stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 3. Sergei Kharitonov defeats Andrei Arlovski by KO (Strikes) at 2:49 of Round 1. Shane Del Rosario defeats Lavar Johnson by Submission (Armbar) at 4:31 of Round 1. Chad Griggs defeats Gian Villante by TKO (Strikes) at 2:49 of Round 1. Valentijn Overeem defeats Ray Sefo by Submission (Neck Crank) at 1:37 of Round 1. John Cholish defeats Marc Stevens by Sumbission (Kneebar) 3:57 of Round 2. Igor Gracie defeats John Salgado by Submission (Arm Triangle) at 3:04 of Round 2. Sam Oropeza defeats Don Carlo-Clauss by Verbal Submission (Strikes) at 4:10 of Round 1. Josh LaBerge defeats Anthony Leone by TKO (Cut Stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 1. Jason Maclean defeats Kevin Roddy by Split Decision.

I really enjoyed the three reserve bouts that started off the evening, and I think it’s a testament to Strikeforce’s booming nature that so many of their main card fights are ending via stoppage. It appears that Valentijn Overeem does have some gas left in the tank, while Chad Griggs looked infinitely more impressive in his win over Gian Villante than he did when he defeated Bobby Lashley. And then we saw the continuing evolution of Shane del Rosario. While I hope that no one in the main Heavyweight Grand Prix gets injured, the quality of the reserve bouts leads me to believe that we may still be in for some very interesting fights if any of the major players do have to pull out.

It broke my heart to see Andrei Arlovski get knocked out again. It’s hard to see a fighter you once really enjoyed watching continue to stumble again and again. At this point, I just don’t want to see Arlovski get knocked out again. I understand that he’s still immensely popular and that he can probably find fights for the next several years based on his popularity alone. But I just don’t want him to. My knee-jerk reaction, which I’m sure I’ll contemplate a lot in the next several days, is that Andrei Arlovski may be better off retiring.

And in the main event, we saw what could be the end of Fedor Emelianenko. A close first round was followed by a dominant round by “Bigfoot” that seemed to sap all the will out of Fedor. I don’t know who would have won if the fight had gone a third round, but I suppose that doesn’t really matter anymore. Like the loss to Arlovski, I’m heartbroken that one of my favorite fighters lost and lost in a big way.

I honestly don’t know where Fedor goes from here. As a fan, I certainly don’t want him to retire. But looking at it honestly and openly, I could see why he would. If this was the final time we see Fedor Emelianenko compete, at least he went out with the heart and determination that made him a champion. There’s not an ounce of quit in Fedor Emelianenko, and he remained active until the end. No excuses and no regrets: thank you, Fedor.

While I’m pretty sad that two of my favorite fighters won’t be able to continue in this Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, I think this show was the colossal success that it needed to be. Once again, every single one of the main card fights ended via stoppage. Every fight had something to offer, every fight was exciting. Regardless of who wins, this is going to be an utterly amazing tournament.

And what about you, fans and friends? What did you think of “Fedor vs. Silva”?

For preliminary action you can check out HdNet at 7:30pm EST, and for the main-card fighters, tune into Showtime, beginning at 10pm EST.

Preliminary fights (HdNet):

-Jason McLean vs. Kevin Roddy (145-pounds)

Round 1: Kevin Roddy gets brownie points from me by coming out to Korn. Don’t judge me. Inside low kicks traded by both men in early action. Low kicks are landing for McLean. Uppercut misses for Roddy. Kevin catches a kick and works McLean to the cage, then breaks away. Roddy continuing to paw away with the jab. Tentative first few moments of action here. And just as I say that Roddy storms through with a flurry and throws a high kick, though it’s deflected. McLean lands a solid takedown in the final moments of the round. 10-9 for Roddy based on aggressiveness.

Round 2: High kick again for Roddy deflected. A four punch combo lands for Kevin, however Jason takes it well. It looks like McLean is having a hard time with the reach advantage, with Roddy continuing to extend the jab and land some solid low kicks. McLean answer with a flurry, though there’s little there. Roddy catches the shorter fight with a kick to the boys and the action is halted temporarily. “Oh’s” resonate in the arena once the replay airs. McLean drops Roddy with a stunning right hook. Kevin regains his composure and scrambles to get back to his feet. Straight to the body lands for McLean, followed by an overhand right. McLean catches another low kick at the bell, however takes the round 10-9.

Round 3: Anybody’s fight at this point. High kick misses again for Roddy who’s missing the shorter McLean. He should abandon them at this point. Right hook lands for Jason, who goes for a takedown. In a scramble, Roddy lands on top in half-guard. Roddy mounts and unleashes some great ground and pound. Roddy takes his back and is fishing for a rear-naked choke. Jason is defending well. McLean rolls him over and Roddy quickly throws up an arm bar, though he doesn’t have enough time. Fighters.com scores the round for Roddy 10-9, and 29-28 for the fight.

Official Result: Jason McLean takes a split-decision (29-28, 28-29, and 29-28)

-Josh LaBerge vs. Anthony Leone (145-pounds)

Round 1: Again, brownie points are awarded to Leone for his choice of the classic “Notorious B.I.G” as his walkout anthem. Anthony feeling the love from the crowd here, as the New York native. Hard low kick lands for LaBerge. Another one catches Leone’s attention. Both men jockey for position against the cage, and eventually break away. Boo’s from the crowd wake up these featherweights, as they exchange in a quick flurry. Leone beginning to work in low kicks. Anthony initiates a takedown and catches a nice kneefollowed up by some hard hammer fists from Laberge. Leone is bleeding bad, however secures LaBerge’s back and scores the takedown. He settles in half-guard and eventually works to side-mount. Looks like he’s just holding for position here so far. Fighters.com scores the first round to Laberge, 10-9, based on damage.

Round 2: Doctor’s are taking a good look at Leone and his nasty cut, which appears to be on the bridge of his nose. Could be broken, and they stop the fight.

Official Result: Rd. 1 at 5:00 TKO/Doctors Stoppage, winner LaBerge.

-Don Carlo-Clauss vs. Sam Oropeza (155-pounds)

Round 1: Don Carlo extremely reminiscent of UFC fighter Clay Guida with his robust mane of hair. “The Carpenter” would be proud. Oropeza the crowd favorite here. Sam works Carlo to the cage and works in some short punches to the body and knees as well before breaking away. Spinning back fist BARELY misses for Oropeza. Sam looking much more fluid on his feet, looking to pick his spots and bouncing around on his toes. Solid hook to the body lands for Sam. Don Carlo continues to trudge in with hooks though nothing lands. A high kick from Orpeza catches Carlo with his knee as he’s diving on a takedown. Sam follows him to the ground, takes his back and unleashes a heavy dose of ground-and-pound. Referee has seen enough and calls a halt to the bout.

Official Result: Sam Orpeza defeats Carlo via TKO at 4:10 of the opening round.

-Igor Gracie vs. John Salgado (170-pounds)

Round 1: These fighters are on the money tonight. Salgado walks out to Rage Against the Machine, my man. Igor gets a load ovation from the crowd. Igor presses Salgado against the cage, eats a knee however takes John’s back and hoists him for a ride, slamming him to the canvas. Igor immediately works to the back and searches for a rear-naked choke. Salgado defending well so far, and the Brazilian has a body triangle cinched up. Igor still hunting for that neck, though Salgado will not let up. The crowd boos the inactivity. Round ends with the Gracie fighter mounted and landing a few blows, though none of them “telling”. 10-9 for Igor.

Round 2: Low kicks traded early before Igor takes Salgado back to the ground with ease. Igor jockeys for position on the ground before transitioning to full mount very smoothly. Short punches to the body land for the New Yorker. Salgado scrambles and is in half-guard, however only momentarily before the Igor has him mounted yet again. He’s looking for an arm-triangle choke from the mount, before transitioning to side-mount to tighten the hold. Looks deep. And before you know it, Salgado is left unconscious on the mat. Fight’s over.

Official Result: Igor Gracie submits Salgado with an arm-triangle choke in Round 2, at 3:04.

-John Cholish vs. Marc Stevens (155-pounds)

Round 1: Stevens gets a warm reception from a responsive New York supportive crowd. This marks his first apperance inside the cage since his stint on “The Ultimate Fighter”. His opponent Cholish earns my respect with his Beastie Boys walkout tunes. John has the crowd on his side, as he is a product of the Renzo Gracie academy. A knee to the head prompts Stevens to shoot in, however is out muscled to the ground by Cholish, who settles in full guard. Cholish fishes for a guillotine choke early, the crowd roars as we all know Stevens’ problems with the particular submission in the past. John pushes away and lands some good strikes on the ground before Marc stand back to his feet. Cholish has Marc in a Muay Thai plumb, landing knees to the body, though Marc deflects most of them. Back in the center, Stevens looks for a high kick, but nothing there. John takes Marc down again, and this time ends up in side mount. Stevens regains half-guard, however Cholish is out working him on top with short punches and superior position. 10-9 Cholish, handily at that.

Round 2: A low kick early from Stevens is answered by another takedown by the Renzo Gracie protege. Short hooks on top from Cholish. Stevens looks for a triangle, though John shrugs it off and settles in half-guard. Cholish brings Marc’s head against the cage, and begins opening up with hooks to the head. Pace slows and the Referee stands them up. Kick to the body lands for Cholish. Marc catches a leg and takes Cholish down. In a scramble, John secures a leg and quickly forces a tap from a knee bar. Good stuff from Cholish, looking super impressive in his organizational debut.

Official Result: Second round Knee Bar submission 3:57

-Ray Sefo vs. Valentijn Overeem (heavyweight reserve bout)

Round 1: Round 1: Over hand right from Overeem countered by quick right hand from Sefo. Ray quick with the jab early on, keeping Valentijn at bay for the time being. Valentijn shoots and scores a takedown and has him pinned against the cage in side mount. Overeem immediately begins working Sefo’s neck, and with more brute strength then technique submits the Xtreme Couture product with a neck-crank in less than two-minutes in.

Official Result: Valentijn submits Sefo at 1:37 of the opening round with a neck-crank.

-Chad Griggs vs. Gian Villante (heavyweight reserve bout)

Round 1: Yves Lavigne the third man in the cage as the next heavyweight contest is underway. Clinch early with Griggs getting the better of the exchange with some sharp hooks on the inside. Gian answers with knees to the body. Fast pace early on from the heavyweight, who would have known? Both men throwing everything but the kitchen sink at each other. Griggs drops Villante with a right hook swung from the hip. Gian works back to his feet and is dropped again with a right hand. Some more punches follow, but it’s all academic. Extremely exciting performance turned in by Chad.

Official Result: Chad Griggs earns the TKO win at 2:49 of the opening round.

-Lavar Johsnon vs. Shane Del Rosario (heavyweight reserve bout)

Round 1: Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre for Johnson, good on you, sir. Punches traded early and Del Rosario clinches quickly and presses Johnson against the cage. Johnson scores the trip takedown and Rosario is on his back. They work back up the feet and Shane fires off a high kick. Johnson lands a good knee to the head followed by a strong hook to the body. Back against the cage, Shane is landing short hooks to the body then a knee high, though it misses the mark. High kick rocks Johnson and he clinches with Shane who later works the American Kickboxing Academy product to the mat, and quickly mounts. Ground and pound from up top scores for Del Rosario. Shane works for an arm bar from mount, locks it up and forces the tap.

Official Result: Del Rosario submits Johnson via arm bar at 4:31 of the first-round, keeping his undefeated record intact.

-Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov (heavyweight grand prix quarter-final match)

Round 1: Russians flags galore as Sergei makes his way to the cage. Arlovski has the loudest applause this evening, with nearly everyone applauding him with a standing ovation. When you have your own walk out song dedicated to you, you know you’ve made it (Arlovski). Andrei looks extremely focused, but only time will tell if his demeanor will hold up. A high kick from Arlovski and a quick right hand land flush. Short uppercuts on the inside from “The Pitbull”. Sergei stalking the Belorussian, though has only landed some punches to the body. And just like that, Sergei lands a vicious combination against the cage, rocking Arlovski with a right hook. He’s relentless. He follows up with a barrage of strikes eventually dropping the former heavyweight champion. Additional blows leave Andrei out cold. Sergei makes an impressive Strikeforce debut with the vicious knockout, and hands Arlovski his fourth straight loss.

Official Result: Sergei defeats Andrei 2:49 of the first-round via knockout. With the win, Kharitonov now moves onto the semi-finals of the tournament and will face the winner of Josh Barnett/Brett Rogers.

-Antontio Silva vs. Fedor Emelianenko (heavyweight grand prix quarter-final bout)

Round 1: Scratch that. Fedor receives a ruckus ovation from the crowd here in East Rutherford. It’s obvious here who the crowd favorite is. Dan Margliotta is the third man in the cage, and he’ll need to be against these two hard hitting bruisers. Silva pawing away with a jab while Fedor wades in with hooks. Antonio tests the chin early with a big right hand, but Emelianeko is un-phased. Another right hand lands for “The Last Emperor” and he clinches, though Silva muscles him against the cage. Referee separates them and they meet back in the center. Both men winging punches, and Fedor doing his best Anderson Silva impression by bobbing and weaving out of the way. Antonio presses Fedor against the cage. Fedor holds on to a guillotine choke, and “Big Foot” pulls him to the ground. Fedor in half-guard searches for a kimura, though Silva uses the momentum to work back to his feet where he meets the Russian with a big right hand. Slugging against the cage, Silva eventually works the former PRIDE champion to the ground. Round ends with the Brazilian on top with a late takedown. Silva 10-9.

Round 2: Silva scores a takedown early and immediately settles into half-guard. Like a blanket the Brazilian is smothering Emelianenko. You can really see the size difference when both men are locked up on the ground togethor. Silva works to side mount, and eventually mounts the Russian. He takes his back briefly, but Fedor is surviving. Heavy ground and pound on top and it looks like Margliotta could be close to stopping this. Fedor surviving and Silva locks up an arm triangle choke. It looks deep, but the Russian survives. He’s still in this, and is looking to ride out the clock as Silva settles in half-guard again. Silva drops back for a knee bar, Fedor escapes and looks for one of his own, and the Brazilian reminds everyone he’s okay as he waves “no” to the crowd. Fight’s over. Fedor took some serious damage in that second-round and his right eye is swollen shut.

Official Result: Silva wins via TKO/Doctors Stoppage at 5:00 in the second-round. Antonio will now move on to the semi-finals and will face the winner between Alistair Overeem/Fabricio Werdum.

Strikeforce has pitted eight of some of the best heavyweight fighters on the planet to face off against one another over the course of the next few months, not only to determine a new tournament champion for the inaugural heavyweight Grand Prix, but arguably the winner of said tourney could be conceived as the best fighter on the planet.

And while the action takes place, Fighters.com will be there report it every step of the way.

Fedor Emelianenko steps back inside the cage following his upset loss to submission ace Fabricio Werdum last June. The defeat snapped a 10-year undefeated streak for the Russian heavyweight fighter, who at one time was thought to be not only the best heavyweight on the planet, but arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in his day.

The former PRIDE champion will be taking on one of his largest challenges to date, when he meets with American Top Team product Antonio “Big Foot” Silva. The Brazilian slugger is coming on the heels of a two-fight win streak with recent wins over former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski and top contender Mike Kyle. The two men will meet in the evenings main-event, as one of the four featured quarter-final matches in this prestigious tournament.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned Arlovski will hope to snap a three-fight losing streak a he takes on K-1 and PRIDE veteran Sergei Kharitonov in the co-headliner for tomorrow’s all heavyweight main card. Andrei has hit a rough patch in his career, after racking five impressive victories, including knockout wins over Ben Rothwell and Roy Nelson, and a decision win over Fabricio Werdum in that stretch. Losses to Fedor, Brett Rogers, and Antonio Silva have recently plagues the Belurussian, though he hopes to make a turn for the better with a win over the Golden Glory product in Sergei.

Kharitonov is fresh off a knockout win over Tatsuya Mizuno in DREAM. Mizuno came to prominence in the organization when he reached the finals of the light heavyweight grand prix, though he fell short in his goal to capture the crown when he was defeated by eventual titleholder Gegard Mousasi. The Japanese star hoped to bounce back with a win over the Russian, though Kharitonov had other things in mind. Continuing to improve his stand-up skills with the likes of K-1 stars Alistair Overeem and Gokhan Saki among others, Sergei used a vicious knee followed up by a small dose of ground-and-pound to record a knockout win.

The rest of the evenings matches on the main card will serve as the reserve matches for the heavyweight tourney, should anyone fall out due to injury or illness.

Here is the full card in it’s entirety, thanks to MMAJunkie.com:

MAIN CARD (Showtime)

* Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva (heavyweight-tournament quarterfinals)
* Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov (heavyweight-tournament quarterfinals)
* Shane Del Rosario vs. Lavar Johnson (heavyweight-tournament reserve fight)
* Valentijn Overeem vs. Ray Sefo (heavyweight-tournament reserve fight)
* Chad Griggs vs. Gian Villante (heavyweight-tournament reserve fight)

PRELIMINARY CARD (HDNet)

* John Cholish vs. Marc Stevens
* Igor Gracie vs. John Salgado
* Don Carlo-Clauss vs. Sam Oropeza
* Josh LaBerge vs. Anthony Leone
* Jason McLean vs. Kevin Roddy

Fighters.com will be on the scene to report live play-by-play action, any post-fight findings and any special announcements as per the Strikeforce organization, so stay tuned for more.

Strikeforce has pitted eight of some of the best heavyweight fighters on the planet to face off against one another over the course of the next few months, not only to determine a new tournament champion for the inaugural heavyweight Grand Prix, but arguably the winner of said tourney could be conceived as the best fighter on the planet.

And while the action takes place, Fighters.com will be there report it every step of the way.

Fedor Emelianenko steps back inside the cage following his upset loss to submission ace Fabricio Werdum last June. The defeat snapped a 10-year undefeated streak for the Russian heavyweight fighter, who at one time was thought to be not only the best heavyweight on the planet, but arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in his day.

The former PRIDE champion will be taking on one of his largest challenges to date, when he meets with American Top Team product Antonio “Big Foot” Silva. The Brazilian slugger is coming on the heels of a two-fight win streak with recent wins over former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski and top contender Mike Kyle. The two men will meet in the evenings main-event, as one of the four featured quarter-final matches in this prestigious tournament.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned Arlovski will hope to snap a three-fight losing streak a he takes on K-1 and PRIDE veteran Sergei Kharitonov in the co-headliner for tomorrow’s all heavyweight main card. Andrei has hit a rough patch in his career, after racking five impressive victories, including knockout wins over Ben Rothwell and Roy Nelson, and a decision win over Fabricio Werdum in that stretch. Losses to Fedor, Brett Rogers, and Antonio Silva have recently plagues the Belurussian, though he hopes to make a turn for the better with a win over the Golden Glory product in Sergei.

Kharitonov is fresh off a knockout win over Tatsuya Mizuno in DREAM. Mizuno came to prominence in the organization when he reached the finals of the light heavyweight grand prix, though he fell short in his goal to capture the crown when he was defeated by eventual titleholder Gegard Mousasi. The Japanese star hoped to bounce back with a win over the Russian, though Kharitonov had other things in mind. Continuing to improve his stand-up skills with the likes of K-1 stars Alistair Overeem and Gokhan Saki among others, Sergei used a vicious knee followed up by a small dose of ground-and-pound to record a knockout win.

The rest of the evenings matches on the main card will serve as the reserve matches for the heavyweight tourney, should anyone fall out due to injury or illness.

Here is the full card in it’s entirety, thanks to MMAJunkie.com:

MAIN CARD (Showtime)

* Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva (heavyweight-tournament quarterfinals)
* Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov (heavyweight-tournament quarterfinals)
* Shane Del Rosario vs. Lavar Johnson (heavyweight-tournament reserve fight)
* Valentijn Overeem vs. Ray Sefo (heavyweight-tournament reserve fight)
* Chad Griggs vs. Gian Villante (heavyweight-tournament reserve fight)

PRELIMINARY CARD (HDNet)

* John Cholish vs. Marc Stevens
* Igor Gracie vs. John Salgado
* Don Carlo-Clauss vs. Sam Oropeza
* Josh LaBerge vs. Anthony Leone
* Jason McLean vs. Kevin Roddy

Fighters.com will be on the scene to report live play-by-play action, any post-fight findings and any special announcements as per the Strikeforce organization, so stay tuned for more.

On Saturday night, Fedor Emelianenko will make his third appearance under the Strikeforce banner as he hopes to record a victory since an upset submission loss to Fabricio Werdum last June, with a win over Antonio “Big Foot” Silva. The Brazilian hopes to extend a two-fight win streak with a win over the Russian legend.

Also in action, former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski looks to snap a three-fight losing streak as he takes on K-1 veteran and former PRIDE star Sergei Kharitonov in the evenings co-main event of the evening.

All main-card bouts will be in the heavyweight division, with the aforementioned bouts featuring Fedor, Silva, Andrei and Sergei kicking off the promotion’s inaugural grand prix, serving as the quarter-finals for the tournament. The rest of the bouts on the televised portion of the event will be reserve matches for the eight-man tourney, meaning should any participants fall ill or are deemed unable to continue in the GP due to injury, a winner of the reserve match could be elected to step in for said heavyweight.

Here are the weigh-in results in full, courtesy of MMAJunkie.com:

MAIN CARD (Showtime)

* Fedor Emelianenko (230) vs. Antonio Silva (264) – heavyweight-tournament quarterfinals
* Andrei Arlovski (242) vs. Sergei Kharitonov (250) – heavyweight-tournament quarterfinals
* Shane Del Rosario (248) vs. Lavar Johnson (243) – heavyweight-tournament reserve fight
* Chad Griggs (229) vs. Gian Villante (227) – heavyweight-tournament reserve fight
* Valentijn Overeem (239) vs. Ray Sefo (249) – heavyweight-tournament reserve fight

PRELIMINARY CARD (HDNet)

* John Cholish (155.75) vs. Marc Stevens (156.5)^
* Igor Gracie (170.75) vs. John Salgado (170)
* Don Carlo-Clauss (170.4) vs. Sam Oropeza (169.75)
* Josh LaBerge (145.75) vs. Anthony Leone (146.2)*
* Jason McLean (145.5) vs. Kevin Roddy (145.75)

* – Leone has been give one hour to lose the remaining two-tenths of a pound
^ – Stevens weighed one-half pound over the contracted limit, but Cholish elected to accept the match-up

I don’t think I could ever accurately convey in words how big of a fan I am of Fedor Emelianenko. There are fans, and there are super-fans, and I’ve only ever considered myself a super-fan of two men: Fedor Emelianenko and Anderson Silva. I’ve followed Fedor Emelianenko for a long time, and throughout his entire fighting career he’s never ceased to amaze me. I can’t wait to see him return, because I think these really are the last few years of his career, and I don’t want to see Fedor sitting on the sidelines in contract negotiations when he should be doing what he does best. I think Emelianenko has a great shot of beating Antonio Silva, and I even think Emelianenko could go all the way and win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.

But if Fedor does lose, at least he’s losing to someone like Antonio Silva. I’ve disagreed with “Bigfoot” in the past, I’ve even outright called him out on what I felt were some pretty idiotic comments, but I think Silva has really begun to emerge as a world-class fighter. This will be the toughest test of Silva’s career, and if he passes it, I think we as MMA fans have no choice but to accept “Bigfoot” as a top-ranked Heavyweight. My money is on Fedor, but I’d be lying if I said that I think Antonio Silva can’t beat Fedor Emelianenko.

I really wish I had more to say about Andrei Arlovski, but when he falls off the deep end, he falls off hard. Most of the time I really enjoy seeing Andrei Arlovski fight, and I personally think that the buildup leading to his fight with Fedor Emelianenko showed an Arlovski that was on the verge of an epic comeback. But unfortunately, we all know how that fight ended. Now Arlovski’s lost three straight, and I shudder to think what happens to him if Sergei Kharitonov makes it four in a row.

While I don’t think Arlovski would let himself go the same way that Tim Sylvia did, I do think Arlovski would mirror Sylvia and flop around the lower-tier promotions, winning some and yet still losing to fighters that don’t really register on anyone’s radars. It’ll be a sad sight to see, for sure, and I hope that future doesn’t come to fruition. I’ve got no major problems with Sergei Kharitonov, but nevertheless I sincerely hope Arlovski knocks him out. Because as an Arlovski fan, I don’t like imagining the alternative.

Overall, I’m very excited for this show. I think it’s going to be a great night of fights, and it’s going to keep Strikeforce on the hotstreak it’s currently on. I think we’ll see some epic KO’s before the night is through, and I think the Heavyweight Grand Prix will get off to an amazing start. It should be quite an event, so I’ll definitely be tuning in to watch this one.

And there you have it, fans and friends: my “finally final” thoughts on “Fedor vs. Silva”. What about you? Any last thoughts on this show?

Valentijn Overeem vs. Ray Sefo: I hate to say this considering how big of an Alistair Overeem fan I am, but Valentijn doesn’t give me a whole lot of reason to believe that he’ll be successful in Strikeforce. I don’t normally judge a book by its cover or judge a fighter solely by his record, but “28-25″ flashes at me like a bright neon sign, telling me that Overeem’s up-and-down career singles him out as a fighter that never fully realized his potential. Sefo will take a KO victory in the second round.

Chad Griggs vs. Gianpiero Villante: Griggs looks to breathe new life into his career and focus more on fighting now that he holds a victory over Bobby Lashley, while Gianpiero Villante simply hopes to make waves in his Strikeforce debut. Both men have only lost once, and both men have a majority of their wins by (T)KO. I’m honestly going to pick Villante to win, since Griggs didn’t impress me at all during his fight with Lashley and seemed to only win because Lashley was gassed out. Villante wins by first-round TKO.

Shane del Rosario vs. Lavar Johnson: I’m a semi-fan of Shane del Rosario, and I think this is a big match for him. Rosario shines when the pressure is on, so look for him to continue his unbeaten streak even though Lavar Johnson has the makings of a tough challenge. Johnson has only lost three times in his seven-year career, and is currently on a seven-fight win-streak with all seven wins coming by way of (T)KO. This one may end up becoming the sleeper hit of the night. I’m picking Shane del Rosario to win by submission in the second round after a great first round of action.

Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov: I don’t think I’ll ever stop being an Andrei Arlovski fan, but even I can admit that the man is more than likely past his prime. It’s been over two years since Arlovski won a fight, although Kharitonov isn’t in the best position either, having taken several long layoffs throughout the recent years and having gone 1-1 in his last two fights. In the end, I think this will be a tough battle, but I just have to go with Arlovski. Andrei Arlovski wins by Unanimous Decision.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva: I believe in Fedor Emelianenko. I won’t say “I still believe” because that insinuates that I once thought about no longer believing in him, and that never happened. I think Fedor Emelianenko is going to make his loss to Fabricio Werdum a distant memory by putting on a classic performance against the super-tough Antonio Silva. Emelianenko will duck and dodge, counter at will, and eventually Silva will find himself dazed and confused and on the ground, where Fedor will lock up his favorite and deadliest submission. Fedor Emelianenko wins by Armbar in Round 1.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? When it comes to “Fedor vs. Silva”, who do you see winning, how, and why?

5. What does “The Other Overeem” have left to give?

It’s tough to be the brother of a more-famous fighter, especially when you’re the older brother with more fights. At “Fedor vs. Silva”, Valentijn Overeem makes his Strikeforce debut only six days before he celebrates his fifteenth year as a professional Mixed Martial Artist. The brother to Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem has had a career that’s been filled with as many ups and downs as his 28-25 record implies. Now that he’s in Strikeforce, does Valentijn really have anything left to offer? It will certainly be interesting to find out.

4. The continuing evolution of Shane del Rosario.

He’s not a known name in Strikeforce just yet, but Shane del Rosario has the potential to be a major player in Strikeforce’s Heavyweight division within the next few years. The man is unbeaten at 10-0 with ten stoppage victories, only one of which has ever escaped the first round. If Rosario wins his reserve bout, he may be the first one Strikeforce gives a call if any of the main fighters get injured. And if that happens, we could be talking about Shane del Rosario a whole lot more before the year is over.

3. Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov should be an amazing brawl.

Both men are “dark horse” picks to win this tournament, but that doesn’t mean that their fight against each other will be bad. Actually, this quite possibly may be the best fight of the night. Combined, these two men hold a total of nineteen wins by (T)KO. Both men are both incredibly motivated to win this fight: if Arlovski loses it’s his fourth loss in a row and it’ll basically signify his removal from Heavyweight relevancy. Kharitonov, meanwhile, is fighting for mainstream MMA relevancy to begin with. At least on paper, this should motivate both fighters to push themselves to new heights and give us a fantastic war.

2. The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finally gets started.

This is an incredibly important milestone for Strikeforce, and if you tune in to watch this show, you’re literally watching history in the making. I believe Strikeforce is strong enough that this tournament isn’t a “make or break” type of deal, but if it lives up to its potential, this will be the largest step Strikeforce has yet taken to emerge as a viable alternative to the juggernaut that is the UFC. Without hyperbole, this one show may set the standard for an entire year’s worth of fights and events. It’s definitely one of the biggest factors to tune in and see what happens.

And the number one reason to look forward to Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Silva” is…

1. The return of Fedor Emelianenko.

There is only one Fedor Emelianenko, and I (like many) consider him the greatest Mixed Martial Artist ever. And even if you personally don’t, you can’t deny the significance of this match. Does Fedor still have “it”? Can he rebound after such a deflating loss? Is the magic gone, or will his first legitimate loss push Fedor to come back strong and possibly better than ever? Whether you love him or hate him, everyone wants to know what’s left for Fedor, and now we’ll finally get a chance to find out.

So there you have it, fans and friends: five great reasons to tune in and see Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Silva”. What about you? As the date draws ever-closer, what are you most looking forward to for this event?

The Event: Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Silva”, scheduled for February 12, 2011 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Select preliminary fights will be shown live on HDNet starting at 8:00 PM ET. The live main card will be broadcast on Showtime starting at 10:00 PM ET/PT.

Why You Should Care: This event starts off the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, the biggest MMA tournament in ages. Eight of Strikeforce’s best Heavyweight fighters will compete to determine who is the best in the world, with the winner getting a shot at the Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship. This card also features the legendary Fedor Emelianenko as well as major Strikeforce stars like Andrei Arlovski and Antonio Silva.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva will step into the Strikeforce cage fully prepared for the toughest test he’s ever been faced with… and that’s exactly what he’ll get. Expect Silva to come on strong and try to beat Fedor Emelianenko, expect Emelianenko to dazzle fans once again with his surprising speed, takedown ability, and powerful hands. It probably won’t last very long, but the pace of this match should be outstanding and it should be an awesome fight in general.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: Both Andrei Arlovski and Sergei Kharitonov know where their bread is buttered, and they’ll both step into the Strikeforce cage looking to knock their opponent unconscious. This has a lot of potential to become a wildly entertaining brawl, and a war of attrition that only stops when one man is lying face-down on the canvas and far removed from his senses.

Why You Should Watch This Card: Both the main and co-main event are awesome fights that fully encapsulate just why so many Strikeforce fans can’t wait for this tournament to finally get underway. These are four of the best fighters Strikeforce has to offer, period, regardless of weight class, and they’re fighting each other in match-ups tailor-made to bring out the best in everyone involved. And in addition to all of that, you’ve got three “reserve bout” fights filling the rest of the main card that also feature some solid stars and should also result in several entertaining fights.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: It all comes down to personal preference. Do you still believe in Fedor Emelianenko? Do you think Antonio Silva deserves to be in a main event after coming so close to losing his last fight against a man that normally competes at Light Heavyweight? Do you still enjoy seeing Andrei Arlovski fight, even after all this time and all the KO losses he’s been through? Do you know who Sergei Kharitonov is? Are you o.k. with watching a Showtime card that consists completely of Heavyweight bouts? If you answered “yes” to more than one of those questions, this is the card for you. But if your answers to those questions were a mix of “no” and “maybe”, you might want to pass on this one.

Closing Thoughts: As a huge Strikeforce fan, I’ve spoken at length about my feelings on the Heavyweight Grand Prix. I devoted an entire fourteen-part “maxi series” to my varied picks and predictions, remember? Now that the first date of the tournament is finally almost here, I find myself waiting in excited anticipation. My gut and my heart tells me that this is going to be an awesome show, and I can’t wait to see it.

And what about you, fans and friends? What are your thoughts on “Fedor vs. Silva”?

Told through a translator, the following comes to us courtesy of “The MMA Hour” program and MMA Fighting: “[Alistair Overeem] is very strong and is a very serious fighter… The only question I have [is] how he managed to gain 20 kilos of weight in such a short period of time. But frankly speaking I don’t care, if he passes [the] drug tests successfully… All the sportsmen have to be clean and they have to work under equal conditions… I think the fight has to be honest.”

As an Alistair Overeem fan, I think it’s unfortunate that so many people still raise this question when it comes to the Strikeforce Heavyweight, DREAM Interim Heavyweight, and K-1 World Grand Prix Champion. But here’s the thing some of the stauncher Overeem advocates hate admitting: it’s unfortunate, but not uncalled for.

Gaining the kind of weight Overeem gained just isn’t normal. But it’s not impossible either. We’ll honestly never know if Overeem indulged in any chemical substance to become the bulky, speedy powerhouse he is today. However, I personally think that he’s done enough to earn our respect and a bit of leeway. Why are we so quick to assume that Overeem is shoveling steroids into his body non-stop? Has any concrete evidence ever been found, other than base speculation?

I think Emelianenko hit the nail right on the head when he said that it doesn’t matter so long as Overeem tests clean in the here and now. If it ever comes out that Overeem did do steroids in order to gain the considerable amount of weight he’s put on, then and only then do I think it’s fair to criticize and judge the man. But we shouldn’t assume the worst just because we have the option to.

At the end of the day, I’m really looking forward to seeing how Alistair Overeem fares in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. I’m looking forward to seeing how just about everyone does in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. And even though some of the fighters in the Grand Prix have been accused of and even tested positive for steroid use in the past, I think this tournament is such an important moment for Strikeforce that all involved should be given the benefit of the doubt. And if everyone does play nice and test clean, then Strikeforce fans are in for several amazing fights.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think of the admittedly-large changes in physical appearance Alistair Overeem has gone through in the last several years? Does Fedor Emelianenko have a point?

Courtesy of MMA Mania, Coker recently said the following: “I believe that there are going to be some upsets in this tournament… I believe Fabricio can beat Fedor (Emelianenko) again and he’ll probably fight (Josh) Barnett. That’s my prediction, but in these things you never know…”

I think it’s quite interesting that Coker is picking against one of the biggest stars that’s ever stepped in a Strikeforce cage. I wouldn’t say that it’s done out of spite, I don’t think Coker harbors any ill will towards either Fedor or his management team M-1 Global despite the lengthy contract negotiations all parties have been consistently embroiled in. I simply think Coker is giving his prediction as a fan of the sport, and from one fan to another, I can certainly appreciate his honesty.

Now, here’s the part you’re probably all expecting, the part where I say that I consider Fedor Emelianenko the greatest Mixed Martial Artist of all time. Well, I do. So here we are and there it is. But as I’ve so often tried to state when talks turn to Fedor, me being a big fan of the man doesn’t mean I’m a blind fanboy that hero-worships Fedor and thinks that he can do no wrong and that he makes no mistakes.

Could Fabricio Werdum beat Fedor Emelianenko again? Absolutely. There’s no way to objectively argue against that point if you saw their first fight. As I so often say, I’m a firm believer that there’s no such thing as luck in MMA. There are opportunities, and there are those smart enough, well-trained enough, and well-versed enough to see them and use them. It’s why Fedor looked so brilliant for so long: any opening, however slight, could turn into a fight-ender. Emelianenko was a master of seeing the one hole in usually-flawless gameplans and exploiting it to its fullest. He simply got a taste of his own medicine, and the only thing so astonishing about Werdum beating Emelianenko is that it took Emelianenko so very, very long to finally make a mistake.

So no excuses and no regrets: Emelianenko made a mistake and there’s always a chance that he can make another one. He may not get past Fabricio Werdum, he may not even get past Antonio Silva. But without a shadow of a doubt in my mind, I will say that Emelianenko won’t give up until it’s his only option left.

If Silva wants to beat Emelianenko, he’ll have to crumble a chin that’s withstood the blows of some of the deadliest strikers in the business. If Werdum wants to submit Emelianenko again, he’ll have to submit him knowing full-well that Emelianenko will have trained his hardest against exactly that type of gameplan.

So while Fedor Emelianenko may not win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, it won’t be for a lack of effort. And I personally can’t wait to see the Greatest of All Time step into a Strikeforce cage once again and give his all in order to once again prove why he’s so highly-regarded.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you make of Coker’s comments, and what do you think Fedor’s chances are in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix?

In a new interview with MMA Weekly, Coker recently stated the following: “We’re having a couple conversations right now and we definitely want to travel to Canada at some point… We’d like to eventually this year take one of those legs [of the tournament] to Japan… With all the stars that we have and the fan base there for these fighters over there, I mean these fighters have a ton of fans in Japan. Why not go there and bring Strikeforce to Japan some time this year?”

I think an international expansion is always a risky endeavor, in business in general and especially when it comes to rising MMA promotions, but Strikeforce seems to be at just the right point to make it a successful venture. MMA is huge in Canada, and it’s definitely big enough for more than just the UFC. With the gangbuster numbers the UFC always seems to post up in Canada, it’s worth risking at least one show in Canada to see if Strikeforce can come anywhere close to duplicating those results.

Japan is far more of a gamble, thanks in no small part to what seems to be the crumbling FEG empire, which both famed kickboxing organization K-1 and upstart MMA promotion DREAM are a part of. The combat spots scene in Japan has been struggling in general ever since the fall of the legendary PRIDE FC promotion, which in its heyday sold out arenas in Japan with ease. However, Strikeforce does pack the double-punch of having both Alistair Overeem and Fedor Emelianenko as part of their roster. Overeem is a huge star in Japan, as both a fierce MMA competitor and a K-1 World Grand Prix Champion. And Emelianenko has always been incredibly popular in Japan. With those two anchoring a show, Strikeforce may be able to make something work if they move forward with a Japanese excursion.

In the end, I think an international Strikeforce show would really bolster the credibility of this already-amazing Strikeforce Grand Prix. This is supposed to be Strikeforce’s crowning achievement, and what better way to send that message than by booking their first international shows around this tournament? They certainly have the star power to do so, and I hope everything gets worked out before all is said and through.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think of Strikeforce’s plans to make their Heavyweight Grand Prix an international affair? Do you think Strikeforce would be successful in Canada and/or Japan? And what are some other international locations you’d like to see Strikeforce debut in?