Fedor's Ultimate Challenge
by bcpjkell on May 16, 2010 9:22 PM EDT
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PrintNot many were surprised that Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem defeated Brett Rogers in his first title defense since 2007. But at the same time, not many expected the complete and total beat down that Overeem put on Rogers.
At Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery, Overeem defeated Rogers by simply out-muscling the physically bigger challenger. During weigh-ins the night before the fights, Overeem weighed in at 253 pounds while Rogers was listed at 264, and likely had to cut to make the heavyweight limit by just one pound. Nevertheless, Overeem backed Rogers into corners and threw him around like a schoolyard bully. After tossing the challenger to the canvas with brute force, the champ delivered brutal ground and pound until the fight was stopped at 3:40 of round one.
Overeem did to Rogers what Rogers did against Fedor Emelianenko in his previous fight. And Rogers was ever so successful in doing that.
The clear-cut next step for Alistair Overeem is a title defense against the legendary Fedor Emelianenko. Overeem obviously thinks so, as he called out The Last Emperor shortly after his victory Saturday night. Even the ever-stubborn M-1 Global seemed open to a title fight against Overeem, as M-1 Executive Evgeni Kogan quoted, "If Overeem is presented by the Strikeforce matchmakers as Fedor's next opponent, then that is who Fedor is going to fight."
Overeem presents an extremely difficult match-up for Fedor. As I mentioned before, Emelianenko was getting sufficiently damaged by Roger’s ground and pound, most of which came from the significant physical size and power Rogers had over Fedor. Overeem showed on Saturday that he his capable of the same thing, only faster and stronger.
Can Fedor take punishment from Overeem like he did with Rogers? In his last fight, Fedor brutally knocked out Brett Rogers by capitalizing on the holes in Rogers’ slow, looping hooks. Overeem is a much more polished striker, and even though it’s a cliché, the term "K-1 level kickboxer" does hold significant meaning. Overeem is much less likely to be caught with a haymaker like the one that KO’d Rogers.
I am not explicitly saying that Overeem will beat Fedor, but I am saying that he has more than just a chance.
The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.
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Overeem did to Rogers what Rogers did against Fedor Emelianenko in his previous fight. And Rogers was ever so successful in doing that.
What did Rogers do against Fedor?
He took Fedor down and landed some solid ground and pound on him. Fedor was pretty busted up.
I'm just a 16 year old kid who loves MMA.
Meh, he only landed 2 solid shots while Fedor worked for the armbar. Fedor wasn’t even stunned.
by carpiverson on May 16, 2010 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions
no, rogers was never on his back until he got caught with that huge right hand that knocked him out cold. then he was on his back for quite a while.
I'm just a 16 year old kid who loves MMA.
Rogers was knocked down twice. And the reason Rogers had Fedor on his back, was because right before that, Rogers reversed a Kimura that Fedor attempted from side-guard.
"For your information, I would like to ask a question."
-Samuel Goldwyn
I think as good as Fedor is, Overeem could dominate him
Fedor was pushed to the limit by Brett Rogers and Overeem just dominated him. Fedor was out muscled by Brett Rogers. Overeem through Rogers to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Overeem is stronger than Rogers. Also Allister Overeem is so skilled and experienced. I see Fedor losing. Overeem doesn’t have yo punch him out. He can beat him with deadly kicks or knees or on the ground. He can also submit Fedor. Rogers made mistakes in the fight v Fedor. Overeem won’t make mistakes because of his almost 15 year experience. I see Overeem via KO
"Who Wants some pudding pops?, delicious and nutritious!
Overeem has the tools to beat Fedor but comparing Rogers to Fedor achieves little. Its too simplistic to say Rogers outmuscled Fedor and Overeem outmuscled Rogers therefore Overeem would outmuscle Fedor. Its not a match of outmuscling, unless Overeem wants to LnP……..how horrible would that be. HMC outmuscled Fedor then got armbarred. Rogers apparently outmuscled Fedor then got KOd.
The big difference is Fedors ability to fight anywhere. Overeem would have had no fear at all of going to the ground with Rogers or being taken down so he could strike without reservation. I dont care how big Overeem is, he doesnt want to be on his back against Fedor. Overeem could get the win and would amazingly almost be a favourite in my eyes, but the dynamics of the fight are far more involved that a simple comparison of their recent fights…….in my humble opinion.
are you serious?
Fedor was pushed to the limit by Rogers? I understand a lot of people aren’t going to give Fedor his due since he’s not fighting in the UFC, but having his nose busted up from one of the first punches of the fight and then eating a couple of punches on the ground is very, very far from Fedor’s limit. This is the man who has survived a couple of fights from within Minotauro’s lethal guard (all the while pounding the hell out of him), got dropped on his head with one of the nastiest suplexes I’ve seen in MMA from Randleman (only to submit him very shortly thereafter), and was willing to stand and bang with Cro Cop in his prime…and won…
Fedor didn’t look in trouble at all in the Rogers fight to me. While it’s possible he could get outmuscled or outstruck by Overeem, that’s what many have thought they could accomplish against Fedor. None have. The most “trouble” I’ve seen Fedor in was getting rocked for a couple seconds after eating a shot from Fujita, and having a little difficulty against Choi and Arlovski before catching them (in different ways).
Fedor is pretty damn small for HW, and his striking isn’t as polished as Overeem’s, but he’s also a far superior grappler, has a heckuva chin, and is also pretty tough to hit cleanly. He shows no emotion while fighting and isn’t going to be intimidated by the size advantage Overeem possesses (just as he wasn’t against the bigger Rogers). While Fedor is bound to eventually lose, I think his age and decline are what will beat him if he does eventually lose. If he fights Overeem in the next year or so, my money is on the Russian.
by Ryjo on May 17, 2010 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’ve seen Fedor take some great shots and eat them. I can only remember him being dazed by a shot against Fujita and that was like in ‘02, and that suplex from Randleman was scary. But the guy’s ability to take an opponents worst, figure there weakness out, and exploit it is uncanny.
I don’t doubt Overeem could pull a win off over Fedor. My real question is, How bad would Overeem have to beat up Fedor to actually beat him?
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