Strikeforce Fedor vs. Silva: Grand Prix's Opening Round Statistic Preview

The opening round of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix will take place from the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ on Saturday night.

Former Pride heavyweight champion, Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko, returns to the cage for the first since since suffering a submission loss to Fabricio Werdum last June. The loss was Emelianenko's first true career loss and the world will get to see how "The Last Emperor" has rebounded.

His opponent is Antonio "Pezao" Silva, who has won back-to-back fights that saw him defeat Mike Kyle by TKO and former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski by Unanimous Decision. Silva will have close to forty-pounds in weight on Emelianenko when the two of them meet inside of the cage on Saturday.

In addition to Fedor versus Silva, the main card features a full lineup of heavyweights with the aforementioned Andrei Arlovski taking on Sergei Kharitonov, Shane Del Rosario versus Lavar Johnson, Valentijn Overeem versus Ray Sefo, and rounding out the card will be Chad Griggs versus Gian Villante.

Statistics on each of the ten main card fighters are provided below, ranging from their record, wins by (T)KO, wins by submission, career losses, current win streaks, and most recent fight. 

Fedor Emelianenko Vs. Antonio Silva

Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko:

• Record: 31-2-0
• Wins by (T)KO: 8
• Wins by Submission: 16
• Losses: 2
• Current Win Streak: 0
• Most Recent Fight: Submission Loss to Fabricio Werdum (June 2010)

Antonio "Pezao" Silva:

• Record: 15-2-0
• Wins by (T)KO: 10
• Wins by Submission: 3
• Losses: 2
• Current Win Streak: 2
• Most Recent Fight: TKO Win over Mike Kyle (December 2010)

Prediction:

• Fedor Emelianenko by KO - Round 1

Andrei Arlovski Vs. Sergei Kharitonov

Gary M. Prior/Getty Images

MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - APRIL 21: Andrei Arlovski of USA and Fabricio Werdum of Brazil in action during a Heavyweight bout of the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Manchester Evening News Arena on April 21, 2007 in Manchester, England (Photo by G

Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski:

• Record: 15-8-0
• Wins by (T)KO: 11
• Wins by Submission: 3
• Losses: 8
• Current Win Streak: 0
• Most Recent Fight: Decision Loss to Antonio Silva (May 2010)

Sergei Kharitonov:

• Record: 17-4-0
• Wins by (T)KO: 8
• Wins by Submission: 8
• Losses: 4
• Current Win Streak: 1
• Most Recent Fight: KO Win over Tatsuya Mizuno (December 2010)

Prediction: Andrei Arlovski by Submission - Round 2

Shane Del Rosario Vs. Lavar Johnson

Shane Del Rosario:

• Record: 10-0-0
• Wins by (T)KO: 8
• Wins by Submission: 2
• Losses: 0
• Current Win Streak: 10
• Most Recent Fight: TKO Win over Lolohea Mahe (July 2010)
•  

Lavar “Big” Johnson:

• Record: 15-3-0
• Wins by (T)KO: 13
• Wins by Submission: 2
• Losses: 3
• Current Win Streak: 7
• Most Recent Fight: KO Win over Virgil Zwicker (October 2010)

Prediction: Shane Del Rosario by Unanimous Decision

Valentijn Overeem Vs. Ray Sefo

Valentijn “The Python” Overeem:

• Record: 28-25-0
• Wins by (T)KO: 11
• Wins by Submission: 16
• Losses: 25
• Current Win Streak: 2
• Most Recent Fight: KO Win over Catalin Zmarandescu (May 2010)

Ray “Sugarfoot” Sefo:

• Record: 2-0-0
• Wins by (T)KO: 1
• Wins by Submission: 1
• Losses: 0
• Current Win Streak: 2
• Most Recent Fight: Submission Win over Kevin Jordan (September 2009)

Prediction: Valentijn Overeem by Submission - Round 2

Chad Griggs Vs. Gian Villante

Chad "The Grave Digger" Griggs:

• Record: 9-1-0
• Wins by (T)KO: 8
• Wins by Submission: 1
• Losses: 1
• Current Win Streak: 4
• Most Recent Fight: TKO Win over Bobby Lashley (August 2010)

Gian Villante:

• Record: 7-1-0
• Wins by (T)KO: 5
• Wins by Submission: 2
• Losses: 1
• Current Win Streak: 1
• Most Recent Fight: TKO Win over Joseph Reyes (December 2010)

Prediction: Gian Villante by TKO - Round 1

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