Strikeforce: Fedor v. Rogers Week - Wednesday Round Up

A brief look around SB Nation at all things Strikeforce: Fedor v. Rogers.

MMA Mania brought everyone the video of Showtime’s Fight Camp 360: Fedor v. Rogers which is must-watch stuff.

Watch Kalib Run has video of an interview with Fedor where he explains that he does not, in fact, like Rocky IV.

Bloody Elbow’s Luke Thomas suggested that Strikeforce use the UFC’s popularity as a way to gain their own traction:

During these talks, our own Michael Rome had an interesting idea: why not use the UFC’s popularity against itself? In other words, promote Fedor by having the cavalcade of UFC fighters who’ve given endorsements in the past about the Russian and his abilities rather than other MMA journalists no one knows. It’s a smart idea. Use their existing appeal and cosigning to give the recommendations about Fedor real heft and gravity. Joe Rogan and BJ Penn do so here and here, respectively.

But why stop there? I also believe Strikeforce can use the failed negotiations between Emelianenko/M-1 with the UFC this past summer to demonstrate their clout as a real competitor to Zuffa. And as you can see, the press is naturally drawn to the storyline of that now famous rift

MMA Mania brought the news that Brett “The Grim” Rogers would appear on ESPN’s First Take:

Undefeated Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers will make live appearances from Bristol, Connecticut today (Nov. 4) on ESPN2 programs “First Take” at 10 am ET and then again on “SportsNation” at 4 pm ET.

Video of that appearance is now available.

A Bloody Elbow reader posted a photo of Fedor on the cover of the Chicago Sun-Times Sports Page.

Finally, at Bloody Elbow I took a look at the striking technique of Fedor Emelianenko:

With all the “how marketable is Fedor?” talk it starts to feel like we’re getting ready for a TV show and not a fight. When we do talk about the fight it all revolves around the supposed gaps in Fedor’s striking technique and Rogers’ need to exploit them. Over the past day I’ve been going over footage of Fedor’s fights and one thing is very clear when it comes to the striking aspect of his game...it’s all about timing.

In almost every one of Fedor’s fights we see him set up, try to establish the distance he wants, and use small scale footwork to retain said distance until he is ready to throw a lunging hook. Fedor uses that lunging hook in almost every fight and it becomes a Choose Your Own Adventure of pain for the opponent:

If you would like to absorb a flurry of punishing blows, please cover up and move directly backward.

If you would like to go to the ground and face brutal ground and pound or be submitted, please clinch up.