Strikeforce announced on Wednesday that Fedor Emelianenko will make his debut for the organization later this fall against Brett Rogers. Of all the possible bouts available for Emelianenko, this appears to be the one the fans wanted to see most.
FanHouse spoke to Emelianenko at the public workout in New York City about fighting Rogers and his thoughts on whether he is truly dodging the top heavyweights in the UFC. Check out the full video interview below.
Fedors Public Workout
Fedor Emelianenko cracks a smile before his open public workout at Fighthouse Gym in New York City on Aug. 26, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Fedor Emelianenko loosens up before his open public workout at Fighthouse Gym in New York City on Aug. 26, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Fedor Emelianenko hits mitts his open public workout at Fighthouse Gym in New York City on Aug. 26, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Fedor Emelianenko hits mitts his open public workout at Fighthouse Gym in New York City on Aug. 26, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Fedor Emelianenko throws a body punch during his open public workout at Fighthouse Gym in New York City on Aug. 26, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Fedor Emelianenko throws some punches during his open public workout at Fighthouse Gym in New York City on Aug. 26, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Fedor Emelianenko jumps rope during his open public workout at Fighthouse Gym in New York City on Aug. 26, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Fedor Emelianenko signs autographs after his open public workout at Fighthouse Gym in New York City on Aug. 26, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Fedor Emelianenko answers questions from the media after his open public workout at Fighthouse Gym in New York City on Aug. 26, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-27-2009 @ 8:59AM
bob said...
www.elitesportstours.ca
Reply
8-27-2009 @ 12:19PM
Guitar God!!!!!! said...
Rodgers is going down the same way he took out Arlovski. Maybe even quicker. BORING!!!
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8-27-2009 @ 2:16PM
GREETINGS 2 ALL said...
APPARENTLY YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW THE LATEST. THE ONE TO FEAR THAT IS ARRIVING VERY SOON IS THE 5 X WORLD STRONGEST MAN MARIUSZ PUDZIANOWSKI. HE WILL BE MAKING HIS FIRST DEBUT IN POLAND IN DECEMBER FIGHTING ANOTHER FELLOW COUNTRY MAN. AFTER THAT WATCH OUT FEDOR AND BROCK. THE TRUE POWER HOUSE WITH A BACKGROUND IN MARTIAL ARTS PLUS IS UNGODLY STRENGTH ALONG WITH HIS SPEED AND AGILITY WILL TRULY BE THE FORCE TO WREAKIN WITH. LOTS OF LUCK ALL CONTENDERS. YOU WILL BE FIGHTING AGAINST A MAN THAT LOOKS LIKE A GREEK GOD.
Reply
8-27-2009 @ 3:38PM
Gene said...
I think when Pudzianowski enters the ring it will be an awesome fight.Hopefully it will go a full three rounds That way we will get to see what they are made of.One more thing I want it to come out to be a draw. That way they can get tuned up even better and the crowd will be even more pumped.
8-28-2009 @ 4:13AM
godinbed247 said...
If he is the worlds strongest man I highly doubt he can make 265...
8-27-2009 @ 3:14PM
neozoo said...
jesus, how do you not like this guy?
i mean really look at him....
6ft tall, pudgy kind of body, no cauliflower ears, sweet pudgy face (sort of in a george costanza kind of way). there is no way that, if you saw him on the street you would even think twice, that there goes the baddest dude on the planet. he looks like he just got done drinking a cup of coffee and eating a piroge.
ariel looks more like a fighter than him.
the russian lady translator looks scary than him.
for his looks alone...he is the most amazing fighter of all time.
for his looks alone...add to his amazingness.
yes, fedor is the complete antithesis of mariusz.
and yet, fedor will absolutely go down as one of the top 3 hw's of all time and possibly the best of all time.
i remember seeing fedor's first fight in pride and thought to myself, "who the f#$k is this pudgy ruddy cheeked bast@rd gonna beat?"
well....everyone.
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8-27-2009 @ 3:51PM
billy said...
newsflash:
this may be fedors toughest fight.the beast brett rogers needs to be drug tested ... i think he is on the stuff .... id bet my house on it!!!!... i love fedor ... God be with fedor.
may diana white go to hell.i hate his guts.
Reply
8-27-2009 @ 3:53PM
Gene said...
Fedor looks like anything but the baddest man on the planet.He looks like someone that I could whip.And I am no fighter.His looks are truly decieving. Never judge a book by its cover or it might close on you.OUCH !!
Reply
11-07-2009 @ 12:47PM
xandxxx said...
That is because you are an MMA noob who easily gets persuaded by the media.
If you look at Fedor's early Pride fights, he looks like a russian olympic athlete. His training that says "russia" and his face completely reminds you of a dominant HW champion.
For several years now Fedor and his management has been portraying Fedor as this Mr. Friendly. And Fedor did lose a lot of hair and looks more friendly than when he first came out. But real fans know that it's just an image. If you look carefully, he looks like a real fighter, not like your average TAPOUT wearing weight-lifting jiujitsu MMA wanna be punks at a bar.
You bought into that marketing scheme. Fedor effectively brainwashed you. That makes you a complete TOOL.
8-27-2009 @ 7:04PM
hcrusenber said...
WORLD STRONGEST MAN MARIUSZ PUDZIANOWSKI ( another sreriod geek ) hope the testing for steroids is getting better
Reply
8-27-2009 @ 9:21PM
bluerange308 said...
Fedor is chicken. That's why he didn't join UFC, he's too scared to fight Lesnar. All of the people he has faced so far are pushovers compared to the top UFC fighters
Reply
8-27-2009 @ 11:36PM
johnnynumber5 said...
Yeah because if it's not the UFC it's not MMA. Go away you retarded troll.
11-07-2009 @ 12:53PM
xandxxx said...
Just go killself.
Are you saying a) Fedor is afraid of Lesnar as a fighter that could beat him or b) Fedor is afraid of losing his #1 spot?
Not only do you lack MMA knowledge, you clearly cannot even argue. Dana White effectively brainwashed you.
Why the hell would Fedor be afraid of losing his #1 spot and yet go on to fight Arlovski and Sylvia? Shouldn't he have pulled a Rickson Gracie (in case you didn't know Rickson retired after accumulating a 10-0 record of beating cans and now claims undefeated).
Fedor is NOT going to sign with the UFC, get paid $500k per fight against Lesnar while Dana pockets $200million.
A moron like you will never understand what business strategy behind Fedor's signing with the UFC.
8-27-2009 @ 9:34PM
rumorroundtown said...
bluerange.. and just who are the ufc's top hw fighters? lmao
Reply
8-30-2009 @ 12:51AM
funofthegamer said...
Ariel, with all of the rumours of Fedor's corrupt management short changing him, and the shenanigans that went on with fabricated UFC offers being tossed to Mousasi, here's what you need to ask after doing some research:
Fedor, are you aware that the UFC offered you ? I've independently verified that these were the exact terms of the contract, . Did your management tell you the UFC was offering this much? Are you still confident the Strikeforce offer was better?
Reply
8-28-2009 @ 2:36AM
Mark said...
you people have no idea who fedor is he's a fighter and you will see that
Reply
8-28-2009 @ 7:20AM
j said...
I hope Fyodor gets owned by Rogers. I'll never forgive him for robbing the fans of the Brock/Fyodor mega-fight.
Reply
8-28-2009 @ 9:28AM
cantstopdrinkin said...
I would like to think Pudzianowski will do well, but not having any fighting background whatsoever and starting at age 32 is gonna be tough to catch up. And also all those muscles are gonna KILL his air supply, he will have to finish off guys very quick and lasting entire rounds and fights is gonna be a major problem….
Reply
8-28-2009 @ 10:57AM
dracopunisher said...
Lesnar is a bitch...the only reason he beat Couture and Mir was because he out weighed them by 25-50 pounds. Lesnar won't even beat Carwin. Fedor went to Strikefore to better his business for a year and beat all their heavyweights, then he will go to the ufc.
Reply
8-28-2009 @ 10:59AM
dracopunisher said...
Just cuz a guy can lift weights, that doesn't mean he can fight. The more muscle a person has, the more oxygen they require to function. Any decent mma heavyweight will kill this guy in the first round.
Reply