After what was nearly an eight-month layoff, pound-for-pound legend Fedor Emelianenko finally enters the cage again on Saturday night when Strikeforce/ M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Werdum takes place from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.

Emelianenko is set to take on perennial Top-10 fighter Fabricio Werdum in a fight to determine the division’s  No. 1 contender. More significantly, the winner will earn a shot at current heavyweight champion Alistair Overreem.

Emelianenko has been besting ranked opponents throughout his storied career. In his Strikeforce debut, he defeated No. 1  contender Brett Rogers via second-round technical knockout that came with his infamous overhand right. Prior to that win, Fedor had beaten former UFC heavyweight champions Tim Sylvia, Andre Arlovski, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Mark Coleman. The 34-year old Sambo expert isn’t considered enormous by heavyweight standards, but with his mix of powerful strikes and accomplished grappling, he is capable of defeating any fighter thrown in front of him.  Fedor enters this bout riding an incomparable 28-fight winning streak. The best fighter in the world has spoken emphatically about his desire to fight Overeem should he get by Werdum on Saturday night, MMA fans will have a match they've wanted for years.

Werdum enters this bout fresh off a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Antonio Silva in November 2009. With a 13-4 MMA record, Werdum has defeated the likes of Gabriel Gonzaga (twice), Brandon Vera, and even the current Strikeforce kingpin Overeem. He uses a polished jiu-jitsu game to out-grapple his opponents before sinking in a fight-ending choke when the opportunity presents itself. Although a heavy underdog against Fedor, Werdum has the jiu-jitsu skills to dethrone anyone that he can on the ground. The problem will be getting close enough to Fedor to score a takedown, something Werdum may have trouble doing against the experienced Russian.

Fedor’s biggest threat to Werdum may be his extensive fight IQ. During his career, he has been in twice as many battles as his Brazilian foe, something that may come into effect as the fight progresses. Even though Fedor showed some minor cage-rust during his fight with Rogers, he will always have the unique ability to capitalize on any and every mistake his opponents make. This quality alone gives him a significant advantage against Werdum. If there’s a way to win the fight, Fedor will figure it out.

Prediction: Fedor by second-round KO

Fight: Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos vs. Jan Finney

Simply put, Cyborg is the greatest female combatant that the world of mixed martial arts has ever seen. Her strength on the feet is unrivaled, with knockout power in both hands and striking technique that is far ahead of the rest of the field. Not only is she impressive athletically, Cyborg has built a diverse skill-set that is part rugged brawler and part formidable grappler. She poses a considerable threat wherever the fight goes, and to anyone that she fights.

Because Strikeforce does not have any more viable challengers for their champion, the 8-7 Finney has a chance to make a name for herself against Cyborg. Despite her mediocre record, Finney has battled some tough competition during her relatively young career. Unfortunately though, she doesn’t have the offensive repertoire to beat Cyborg. Because she’s a talented fighter with proven toughness, Finney’s aggressive approach could make for an exciting clash of styles. The fact that she has to cut weight to make featherweight may prove to be her Achilles heel. In the end, the disparity in overall skill between the two fighters will once again show that there may be nobody in the world capable of giving Cyborg any pause.

Prediction: Cyborg by first-round mauling

Fight: Cung Le vs. Scott Smith

This fight is a much sought-after rematch of their December 2009 classic, in which Scott surprisingly came from behind to score a third-round knockout after being dominated for the fights first 10 minutes. 

Up until the KO, Le was completely manhandling Smith - keeping the rugged slugger on his heels with a barrage of nasty kicks and commanding takedowns. The san shou convert also showed-off his elusive footwork, constantly changing levels to pick Smith apart with strikes. Le’s talent is undeniable, but his questionable conditioning and unpredictable focus is what typically gets him in trouble.

Smith’s fighting style is pretty straightforward. He is a consummate brawler with a huge heart and an enormous amount of will. Smith is the kind of competitor that is always in the fight, primarily due to his spectacular knockout power in both hands. He eagerly stands in the pocket and absorbs punishment while waiting to land a decisive fight-ending blow. While Smith’s style is very popular with the fans, as it occasionally leads to spectacular finishes, it sometimes isn’t the best strategy for winning, particularly when fighting a polished striker like Le. Nevertheless, as Smith proved in their first encounter, it only takes one blow to end a fight.

Prediction: Le by unanimous decision

Other Fights at Strikeforce/M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Werdum:

Fight: Josh Thompson vs. Pat Healy
Prediction:  Thompson by second-round submission

Fight: Magomed Shikshabekov vs. Ron Keslar
Prediction: Shikshabekov by first-round knockout

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