Fedor-Werdum Greenlit for June 26 Strikeforce
Brian Knapp May 4, 2010
Fedor
Emelianenko, the world’s top-ranked heavyweight, will lock
horns with UFC and Pride Fighting Championships veteran Fabricio
Werdum at an event co-promoted by Strikeforce and M-1 Global on
June 26 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.
Strikeforce officials announced the long-rumored matchup on Tuesday. Showtime will broadcast the event.
Emelianenko will carry an 11-fight winning streak into the match. The stoic 33-year-old Russian last appeared in November, when he stopped the previously unbeaten Brett Rogers on second-round strikes in his ballyhooed promotional debut for Strikeforce. Wins over former UFC champions Mark Coleman (twice), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (twice), Andrei Arlovski, Tim Sylvia and Kevin Randleman anchor his stellar resume, along with other high-profile victories against 2006 Pride open weight grand prix winner Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, former Strikeforce light heavyweight titleholder Renato “Babalu” Sobral and 2000 Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland. Emelianenko has 21 first-round finishes among his 31 career wins.
Emelianenko has not tasted defeat in more than nine years, and most of the mixed martial arts community still considers him unbeaten. The lone blemish on his ledger came in a controversial Dec. 22, 2000 bout with Tsuyoshi Kosaka. Replays showed a fight-ending cut suffered by the Russian resulted from an inadvertent illegal elbow, and Emelianenko avenged the setback in decisive fashion five years later.
Werdum, a black belt in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, has been finished only once in 18 professional bouts. The 32-year-old has not fought since he outpointed former EliteXC heavyweight champion Antonio Silva by unanimous decision six months ago. Werdum, a two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships winner, holds submission victories over Emelianenko’s younger brother, Aleksander Emelianenko, and reigning Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.
Strikeforce officials announced the long-rumored matchup on Tuesday. Showtime will broadcast the event.
Emelianenko will carry an 11-fight winning streak into the match. The stoic 33-year-old Russian last appeared in November, when he stopped the previously unbeaten Brett Rogers on second-round strikes in his ballyhooed promotional debut for Strikeforce. Wins over former UFC champions Mark Coleman (twice), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (twice), Andrei Arlovski, Tim Sylvia and Kevin Randleman anchor his stellar resume, along with other high-profile victories against 2006 Pride open weight grand prix winner Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, former Strikeforce light heavyweight titleholder Renato “Babalu” Sobral and 2000 Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland. Emelianenko has 21 first-round finishes among his 31 career wins.
Emelianenko has not tasted defeat in more than nine years, and most of the mixed martial arts community still considers him unbeaten. The lone blemish on his ledger came in a controversial Dec. 22, 2000 bout with Tsuyoshi Kosaka. Replays showed a fight-ending cut suffered by the Russian resulted from an inadvertent illegal elbow, and Emelianenko avenged the setback in decisive fashion five years later.
Werdum, a black belt in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, has been finished only once in 18 professional bouts. The 32-year-old has not fought since he outpointed former EliteXC heavyweight champion Antonio Silva by unanimous decision six months ago. Werdum, a two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships winner, holds submission victories over Emelianenko’s younger brother, Aleksander Emelianenko, and reigning Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.
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