Date: Saturday November 7th
Time: 10:00 PM ET
TV: CBS
Venue: Sears Center- Chicago Illinois

Strikeforce makes its network TV debut with an outstanding free card on CBS that features the best heavyweight fighter in the world Fedor Emilanenko against ‘up and coming’ and undefeated knockout artist Brett ‘The Grim” Rogers. The card is stacked with some outstanding matchups and should be a lot of nice opportunities for the MMA bettors to make some cash on Saturday night.

Fedor Emilianenko (30-1) Vs. Brett Rogers (10-0)
Line: Fedor: -600 Rogers: +400

Fedor is an urban legend to the casual MMA fan as he made his name fighting outside the United States, but make no mistake about it; he is the real deal and the cream of the crop of the MMA Heavyweight division. Fedor was schooled in the Samba and Judo circuits of the Soviet Union, and is the complete package having dominated and finished some of the biggest names in MMA. He can end a fight with a submission or strikes, and his grappling ability is top notch. The only question about Fedor is: has his lack of fights in recent years against top flight competition eroded his skills? He decimated ex UFC Heavyweight Champions Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovsky in his last two fights, but both have proven to be past their prime when they hooked up with the Russian Juggernaut. Brett Rogers is a monster of a man with KO power who will be the hometown favorite having fought his way out of the Cabrini Green Housing Projects. Rogers has only been fighting MMA for 3 years and has only one win against a top 10 opponent. But has won all 10 of his fights via KO, with all his opponents but one, having made it to the 2nd round. His ground game is a mystery, and could be easily exploited by the crafty Fedor. Rogers spent three months learning ground skills from Josh Barnett in preparation of the fight, but against a world class submission artist like Fedor, that could be a tough mountain to climb. Rogers will want to keep it standing and hope he will be able to walk through Fedor’s punches, and hope to land the ‘money shot’, before Fedor has a chance to submit him on the ground. Many a fighter have tried this tactic and found themselves sound asleep after assuming they could handle the granite punching power of Fedor. Rogers should be totally outclassed, but it only takes one shot to land from his ‘heavy hands’ to shock the world and dethrone The Last Emperor.

Prediction: Fedor -600 2nd Round KO

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Jake Shields (28-4) Vs. Jason Miller (29-6)
Line: Shields: -300 Miller: +240

The Shields versus Miller fight will be for the vacant Strikeforce Middleweight Championship, which was vacated by Cung Le. Jake Shields is a Caesar Gracie disciple who is an outstanding wrestler and a world class practitioner of BJJ. Jason Miller is a tough prankster with heavy hands and comes from a decent wrestling background. Shields is on one helluva roll having won 12 straight fights and hasn’t lost in more then 5 years. Shields will have a huge advantage on the ground and will attempt to submit Mayhem in a myriad of ways. Miller will want to keep it standing where he should have an advantage, but when you’re facing a world class ground specialist, that is easier said then done. This should be an outstanding and entertaining fight, and if Miller is in shape and motivated, he could make it closer then it appears on paper.

Prediction: Shields -300 3rd Round by Submission

Fabricio Werdum (12-4-1) Vs. Antonio Silva (13-1)
Line: Werdum: -160 Silva: +130

Fabricio Werdum is one of the top grapplers in MMA today and will be facing a one dimensional striker in Antonio Silva. Both fighters will be looking to showcase their skills as the winner should be next in line for a big money fight against the winner of Fedor versus Rogers. Werdum is a world class grappler/ submission specialist who fights out of the famed Chute Box camp in Brazil. Silva is a heavy handed Brazilian striker who is the ex Heavyweight champion of the now defunct Elite XC. If Werdum is able to take down the bigger Silva, this will be a huge mismatch on the ground, and Fabricio should make quick work of the outmatched Silva. Big Foot will try and keep it standing where he holds the advantage, and will try and end it before Werdum can showcase his world class ground game.

Prediction: Werdum -160 by 1st Round Submission

Gegard Mousasi (29-2) Vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (7-4)
Line: Mousasi: -500 Sokoudjou: +375

The Mousasi versus Sokoudjou fight has the potential to be an absolute ‘slobber knocker’. Sokoudjou comes out of the gate blazing with punches and kicks and tries to end every fight in under a minute. But the downside to this strategy is, if his opponents can weather the early storm, Sokoudjou usually runs out of gas after two minutes in the fight. Which usually ends up with the Cameroonian Predator getting knocked out or submitted when the gas tank hits empty. Mousasi also enjoys a quick pace, but he is clearly the more experienced and more well rounded fighter. Mousasi made his Strikeforce debut with a spectacular KO of the always tough Renato “Babalu” Sobral. If he can follow that win against Team Quest’s talented Sokoudjou, the “Dream Catcher” should solidify himself as the kingpin in Strikeforce’s Light Heavyweight division.

Prediction: Mousasi -500 by 1st Round KO