While the top of the UFC’s heavyweight division is clearly mapped out, their stateside counterparts are unsure how their 265-pound class will unfold. Although Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has a plethora of scenarios to play with, there’s one match-up in particular that tops his list.
“My feeling is maybe Fedor Emelianenko should fight Alistair Overeem and whoever wins that fight gets to fight Fabricio Werdum,” Coker recently told Sherdog.com. “Alistair vs. Fedor? I’d love to see that fight happen.”
Although nothing has been confirmed, it’s believed the highly anticipated showdown – and Strikeforce’s sole trump card – will headline their first pay-per-view broadcast. The contest would mark Fedor’s final commitment to the San Jose, CA based promotion, so why not go out with a bang?
Oh wait, of course Strikeforce was planning on retaining the Russian’s services.
“We just saw Fedor fight Werdum. I’m not saying we couldn’t do the rematch first,” Coker added. “I’m just saying there are a couple of options on the table and the other option would be to fight Alistair … but until we sit down with M-1, these are all just the options … For me, the times have changed and it’s going to be an interesting negotiation now.”
After witnessing Emelianenko’s abrupt fall from grace last month, to say the pendulum has swung would be an understatement. Although he’s still considered by many as the planet’s top dog, Fedor has lost his aura of invincibility and M-1 Global has lost their negotiating power.
Although all the attention remains on Fedor, Overeem is the one that dons the gold. Despite having K-1 tournaments on his mind, the 32-year-old has promised Coker that his priority is Strikeforce.
“I talked to Alistair and have really good contact with his management and they told me his priority is going to be fighting in America,” said Coker. “I think (Overeem) wants to fight Fabricio Werdum really bad and I think he wants to fight Fedor really bad.
“He is our champion, so we’ll put those fights together for him.”
Fights? As in plural? The only way he can ENSURE that is if Alistair defends his strap against Fedor next. Otherwise, Fedor vs. Ubereem could be the bout we look back on in 20 years and think, ‘What if’.
Strikeforce is ASS
Fedor is ASS
Alistair is ASS
Werdum is ASS
moodman commented on July 12, 2010 @ 7:28 am
Coker is so dumb. How the hell are you going to have Fedor and Overeem fight each other to see who fights Werdum. That is so backwards. Strikeforce keeps losing credibility with crap like that. It should be Overeem vs Werdum first. Unless they are playing it like Werdum won the WAMMA belt from Fedor.
MMADude2002 commented on July 12, 2010 @ 10:57 am
He has one fight left before his prized cock runs to UFC… if i was him i would want him destoryed before he left also.. can you see **werdum** beating him again? no fucking way man… the best chance he has is unleash the beast (0vereem) and quite possibly have the fight of the year on PPV… if fedor loses and then heads to the UFC then Coker can say my champ is still the best… but if Fedor wins then I guess he will quit with the belt.. its a risk but one Coker has to think about
Bob commented on July 12, 2010 @ 1:57 pm
completely agreed if we look fedor vs overeem from business view it will generated a lot more money than fedor vs werdum and also taking fedors 1 fight contract this must be the fight which the fans are looking for fedor and fans this is the best fight.
dudu commented on July 12, 2010 @ 10:44 pm
I agree with Bob, I was a Fedor follower(still am) but his management is making me lose face in Fedor. I think Scott should do this backwards, after all, he only has one more fight in Strikeforce and he’s already ringing on Danas door. Who wouldnt want to see Fedor and Alistair? Dont fall into Fedors management tactics, this is the easy way out for Fedor if he fights Werdum. Lets root for MMA and watch this great fight happen!
TheRuthless1 commented on July 12, 2010 @ 11:34 pm
I also want to see Fedor fights Overeem, but still, I want to watch him fight Werdum more. I just want to see Fedor annihilate Werdum. That loss was a fluke. Werdum is a good fighter but had Fedor been in right mindset it would have never happened.
Yes, Fedor management sucks. Finkelshtein is small minded small timer. Had he signed Fedor to UFC right after Pride, Fedor would have been UFC champ long ago and have cemented his legacy beyond any doubts by now.
He was absolutely in great condition then and 4 years yonger.
sergey commented on July 13, 2010 @ 12:11 pm
They should give Rodgers another shot at him.
Strike force holds all the chips right now anyway. Fedor LOST and he wants to avenge that loss. Strikeforce doesn’t have to do anything but tell him “Either you sign a new contract or you fight Brett Rodgers again.”
If they let this guy fight his last bout against the champion and then leaves it’ll be the biggest gaffe in MMA history. If he’s leaving then they need to put him in there against Rodgers gain so he can maybe get that W that he almost had in the first fight.”
Scott Coker is an idiot though so that probably wont happen.
Julius commented on July 14, 2010 @ 3:09 am