Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brett Rogers: Last Minute Preview

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Well, ladies and gentlemen, we're about to find out if anyone out there will still read me after an unexplained six month hiatus. I'm easily as excited as Billy Madison on Nudey Magazine Day. Maybe even more.

Strikeforce today, UFC 105 next week.

Enjoy.

Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva (13-1) vs. Fabricio “Vai Cavalo” Werdum (12-4)

This is a decent title eliminator match, which would be fine, if Strikeforce had any semblance of heavyweight depth. Which they don’t. Bigfoot looks to prove he can hang with the best at heavyweight as he takes on Werdum (coming off a win against the immortal Mike Kyle), who, at least on paper, appears to overmatch him. But that’s why they fight the fights. I think Bigfoot will prove that he can stay out of Werdum’s subs using his superior size, and eventually a frustrated Werdum will realize that if he’s going to beat this guy, it’s going to be on the feet. Good luck with that. As long as Bigfoot doesn’t have any Eric Pele flashbacks, he’ll use his size, and skill to outpoint Werdum in a relatively uneventful unanimous decision.

 Jake Shields (23-4-1 vs. Jason “Mayhem” Miller (22-6) (for MW title)

Here's my expert analysis: Jake Shields is just BETTER than Jason Miller. He can match all of Miller's skills, and then some. Throw in the Mayhem Monkeys, constant distractions, his reprehensible “reality” show, the dumb grills, the overbearing “I’m funny, look at me” personality, the fact that Mayhem thinks he’s a sub wizard, and the fact that Mayhem is completely insane, and you know what you get? You get a win for Jake Shields, that's what. By decision, but still.

 Gegard “The Dreamcatcher” Mousasi (26-2-1) vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (7-4)

This scrap is the bastard stepchild of the Ando Silva-Forrest Griffin tilt that headlined UFC 102. You know what I mean.  The “look, we know whose going to win, it wont be that close, and it’s not for the title, but these are two young, talented athletes, and this is going to be an exciting fight, dammit! Just watch it and shut the hell up!” Alright, then. The only thing I can’t decide is whether Gegard will tap him, or TKO him.But, you didn’t come here for cocky proclamations. You came here for analysis. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.

Sokoudjou is coming off of two consecutive victories over Tugboat and Earthquake, respectively (Jan Nortje and Bob Sapp). Not exactly a murderers' row. Not to mention, he had to be pulled off by the ref both times. Was he the victim of ‘roid rage? Or was he just afraid that Jan, or Bob would get up, and attempt to eat him? We may never know. What we do know is that all of Sokoudjou’s fights tend to unfold in one of two ways: (1) He blitzes his opponent with punches and kicks, and earns a quick TKO victory, or (2) he blitzes his opponent with punches and kicks, wonders why his opponent is still standing, and gets tired within three minutes. Remember my PRIDE article and the Alistair Overeem “Crap, THREE more minutes?” Face? Step aside, Ali. Soko is the new king of this face. The only difference is that he makes it during five minute rounds. After that, it’s a matter of time before he gets “caught” in an arm triangle, or a like-minded submission.

Mousasi has been on an absolute tear lately, winning 13 fights in a row against top competition (Kang, Babalu, Manhoef, Jacare, Lombard, etc). He has shown that he can break an opponent's strengths and weaknesses down to a tee. He studies his opponent, finds the weak point, and attacks it. He triangled Manhoef in a minute twenty eight without throwing a strike.He TKO’d Babalu in a minute flat against the cage.

And, to think, the UFC didn’t even make him an offer. What a travesty.

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