Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers LIVE COVERAGE!

Nov 7, 2009 | by MattE | 3 Comments

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. | The Times’ MMA site is live at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates for tonight’s nationally televised Strikeforce show — “Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers.”

We’ll have round by round and fight by fight coverage of all 10 bouts — four on the CBS main broadcast and six on the untelevised preliminary card, including many Northwest Indiana and Chicago-area fighters.

Check back in at 6 Central as we get all the coverage underway!

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Preliminary card

Jonatas Novaes (156) vs. Christian Uflacker (155.5)
Show within the show: After some technical difficulties, we’re back. and ready for all the fights. The night’s first fight got underway a full five minutes ahead of schedule with a pretty sparsely populated Sears Centre Arena. And judging from the overhead screens in the arena, we’re not the only ones having technical problems — a few times in Round 2, random weird camera shots appear on the screen. Also, a quick shout out to Maggie Hendricks from Yahoo! Sports’ Cagewriter blog, who welcomed plenty of her fellow media members to her Chicagoland home … with homemade COOKIES! The Times scores the cookies 30-27 in favor of the white chocolate chip.
Quick Result: 29-26, 30-25, 30-25 Uflacker, unanimous decision.

Louis Taylor (185.5) vs. Nate Moore (184)
Show within the show: Moore is an Indianapolis native who now fights with the renowned American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif. Taylor fights out of Chicago and is a product of Eastern Illinois University.
Round 1: The two fighters circle, then exchange strikes on the feet. They clinch and trade body shots with Moore working knees and looking for double underhooks before the y separate. Taylor then works knees as they clinch again. The referee then separates the fighters and issues a low-blow warning to Taylor. Taylor throws a kick and Noore catches it and the fight goes to the ground. Taylor works for an armbar from bottom position. Taylor then transitions to the top. The two ride out the round with not a ton of action. The Times scores a close first round for Moore, 10-9.
Round 2: After some early tussles, we have another ref stoppage, this time for for Taylor eating some low blows, apparently — or for Moore grabbing Taylor’s shorts. Back on the ground, Moore works for Taylor’s back and hits knees to his side from on top. He then takes his back and begins working ground and pound to the sides of Taylor’s head. Finally, the fight is halted when Taylor taps from the assault.
Result: Moore, TKO (strikes), 3:24 Round 2

John Kolosci (171) vs. Shamar Bailey (170)
Show within the show: This is the return to the big stage for Kolosci, a Portage fighter who was a contestant on Season 6 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” He’s gone 4-0 in 2009 since quitting his job to pursue his dream of being a full-time fighter. The fight with Bailey was one that was supposed to take place in August, so both fighters have had a little time to prepare for each other. Bailey fights with Integrated Fighting Systems in Indianapolis alongside UFC fighters Chris Lytle, Jake O’Brien and current TUF 10 fighter Matt Mitrione.
Round 1: Big hand for Kolosci — biggest of the night so far — as he’s introduced. And we’re ready to go. The two touch goloves and we’re going. Bailey shoots for a takedown and gets it. Kolosci tries to wall-walk and stays in guard. He gets up briefly, but Bailey gets the fight back down and is in side control. Kolosci battles and postures up, but Bailey gets a quick guilotine on that isn’t tight and Kolosci pops out. Then Kolosci gets a guillotine of his own. Bailey eventually slips it and shortly has another choke on. But Kolosci escapes and is on top. Kolosci sprawls, then the two sepaarate and Kolosci eats one quick shot before the fight goes back to the ground, where he looks for a choke. Bailey is on top and Kolosci looks again for a choke. Again, Kolosci anages to work back to the feet, where he hits three shots to Bailey’s side. Kolosci hits a few punches as tehy separate, but Bailey winds up on top as the round rides out. It’s a fairly close first round, with Kolosci keeping Bailey at bay when he was on top, but The Times has it 10-9 for Bailey.
Round 2: A strike from Bailye and again he gets a takedown with Kolosci working for a neck crank. Kolosci gets up and sinks it in again, but it’s not tight enough. Still, on the ground, though Bailey is on top, Kolosci continues to work for chokes. A scramble on the ground has Bailey on top in side control. Kolosci again manages to work back to his feet. Bailey seems content to just control the fight from on top. But then the fight is stopped as Kolosci eats a knee when he is on the ground — and Bailey has a point taken away. Bailey moves back in and they clinch. Kolosci hits some strikes, but it’s a pretty uneventful second round. The Times has it 10-8 for Kolosci based on Bailey losing the point.
Round 3: Bailey shoots, but Kolosci stuffs it with a sprawl. Bailey tries for a single-leg, but Kolosci keeps him at bay and again looks for a choke. Bailey gets a takedown and Kolosci falls back into guard. Kolosci works strikes from the ground before it goes back to standing. Bailey then gets a single-leg takedown and Kolosci again looks to wall-walk back to standing. Bailey is controlling from the top and not allowing Kolosci to inflict much damage, but he isn’t inflicting any damage on Kolosci, either. He’s earned points with the takedowns and control, but that’s it. Kolosci again gets back to standing and probably needs to swing for the fences as it closes. Bailey gets a takedown as the fight ends. It’s not an exciting fight, and Kolosci waves off water from cornerman Joey Gilbert of Gilbert Grappling as he walks back to his side. The Times has it 10-9 for Bailey in the third and actually has the thing a 28-28 draw based on the second round.
Result: 29-27, 29-27, 29-27 Bailey, unanimous decision.

Jeff Curran (145) vs. Dustin Neace (150.5)
Round 1: Curran works for a high kick. Then hits a leg kick. Then another. Then a left. Then more kicks. Then Neace hits a few decent shots and works into a clinch. Shortly thereafter, the ref waves it off and Neace limps back to his corner holding his midsection. Curran may have broken one of Neace’s ribs.
Result: Curran, TKO (verbal tapout due to injury), 1:39 Round 1

Marloes Coenen (145) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (140)
Show within the show: Modafferi comes out with flames shooting up behind her on the catwalk to the cage. She beat Coenen two years ago, and this is the rematch. Coenen gets the flames, too, as the crowd gives a few oohs and ahhs.
Round 1: A few big strikes and we’re underway. The fight quickly goes to the ground and just over a minute in, it’s all over as Coenen sinks in an armbar and Modafferi is forced to tap. Coenen has her revenge.
Result: Coenen, submission (armbar), 1:05 Round 1

Main Card

Antonio Silva (263) vs. Fabricio Werdum (242)
Round 1: The crowd begins booing 10 seconds in as neither fighter engages — maybe a new booing record. Werdum scores with a punch, then Silva lands a big shot and begins raining down blows, including a monster shot from the top. Finally, he lets Werdum up. Werdum hits a leg kick. Silva looks to push the pace and rocks Werdum with another punch. Werdum goes high with a head kick, then Silva pushes the action to the cage. Werdum slips to the ground and Silva lets him back up as the crowd chheers. Werdum snaps Silva’s head back with a big right hand, then pushes him to a clinch against the cage. Werdum throws a kick, then ducks under a Silva bomb. Werdum throws two telegraphed kicks that Silva casually walks away from. The round ends with a sportsmanlike high five from the two Brazilians. The Times has Round 1 for Silva, 10-9.
Round 2: Big oooping punches to start, and Werdum hits the canvas — not hurt badly. But Silva tries to control things from his feet before going to the ground. That may have been a mistake as Werdum quickly gets a reversal. Back to the feet, Werdum nearly lands a knee to the head. Silva throws a shot to the body and the two clinch against the cage. Silva works for a trip takedown. After a little bit of inactivity from Silva’s guard on the ground, the ref urges the two fighters to work. A scramble has Werdum nearly getting an ankle lock, but he can’t sink it. It’s a very close second round, but The Times sees it 10-9 for Werdum.
Round 3: A relatively slow start to the final round. But after about a minute, Werdum gets Silva’s back and works a few shots to the head. Silva, back on the feet, begins landing a few  strikes. Werdum nearly lands a vicious knee. Silva hits his knees and Werdum again has his back and is landing punches. Silva looks gassed. Werdum again does some damage from the top to finish out the fight. The Times has the round 10-9 for Werdum and the fight 29-28 for Werdum.
Result: 29-28 on all three cards, Werdum, unanimous decision.

Light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi (205)
vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (204) (non-title match)
Round 1: Mousasi is the Strikeforce light heavyweight champ, but this is a non-title fight. Early, the two exchange kicks and Mousasi apparently catches Sokoudjou with a low blow. The action is stopped for a few seconds, and then Sokoudjou complains again as the ref says he has to go. Mousasi lands a barrage of punches, but Sokoudjou takes the fight to the ground. Mousasi soon reverses it and gets to side control. Sokoudjou squirms out and has Mousasi against the fenche with a guillotine in, but it’s not deep enough. Mousasi gets a takedown, but it’s Sokoudjou who winds up on top. Mousasi scores with two upkicks, then sweeps Sokoudjou’s feet and gets a takedown that probably won him the round. The Times sees it 10-9 for Mousasi.
Round 2: Big teep kick from Mousasi. The two clinch and Mousasi has Sokoudjou against the cage and looking for knees. Mousasi grabs the fence and is warmned. Then he begins trading, landing several shots. Mousasi gets another takedown, but again it’s Sokoudjou who has top position. Mousasi reverses and begins raining down punches from the top. The ref warns Sokoudjou to protect himself, and he does not or cannot. The ref steps in to stop the fight — perhaps a little bit early, but the crowd approves. And Sokoudjou is still down on the ground 30 seconds later, so it’s evident Mousasi’s punches were effective.
Result: Mousasi, TKO (strikes), 3:43 Round 2

Jason “Mayhem” Miller (184) vs. Jake Shields (184.5)
(for vacant Strikeforce middleweight title)
Show within the show: Impressive dancing entrance for Mayhem. But Big John McCarthy gets the night’s biggest ovation so far when he’s introduced as the referee, and his vintage “Let’s get it on!” gets an even bigger ovation.
Round 1: Shields scores a takedown 10 seconds in and has Miller pinned against the cage. Miller tries to wall-walk, but Shields has his leg pinned. Shields is able to get to full mount after briefly having Miller’s back. The fight gets back to the feet and the crowd cheers. Shields is on top and Miller could look for a choke from here, but it’s probably not happening. Miller shrugs to the crowd, as if to say there’s nothing he can do from teh current position except sit there and wait for Shields to work. McCarthy tells teh fighters they need to work. Shields is landing body punches and then alternating to light punches to the head. Miller though is able to pick Shields up and lands a pretty big slam. Shields falls back into guard as Miller tries to posture up and land a big punch. Then the fight goes back to standing and teh two trade positions in the clinch. Miller gets slam. Then another as Shields is warned twice for grabbing the fence. Miller works a couple shots and the takedowns have earned him the round on The Times’ scorecard, 10-9.
Round 2: The two clinch to open the second round. Miller again has bearhug control on Shields and they roll to the canvas. Shields looks for a leg lock but can’t get it. He rolls Miller to his back and then transitions up to mount. Shields is warned for shots to the back of the head that were close — but not quite there. Then he gets Miller’s back. After a while, the ground scramble has both fighters in an odd position. Shields has Miller’s back and works for a rear naked choke. He can’t get it and Miller rolls him over. It’s another very close round. The Times has it 10-9 for Shields.
Round 3: Miller gets a  quick takedown to open the round, but Shields is able to grapple his way to top position and work for side control and then a quick pass into mount. But Miller gets out of it and Shields settles back into side control looking for body punches. Then he gets back to full mount and lands a few shots before Miller gives his back briefly. Miller then has a nice rolling reversal and gets top position. When Shields grabs his leg when he gets back to standing, Miller hits a decent spinning backfist, then works Shields against the cage. Big John stops the fight for a moment so Miller can get a glove re-taping, as the tape has loosened and is dangling. The restart has the two in the same position they stopped in. Shields has Miller pressed against the cage. Back on the feet, Shields gets a takedown, but Miller gets his back and is working for a rear naked choke. The crowd cheers at teh upset possibility. The choke doesn’t look likely  — but Miller gets it in deep, and then even deeper with 8 seconds left. Shields rides it out and into the fourth round, but just barely. As soon as the horn sounds, Big John was in to separate them. The round goes to Miller on The Times’ card.
Round 4: Into the championship rounds we go. Shields gets the fight up against the cage again. The crowd is pro-Miller at this point. The fight finally gets restarted standing as Big John tires of no action. On the restart, Miller comes out swinging and hits a high kick. Shields gets top position and is controlling the fight on the ground. It’s not a highly exciting fourth round, but Shields gets it on The Times’ scorecard. The Times has it even as we go to the fifth.
Round 5: Miller is working nicely in the clinch, but two minutes in the crowd is getting a little restless. Shields gets around to mount. Halfway through, Shields is controlling the fight as both fighters appear to be tired. Shields hasn’t done much in this final round, but he’s been controlling Miller, who is clearly tired. Miller gets back to the feet and lands a kick and a punch as the fight ends, but it’s not enough. The Times has the final round 10-9 for Shields and the fight 48-47 for Shields.
Result: 48-47, 49-46, 49-46, Shields, unanimous decision.

Fedor Emelianenko (232) vs. Brett Rogers (264)
Show within the show: Rogers gets a nice ovation, but the ovation for Fedor is overwhelming. The air is heavy with the smell of fireworks. The fighters hit the cage and the lights go down for Jimmy Lennon Jr.’s official introduction. 14,000+ people are on their feet. The place goes absolutely crazy when Lennon announces “It’s shooooowwwwtime!” The crowd boos roundly for the introduction of Rogers, a Chicago native till he was 10 years old. Lennon says, “His opponent, really needing no introduction to MMA fans across the globe” about Fedor. The ovation for Fedor is outstanding.
Round 1: Rogers strikes first with a punch, but Fedor takes him down a minute in. Rogers gets up quickly and clinches against the cage and works knees while Fedor works to the side of the head. This is a new position for Fedor, as it’s his first cage fight. Perhaps this is a strategy from the Rogers camp, to use the cage and take Fedor out of his element. The crowd starts changing Fedor’s name, an dhe pushes the action off the cage finally and it goes back to the middle. Fedor lands a big bomb and rocks Rogers. The fight hits the mat and Fedor is on top and lands a few punches. Rogers rolls it over and Fedor briefly has Rogers’ arm. Then Rogers has the top and Fedor falls into guard. Rogers begins Ground and pound and opens up Fedor’s head. Rogers moves to north-south, then moves off and Fedor has side control working for a side choke. He has it, but can’t hold it. Rogers falls back into guard. Fedor gets up and Rogers kicks at his legs as Fedor  won’t let him up. Fedor throws a big bomgb from the feet, but it misses. Fedor will ride out the round on top. He’s done enough to win the round on The Times’ scorecard, but one thing’s for sure — the first round had absolutely all of the fireworks that people were looking for. And it’s a great fight one round in.
Round 2: The crowd is changing for Fedor, and he misses a left. Antoehr chant of “USA!” goes up. Fedor lands a punch, then clinches. He lands more shots against the cage. But Rogers pushes off and gets Fedor’s back against the cage again in the clinch. The atmosphere is absolutely electric. And there’s not even a belt on the line. Rogers looks briefly for a Muay Thai plum. Then Fedor catches him and it’s all over. He lands a shot on the ground and Rogers is done. McCarthy steps in and the crowd goes nuts. Fedor is indeed the real deal. The most impressive thing is his ability to remain calm in the face of danger and survive. He is lifted up by his corner and the celebration begins.
Result: Fedor, TKO (strikes), Round 2.

» Posted in: Cageside,Local MMA
» Tagged: Local MMA, Strikeforce

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