Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers
Previewing the Main Event on CBS Nov. 7 at 9:00 p.m. ET
Posted on Friday, November 6, 2009 at 10:30 AM
By Mecca of MMA
While it's wonderful to see the CBS marketing machine in high gear promoting Saturday's Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brett Rogers heavyweight battle, the feeling that some time and effort could have been devoted to promoting the undercard is inescapable.
Showtime's well produced "Fight Camp 360" piece understandably focused on the debut of the legendary Fedor on Network television, as well as the back story of "The Grim". However, the Strikeforce Middleweight Title bout between Jake Shields and Jason "Mayhem" Miller was completely ignored, as was the non-title bout between Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi and UFC veteran Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou.
Realizing that expanding the Fight Camp 360 to a full hour would have increased Showtime's production expenses significantly, this decision may prove penny wise but pound foolish.
Even casual MMA fans may recognize former Elite XC champ Shields from his previous CBS appearances, and Mayhem Miller has boosted his own Q score as host of MTV's popular "Bully Beatdown" program. That relatively evenly matched bout should walk away with Fight of the Night honors, yet the fight that really warrants further examination is Mousasi vs. Sokoudjou. Clearly, the "Boxing" formula of promoting just the Main Event bout is in effect here, but that is a shame since MMA cards are consistently so much deeper in quality talent.
Anyone who witnessed Sokoudjou's electric KOs of "Lil Nog" Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (Pride 33), Ricardo Arona (Pride 34), and Jan Norte (Dream 9) knows that he is extremely powerful. And it is widely understood that anything can happen in a MMA contest.
The casual observer will likely take one glance at the chiseled physique of Sokoudjou and assume he will cruise to victory. Mousasi, much like his Red Devil camp teammate Fedor, often enters the cage looking as if he just awoke from a deep slumber. Rest assured this is not the case, and anyone tuning in Saturday night is in for a glimpse at true greatness. If you require some video evidence, check out this video by the uber-talented mma blogger "Genghis Con."
In an age where MMA still struggles for true "mainstream" acceptance, largely due to its inherent violence, there is no athlete consistently showing more class and respect for his fellow competitor than Mousasi. Despite speaking the English language very well, he still is vastly unappreciated (e.g., the best YouTube highlight video of his work misidentifies him as "Gerard").
As "The Machida Era" quickly morphed into "The Machida Error," following Lyoto's controversial decision victory of Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 104, it became apparent that Machida is not the dominant force the MMA community had come to expect. Come Saturday night, "The Mousasi Era" will be one step closer to fruition.
For anyone who has never watched MMA, this Saturday you are being made an offer you can't refuse. The Main Event of "The Last Emperor" vs. "The Grim" is getting all the publicity, and you will be treated to an elite display of skill by Fedor or a Rocky-like upset at the thunderous hands of Rogers. Please make certain to take control of that remote at 9:00 p.m. Eastern for a stacked undercard. But you'll have to trust me, as you won't see any of these names on the TV ads.
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