Fedor Emelianenko impressed a Chicago crowd by finishing a very game Brett Rogers in two rounds. A thunderous hook dropped Rogers in the second round and silenced an American crowd that had begun to chant U-S-A U-S-A in support of a plucky underdog in Brett Rogers who surprised everyone by giving the feared Fedor a very tough fight for a round and a little more.
Fedor was giving up size, weight and presumably power. But he came out aggressive and survived a scare when Rogers bloodied his nose with an early jab. Fedor threw his trademark hooks and battered Rogers repeatedly.
Rogers survived an initial takedown, fought his way to his feet and forced Fedor against the cage. Fedor got free and rocked him with a hook. Then took him down. Battered Rogers with a barrage of hooks before getting the takedown. But Rogers reversed and scored with ground and pound before Fedor escaped by looking for an arm bar. When Fedor reclaimed top position he fired with abandon. and looked for an arm triangle. But Rogers survived the round.
In the second Fedor caught Rogers with one of his signature looping hooks and followed up with ground and pound. Big John McCarthy stepped in and stopped the fight with 3:12 left in the 2nd round.
Some observers felt it was a premature stoppage.