Nov 07 2009 5 Fight Posts Strikeforce: Fedor vs Rogers – 9. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brett Rogers by Eric Kamander · November 7, 2009 WAMMA Heavyweight Championship bout: Fedor Emelianenko defeated Brett Rogers via TKO (Punch) at 1:48 of round 2. Rate this Fight/Event What Do You Think of This Fight/Event?
Even though Fedor pulled it out, Rogers did a lot of things very well. He kept distance well, swept Fedor, escaped multiple submission attempts, landed some good ground and pound, and knees. Excellent fight. I don't think Rogers deserves any immediate rematches, but I have way more respect for Rogers than ever before.
R:3+ A:5 S:5 T:5
I just hope that he gets his respect from the Zuffites, as they realize that Rogers is just as credible an opponent for Fedor as Carwin is for Brock. And a part of me thinks that Rogers can beat both men…just not Fedor.
I've been saying since before they made this fight that Rogers could lose the fight, and fight his way BACK to a rematch against Fedor for the title. This was the perfect first act, and hopefully Rogers continues to progress.
Overall, I rate the fight 4.5 stars.
Of note, Ray Mercer was in the audience and trying to get into the cage to call fedor out. He seemed quite agitated.
Madiq, I would go so far as to say that Rogers is as credible an opponent for Fedor as Brock is for Fedor. But the crowd of which you speak is a "loyal" (read: myopic) one. Madiq, hit me up at eric @ mmaratings.net. I want to ask you a question.
I think Carwin, Velasquez, or even Lesnar have about the same chance of beating Fedor as Rogers had, which is not to say none. Seriously are Fedor's chances so diminished just because he got caught once and got swept, but survived both undiminished and KO'd Rogers?
One of the things about Rogers being untested is that we don't really know how good he is. Did his sweeping of Fedor mean that Fedor's top control sucks, or that Rogers is a big dude with decent wrestling, the latter of which would not be inconsistent with what we've seen before.