Rogers appears best fit to battle Russian champ Emelianenko

Originally posted on SI.com

I needed a new way of thinking, so later in the day I focused on Emelianenko's preference of Brett Rogers --who entered in the heavyweight top 10 after walloping Andrei Arlovski in June -- over the likes of Belfort, the perceived front-runner and potentially bigger pay-per-view draw, and Buentello.

One person close to Emelianenko recently told me that, contrary to popular belief, the Russian champion is in charge of his destiny and it's laughable to think his management is manipulating him. I took it to mean he and the UFC remain far apart because Emelianenko wants it that way. Until he feels differently about competing in the Octagon, there isn't a real chance it will happen.

So when he says he wants Rogers, we should listen.

Why?

Rogers makes sense because he's ranked and undefeated in 10 fights. For Emelianenko, a loss against a challenger with a perfect record isn't nearly as debilitating as falling short against a blown-up middleweight or a heavyweight with double-digit losses on his résumé.

Meanwhile, a win for Rogers immediately sets up a big-money rematch, which you'd have to think would come under the Strikeforce banner since Rogers is its man. It would guarantee at least one more high-anticipation, big-money fight outside the UFC -- one, I imagine, that would give rise to quite a lot of fan and media interest. Depending on Roger's decisiveness of victory, Strikeforce could comfortably lay claim to promoting the top heavyweight in the world. And Showtime would stand to benefit by being Rogers' premium network home.

Click here to read the entire article on SI.com

Brett Rogers Interview

Why Brett Rogers Should Get The Nod To Fight Fedor Emelianenko At Affliction 3

Originally posted on MMAforReal.com

Of course all of this would hinge on Strikeforce allowing Rogers to take this fight. Check it:

Throw PPV out of the window because there is nobody left that Affliction can use to boost PPV numbers. Even if Bobby Lashley was chosen to fight Fedor, it wouldn't add a significant amount of PPV buys to the show IMO.

Vitor Belfort shouldn't be called on to fight Fedor. He's a middleweight first of all, and already scheduled to fight on the card. Why eliminate one problem by creating another in finding an opponent for Jorge Santiago? Not to mention that's one of the best middleweight fights outside of the UFC that can happen.

I wouldn't be too mad with Fabricio Werdum getting the fight, but he is coming off a KO loss to Junior Dos Santos at UFC 90. Plus, he's not going to submit Fedor and that's pretty much his only way of winning the fight IMO.

Tito Ortiz just said that he couldn't take the fight due the reasons I mentioned earlier today.

Now let's take a look at why Rogers should get the nod to fight Fedor Emelianenko:
-Rogers is coming off a devastating KO win against former top 5 HW Andrei Arlovski.
-Rogers has never gone the distance in a fight, so you know it has the potential to be an exciting fight.
-It would be a legitimate HW as Fedor's opponent, and arguably a top ten HW(MMA4Real has Roger's at #9).
-It's a win-win fight for Rogers. If he wins, then it further solidifies him as a top HW. If he loses, then he took the fight on short notice(and depending on how he lost) could earn even more credibility if he gives Fedor a run for his money.

Click here to read the entire article on MMAforReal.com

Brett Rogers ruled out of "Affliction: Trilogy" bout with Fedor Emelianenko

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

"It's safe to say neither Fabricio or Brett will be fighting on Aug. 1," Afromowitz said. "The plan is still for Fabricio to fight on Aug. 15, and we hope to have an opponent named soon.

"As for Brett, nothing is finalized, but he won't be fighting on Aug. 1."

At a media call addressing the situation held earlier today, Affliction vice resident Tom Atencio had mentioned he was open to working with Strikeforce to seek a replacement for Barnett. The comment fueled speculation that either Werdum or Rogers would take the fight.

Click here to read the entire article on MMAjunkie.com

Where Does Brett Rogers Go From Here?

Originally posted on MMAopinion.com

Brett Rogers (10-0 MMA, #9 IWMMAR) is one of the rising stars in the heavyweight division. With ten wins and ten finishes, all by strikes, The Grimm has put himself in a position to move up the ladder in a division that has a great deal of talent on the open market.

His win over former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski (15-7 MMA, 10-4 UFC, #10 IWMMAR), one of the most visible and most popular heavyweights in the western world, legitimized Rogers in the minds of many fans, and certainly demonstrated that his hands have world class power, regardless of the technical striking ability of the opposition. He destroyed Arlvoski, who was widely considered the most technical striker and the heavy favorite, in 22 seconds.

Only going past the first round twice (once in a bout that had significantly less than five minute rounds), Rogers has never really been in deep waters and, only in his fight with Abongo Humphrey (5-1 MMA) did Rogers really look like he was in danger of being taken out.

While we never got to see Rogers take on Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson (3-1 MMA), we will certainly see more of Rogers now that he’s in the Strikeforce promotion. What remains to be seen, though, is who Brett is going to fight next.

Click here to read the entire article on MMAopinion.com

Sherdog's Official Heavyweight Rankings

Heavyweight

1. Fedor Emelianenko (30-1, 1 NC)
It almost seems like ages ago that Emelianenko was facing criticism over his level of competition. Affliction’s “Trilogy” on Aug. 1 will mark Emelianenko’s third straight bout against a former UFC champion, as he takes on Josh Barnett in their long-awaited heavyweight clash.

2. Josh Barnett (24-5)
The Ts are crossed and the Is are dotted. Barnett will finally take on Fedor Emelianenko on Aug. 1 at Affliction “Trilogy” in yet another marquee heavyweight showdown for MMA in the coming months.

3. Brock Lesnar (4-1)
In just five fights, Lesnar now owns the full UFC heavyweight crown and sports stoppages over the likes of Frank Mir and Randy Couture. However, despite his overwhelming performance against Mir at UFC 100, Lesnar's post-fight pro-wrestling theatrics seem to have overshadowed his victory.

4. Frank Mir (12-4)
Mir was in his best shape in years for his rematch with Brock Lesnar at UFC 100. It wasn't enough, though, for him to duplicate his first-round submission win from February 2008, as Lesnar brutally pounded Mir out in the second stanza.

5. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1, 1 NC)
Whether it will wind up being the fight for which fans had long hoped remains to be seen, but two of the sport’s most enduring icons will square off at UFC 102 in August when Nogueira finally meets up with Randy Couture.

6. Randy Couture (16-9)
His bout with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is long overdue. Hopefully, when “The Natural” and “Minotauro” square off at UFC 102 in August, the clash of heavyweight legends will not prove past its expiration date.

7. Brett Rogers (10-0)
After his blistering 22-second knockout of Andrei Arlovski, Rogers was expected to be fast-tracked to a Strikeforce title shot against champion Alistair Overeem. Instead, the unbeaten prospect will continue honing his craft on Strikeforce's October offering against a yet-to-be-named opponent.

8. Andrei Arlovski (15-7)
Despite having knocked off the likes of Fabricio Werdum, Ben Rothwell and Roy Nelson in the recent past, those accomplishments now seem like distant memories for Arlovski. “The Pitbull” has been brutally smashed in his last two outings against Fedor Emelianenko and Brett Rogers, and conversation now centers on the fragile chin that has betrayed him again.

9. Shane Carwin (11-0)
Carwin will be back in action at UFC 104 on Oct. 24. If all goes according to plan, he'll find opposition in fellow unbeaten heavyweight prospect Cain Velasquez in a bout rich with risk and reward for both fighters.

10. Alistair Overeem (29-11, 1 NC)
In the first defense of his Strikeforce heavyweight title, Alistair Overeem will get a chance for revenge on Aug. 15. He will stake his mantle against UFC and Pride veteran Fabricio Werdum, who submitted the high-flying Dutchman back in May 2006.

Other contenders: Junior dos Santos, Aleksander Emelianenko, Jeff Monson, Ben Rothwell, Fabricio Werdum.

Click here to read the entire article on Sherdog.com

MMAweekly.Com's Top Welterweights and Heavyweights

Originally posted on MMAweekly.com

WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION (170-pound limit)

HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (over 205 pounds)

#1 Heavyweight Fighter in the World: Fedor Emelianenko

2. Josh Barnett

3. Brock Lesnar

4. Frank Mir

5. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

6. Randy Couture

7. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic

8. Brett Rogers

9. Cain Velasquez

10. Andrei Arlovski

Click here to read the entire article on MMAweekly.com


#1 Welterweight Fighter in the World: Georges St. Pierre

2. Jon Fitch

3. Jake Shields

4. Thiago Alves

5. Josh Koscheck

6. Matt Hughes

7. Martin Kampmann

8. Carlos Condit

9. Mike Swick

10. Nick Thompson

Rogers' Manager: 'Overeem Is Afraid'

Originally posted on MMAfanhouse.com

Following Brett Rogers' impressive 22-second knockout of Andrei Arlovski on the June 6 Strikeforce event, many suspected that he would be next in line to fight for the organization's heavyweight title. However, Rogers' trainer/manager, Mike Reilly, told FanHouse Monday that he isn't surprised that Rogers isn't getting the first crack at champion Alistair Overeem.

"I don't think Overeem was ever planning on fighting Brett," Reilly said. "I think Overeem is afraid of Brett. He's afraid of a big striker who is going to knock him out. ... I don't think anyone is going to admit that, but I'm not going to shy away from it. He's had two opportunities to fight Brett but he hasn't taken either of him."

Click here to read the entire article at MMA.fanhouse.com

USAT/SBN June MMA Consensus Rankings: Heavyweight

1 Fedor Emelianenko 100 Affliction 1
2 Josh Barnett 94 Affliction 2
3 Frank Mir 90 UFC 3
4 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 85 UFC 5
5 Brock Lesnar 80 UFC 6
6 Randy Couture 77 UFC 7
7 Shane Carwin 64 UFC 9
8 Brett Rogers 60 Strikeforce 26

#8 Brett Rogers is the biggest beneficiary of the Fedor curse this side of Ray Mercer. Rogers' demolition of #9 (former #4) Andrei Arlovski at Strikeforce's June 6th event propelled Rogers up 18 spots in the rankings this month. One of the biggest single month leaps I can recall. No word on what's next for Rogers, but one can hope that the Strikeforce title fight he had booked against #10 Alistair Overeem until Overeem broke his hand in a bar brawl will be rebooked ASAP.

Click here to read the entire article at BloodyElbow.com

MMAweekly.Com's Top Welterweights and Heavyweights

HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (over 205 pounds)

#1 Heavyweight Fighter in the World: Fedor Emelianenko

2. Josh Barnett

3. Frank Mir

4. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

5. Randy Couture

6. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic

7. Brock Lesnar

8. Brett Rogers

WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION (170-pound limit)

#1 Welterweight Fighter in the World: Georges St. Pierre

2. Jon Fitch

3. Thiago Alves

4. Jake Shields

5. Josh Koscheck

6. Matt Hughes

7. Martin Kampmann

Click here to read the entire article at MMAweekly.com

Rogers Appears on MMA Live

Sherdog's Top Heavyweight Rankings

Heavyweight

1. Fedor Emelianenko (30-1, 1 NC)
It almost seems like ages ago that Emelianenko was facing criticism over his level of competition. Affliction’s “Trilogy” on Aug. 1 will mark Emelianenko’s third straight bout against a former UFC champion, as he takes on Josh Barnett in their long-awaited heavyweight clash.

2. Josh Barnett (24-5)
The Ts are crossed and the Is are dotted. Barnett will finally take on Fedor Emelianenko on Aug. 1 at Affliction “Trilogy” in yet another marquee heavyweight showdown for MMA in the coming months.

3. Frank Mir (12-3)
A knee injury postponed Mir’s matchup with Brock Lesnar in May. Now, the UFC’s interim heavyweight champion will seek to unify both versions of the promotion’s title when he rematches Lesnar at UFC 100 on July 11.

4. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1, 1 NC)
Whether it will wind up being the fight for which fans had long hoped remains to be seen, but two of the sport’s most enduring icons will square off at UFC 102 in August when Nogueira finally meets up with Randy Couture.

5. Brock Lesnar (3-1)
The former World Wrestling Entertainment star got a bit of bad news when his UFC heavyweight title rematch with Frank Mir was postponed due to injury. Lesnar will get the chance to become the lone undisputed UFC heavyweight king come July 11 when the two meet again at UFC 100.

6. Randy Couture (16-9)
His bout with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is long overdue. Hopefully, when “The Natural” and “Minotauro” square off at UFC 102 in August, the clash of heavyweight legends will not prove past its expiration date.

7. Brett Rogers (10-0)
Few would have denied that his heavy hands gave him a chance against Andrei Arlovski, but Rogers took his opportunity and ran with it against the former UFC champion. It took Rogers just 22 seconds to turn out the lights on the Belarusian, setting up an Aug. 15 date with Alistair Overeem for Strikeforce’s heavyweight title.

Click here to read the entire article at Sherdog.com

Brett Rogers Strikeforce Post-Fight Press Conference

EMBED-Brett Rogers at Strikeforce Press Conference - 6/6/09 - Watch more free videos

Brett Rogers.. Is He for Real??

Originally posted on GymboKnows.com

Did Brett Rogers really just smash Andrei Arlovski in 22 seconds??

Wow!!

I missed the fight live because I was at a local MMA show but once I heard the news I was shocked. I didn’t think Brett Rogers stood much of a chance against a world class fighter like Arlovski but I guess he proved me and everyone else wrong… Maybe he is better then we all thought…

I thought Brett Rogers was a decent heavyweight with good hands but I didn’t think he was a Top 10 heavyweight. Now after he made Andrei Arlovski his human punching bag I’m going to have to put him into my top 10 (atleast for now). I’m not saying he’s going to go in there and crush Fedor or Barnett but Brett Rogers is definitely a top 10 heavyweight.

Click here to read the entire article

FFG: Brett Rogers

Brett Rogers Sherdog Post-Fight Interview

FFG At The Fights: Brett Rogers

Brett Rogers Wants the Strikeforce Belt

Strikeforce won't stand in way of Brett Rogers' championship aspirations

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

ST. LOUIS - Soon after his stunning 22-second demolition of former UFC champion and worldwide top-five heavyweight Andrei Arlovski, undefeated Brett Rogers cut to the chase when asked about a potential bout with Strikeforce heavyweight title-holder Alistair Overeem.

"Alistair, I was kind of aiming for him," Rogers said in a post-event press conference following Saturday's "Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields" event at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. "I was expecting the title today. He's still in my sight."

According to one Strikeforce executive, that Rogers vs. Overeem bout could happen as soon as August.

During Saturday's Showtime broadcast, Strikeforce announced an Aug. 15 card featuring new signee Gina Carano vs. Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos and Strikeforce world lightweight champion Josh Thomson vs. interim title-holder Gilbert Melendez.

Overeem is essentially a lock for the card. BUT Could the Dutch fighter, who hasn't defended his Strikeforce world heavyweight belt since winning it in late 2007, now meet Rogers?

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

Brett Rogers vs Alistair Overeem possible for August 15 Strikeforce event in San Jose, California

Originally posted on MMAmoz.com

Strikeforce Executive Mike Afromowitz confirmed to MMAmania.com yesterday that surging heavyweight sensation Brett Rogers will likely meet current Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in a title fight on the upcoming August 15 event in San Jose, California.

“It’s definitely a possibility,” Afromowitz said after Saturday’s press conference. “I know Brett said he is ready. We will see how he is feeling next week and go from there. Overeem is locked in for the August 15 fight card.”

“The Grimm” is coming off a devastating knockout win over former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski at the June 6 ‘Lawler vs. Shields’ event from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Rogers was a +300 underdog heading into the fight but needed just 0:22 seconds to put “The Pitbull” to sleep — the second time for Arlovski in as many fights.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAmoz.com

MMAjunkie.com Radio: Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers and The Sunday Junkie winner

Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers, fresh off a devastating first-round TKO of former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski, is a guest on today's edition of MMAjunkie.com Radio.

Rogers, who needed just 22 seconds to defeat Arlovski, will discuss the signature career win, a potential fight with Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem on Aug. 15, and his new gym, Ambition MMA, opening soon in Minnesota.

Catch MMAjunkie.com Radio Monday-Friday at 12:05 p.m. EST (9:05 a.m. PST) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino's Race & Sports Book. Listen to and watch the show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

Rogers impressive in victory at Strikeforce

Originally posted on MMAforReal.com

In the heavyweight attraction, Brett Rogers maintained his undefeated record with a stunning 22-second knockout of former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski.


Arlovski, a heavy favorite entering the night, came in with a leg kick and backed off, allowing Rogers to bulrush him against the cage. From there, a big flurry of punches turned Arlovski’s lights out for the second straight fight. In celebration, Rogers ran head-first into the fencing, a moment of pure joy.


“Hopefully (this win) bumps (my career) up to the next level,” Rogers said.


Next up for Rogers could be Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem on Aug. 15.


“I’m ready for whatever,” Rogers said. “I was planning on picking that up today but it got pushed back. Hopefully he’s keeping it good and clean for me. I’m coming for it.”

**********

In a welterweight bout, Joe Riggs dominated Phil Baroni en route to straight 30-27 scores for a unanimous decision victory.


Riggs, who claimed to have broken both hands in the fight, took Baroni down several times to win the first two rounds. Even seemingly up two rounds heading into the third, Riggs turned up the heat on a tentative Baroni, landing knees and punches and hurting his opponent. Riggs also taunted Baroni at several points during the round, leaving his chin open. Baroni landed a few good shots, but it wasn’t enough.


“He was talking some (expletive) about my chin,” Baroni said. “I wanted to show him, ‘what are you talking about? I’ve never been knocked out.’ I can take a good shot, but I think I took a little too many. I didn’t fight back.


“I wasn’t able to pull the trigger. I don’t know what happened.”

Click here to read the entire article at MMAforReal.com

Brett Rogers shocks MMA world, knocks out Andrei Arlovski at Strikeforce

Originally posted on VancouverSun.com

He came into the heavyweight mixed martial arts contest with a 9-0 record, but nobody really expected Brett "The Grim" Rogers to beat Belarusian sambo, boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend and former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovsky.

Did they?

It took 22 seconds of round one for Rogers to leave his mark on Arlovsky's conscience in front of 12,000 people, and 21 of those seconds were spent circling each other, waiting for the first punch to be thrown.

Arlovski, who has been talking about making a run at a heavyweight boxing title of late, seemingly bored with his lack of opponents after being KOed recently by the world's best fighter, Fedor Emelianenko, was crushed with a hard combination of punches to the head that had him slack-jawed and falling before he even saw what hit him.

"Baby's gonna get a new house," said Rogers. "Look at that. That's beast-like right there."

Click here to read the entire article at VancouverSun.com

Rogers Stuns Arlovski

Originally posted on MMAweekly.com

Brett Rogers at Saturday night's Strikeforce event in St. Louis served notice on the heavyweight division. He's here to compete with the biggest of the big boys. It took only 22 seconds for him to prove his place in the division by knocking out former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski.

Arlovski came out and threw a low leg kick, but that was the only modicum of offense that he would muster. Rogers followed by rocking Arlovski with a left hook then followed with a three-hook combination that sent the Belarusian to the canvas in a heap.

"That's what happens when you work hard," proclaimed Rogers after the fight. "I wasn't feeling respected. I gotta thank Arlovski for giving me the chance to come out here and prove that I can hang with the boys in the Top 10."

It hasn't been announced what is next for Rogers, but he definitely has his opinion since he was originally supposed to have faced Alistair Overeem (who withdrew due to injury) at this event for the Strikeforce heavyweight championship. "Anybody, anybody, I'm ready for anybody. Most of all, I want that title."

Click here to read the entire article at MMAweekly.com

Rogers Stuns Arlovski; Riggs Dominates Baroni

Originally posted on Sherdog.com

Rogers got to Arlovski's chin.

Brett Rogers told anyone who would listen that he was going to knockout Andrei Arlovski in the first round. Not too many people believed him, but they may start listening to the undefeated heavyweight after his 22-second dismantling of the former UFC champion.

Rogers (10-0), after taking a short leg-kick, stormed in on Arlovski, backing him into the cage with a left hook that seemed to stun him. Along the cage, Rogers unleashed a combination that culminated with a right hook that separated Arlovski from consciousness.

“I felt like he was hesitating,” Rogers said. “I just went after him. I was hungry.”

The surprising win puts Rogers at the top of the list of heavyweight title contenders for Alistair Overeem’s Strikeforce crown.

“I’m going to keep it going,” Rogers said. “I love this sport. I’m ready for anybody. Most importantly, I want that title.”

Arlovski (15-8), meanwhile, will have some soul-searching to do after suffering back-to-back knockout losses.

Joe Riggs thoroughly dominated Phil Baroni from bell to bell. The veteran mixed martial artist put on clinic, utilizing all facets of the game. Baroni did well to survive the 15-minute beating.

Riggs (30-10) outwrestled Baroni in the first round, taking his back in the process. Though he could not sink the rear-naked choke, he did control the round. He kept Baroni off balance and never let the flamboyant New Yorker find his range on his feet. A frustrated and weary Baroni (13-11) could do little to muster any offense in rounds two and three, while Riggs began to tee off on the feet. He landed crushing combinations at will, swelling Baroni’s left eye in the process.

In the post-fight interview, Riggs said he thought he broke both of his hands during the bout. He also made known his wish to fight Shields, the former EliteXC welterweight champion.

Click here to read the entire article at Sherdog.com

Arlovski suffers "Grim" fate at Strikeforce

Originally posted on MMAJunkie.com

Nearly everyone predicted a quick finish to the heavyweight contest between Brett Rogers (10-0) and former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski (15-7). A much smaller portion of the prognosticators envisioned a win for "The Grim."

But the Minnesota-native wasted little time in proving his detractors wrong, patiently waiting through a series of feints from "Pitbull" before unleashing a series of piston-like power punches. While the first four shots missed their mark, Arlovski retreated straight back before ending up against the cage. With his motion halted, Rogers' blows found their mark.

A powerful left hook rocked the Belarusian, and a right that followed forced him limp. Another left connected to Arlovski's neck as he fell to the floor, and referee "Big" John McCarthy was there to save the former champ before Rogers could inflict any further damage. The bout was over just 22 seconds after it began, and "The Grim" described his attack as "beast-like."

"That's what happens when you work hard," Rogers said. "I wasn't feeling respected, and I've got to thank Arlovski for allowing me the chance to come out here and prove that I'm worth hanging with the boys in the top ten."

The upset win for Rogers makes him the clear-cut favorite to challenge current Strikeforce heavyweight champion at the promotion's newly announced August 15 event. A clearly disappointed Arlovski has now dropped two-straight contests.

*********

While the war of words leading up to the welterweight contest between Joe Riggs (30-10) and Phil Baroni (13-11) made it easy to anticipate a stand-up war, "Diesel" elected to work a safer strategy by dragging his opponent to the floor and attacking his historically suspect gas tank.

A few submission attempts on the floor but Baroni on the defensive, and Riggs kept the pressure on his opponent with a ground-and-pound attack.

As the third round started, Riggs elected to work more from his feet, punishing Baroni with a series of flying knees. Baroni retreated consistently through the frame, and Riggs' attack was a bit hesitant, though good enough to earn him a unanimous decision. Following the bout, an emotional Riggs explained why he wasn't quite able to earn the finish.

"I broke both my hands again," Riggs said. "I got a family to support."

The win is Riggs' second-straight, and the 26-year-old is now 3-2 fighting for Strikeforce. Baroni's loss, his first since dropping to 170 pounds, snaps a three-fight winning streak.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

No Limits for Heavyweight Brett Rogers as June 6 Approaches

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

There are a lot of folks who would call getting punched in the face, kicked in the head and kneed in the midsection miserable.

Brett Rogers, an unbeaten heavyweight the size of a small pickup, calls it his dream job.

Miserable, to Rogers, 9-0 and finally a full-time mixed martial arts fighter, is changing tires and repairing flats at a St. Paul, Minn., Sam's Club, where he worked full-time until recently in order to support his family.

It was an honest day's work and it paid the bills, but it wasn't stimulating, was frequently frustrating and was a dead-end job that Rogers had long ago grown weary of performing.

He'd always believed in the power in his fists and his ability to make a living with his athletic ability. He took MMA fights where he could get them, but they didn't pay much and there was this little problem of eating, paying for a place to live and raising three children he had to deal with.

And training in his spare time didn't leave him much opportunity for professional development.

"I was lucky because things came pretty naturally to me, but you can't do this sport the right way and work on it in your spare time," Rogers said. "This is a full-time, 12 months a year, 365-day commitment you have to make.

"I just decided the time was right and I had to make the move. This is a sport I have the ability to do and do well, and I wanted to give myself every opportunity."

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

Weekend preview: Eight fights worth watching

Originally posted on USAtoday.com

3) Strikeforce: Andrei Arlovski vs. Brett Rogers. Two heavyweights in need of a big-name to fight have found each other. Affliction Entertainment hasn't been shy about placing Arlovski on other promotions' cards — this will be the ex-UFC champion's second fight for another organization over the past year. In the wake of his knockout loss to Fedor Emelianenko in January, Arlovski wants to try professional boxing, but until that happens, he'll have to settle for the up-and-coming Rogers.

At least Arlovski won't have to worry about going to the mat. In starting his professional MMA career 9-0, Rogers has won eight fights via knockout or technical knockout on the feet. But his brawling style plays right into the hands (and knees and feet) of Arlovski, who has become the most technically proficient striker in the heavyweight division. As long Arlovski doesn't do something foolish and keeps his chin tucked, he should be the one to place a "1" on the right side of Rogers' fight record.

But if he's careless as he was for just a few seconds against Emelianenko, it could be another bad highlight reel for Arlovski, who not only has five KO or TKO losses, but has suffered at least a couple of the extremely dramatic, eyes-open-but-out-cold variety.

Click here to read the entire article at USAtoday.com

ESPN Primer: Strikforce

Originally posted on ESPN.com

Fight of the night: A dead heat between Diaz-Smith and Arlovski-Brett Rogers, two bouts pre-destined to end with someone taking their postfight recovery drink through a straw.

Hype quote of the show: "I'm on edge right now. Don't cross me now because I haven't had sex in four weeks and I'm on a diet. I'm ready to kill someone. This is going to be a war and I'm in total fight mode. I don't even know what I'm talking about right now. Next question." -- Phil Baroni

Click here to read the entire article at ESPN.com

Strikeforce Preview

Originally posted on BleacherReport.com

Andrei Arlovski vs Brett Rogers

This is a difficult fight to predict. Arlovski is coming off a truly horrific knockout loss to Fedor. Historically, fighters do not rebound well from those. There is also the late booking. This fight was announced two and half weeks ago.

Arlovski was supposed to be preparing for a six round boxing match on June 27th. It's weird to say the least. I'm not sure if Arlovski is crazy or stupid. For Rogers, the decision to take the fight was a no-brainer. It's an excellent opportunity for a power puncher to knock out a big name opponent who often goes down hard.

Let me explain a little bit about why the timing of the fight perplexes me. Arlovski is training for a boxing match. His mindset is completely on stand-up. No wrestling, grappling, etc. He might be in great shape for a boxing match, but I find it hard to believe his body is ready for wrestling. It's a different conditioning.

This isn't to say Rogers is a wrestling powerhouse and will wear down Arlovski. He is good in close, though. He also outweighs Arlovski by twenty pounds. If Rogers leans on Arlovski a bit early, we might see a tired fighter as the fight goes on. I just don't get why he and his camp would ever agree to the fight on two and half weeks notice.

I'm going with the underdog. He will probably lose the 1st Round, but I think Arlovski will tire a bit in the second and leave himself open for a big strike. Rogers by second Round KO.

Click here to read the entire article at BleacherReport.com

Strikeforce-SHOWTIME Workout Quotes: Jesse Finney, Brett Rogers, Joe Riggs, Frank Shamroc

Originally posted on DogHouseboxing.com

What the fighters said:

Brett Rogers:

“Back home, I’ve got family that is dependent on me and fans that are pulling for me. I’ve also got to represent Ambition MMA so I just got to go out there and do work. I’m not in this game for fun.”

On Andrei Arlovski, his opponent Saturday: “I used to watch him when I was in school, but I have to push that to the side and say, ‘You know what, I’m not a fan of Arlovski anymore. I can fight this guy. His chin is definitely getting weak. He kind of exposes himself. He likes to lead first and then come with the punch.’’

Joe Riggs:


“This is going to be a great fight for me. I’ve said it before - I’m in the best shape of my life.

“This is a fight that everyone around me has wanted for me for a long time. It never happened because we were always fighting for different promotions or in different weight classes. Now, we are both fighting for Strikeforce, so it’s on.”

Click here to read the entire article

Lawler vs. Shields Preview

Originally posted on MMAweekly.com

Andrei Arlovski vs. Brett Rogers

Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski faces off with Team Bison heavyweight slugger Brett Rogers. The winner of this fight will more than likely get a chance to lock horns with Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem. Don’t expect much ground work out of these two, as they will both be looking to put the other man to sleep.

Arlovski has the advantage on the feet when it comes to pure striking technique and is the faster of the two. For Rogers, he will have the strength and power advantage over the smaller Arlovski. Although unlikely, if the fight were to go to the ground, Arlovski would have the edge with his submission grappling background based in Sambo.

Arlovski has all the tangibles to win the fight and he should win the fight, but his chin will be the question mark. He was winning the fight with Fedor Emelianenko up until his chin failed him and what is there to say that it won’t happen again. Rogers has tons of power in his punches and could very well put Arlovski out. Arlovski needs to stay on the outside and use his speed to get in and out, not staying on the inside where Rogers will have his best chance to end the fight.

Phil Baroni vs. Joe Riggs

In a battle of welterweight sluggers, Las Vegas based striker Phil Baroni takes on the hard-hitting Joe Riggs. These two have had a harsh exchange of words in the weeks leading up to the fight indicating that neither will be holding back in this fight.

These two will more than likely never see any action on the ground until one of them is dazed and confused. Baroni will pack more power in his punches and will have a nice size advantage over Riggs. On the other hand, Riggs will be the much quicker fighter and will have the advantage on the ground if the fight ever gets there.

This fight is one of those guilty pleasures, as it expected that each is going to try and knock the other fighter's head off. Baroni has gone 3-0 since moving down to welterweight and seems to be where he belongs after being outsized at middleweight. Baroni will want to get on the inside and turn the fight into a brawl. That is where he does his best work. Riggs needs to stay on the outside and pick his shots. If that doesn’t work then putting Baroni on his back and pounding him from the top is his other option.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAweekly.com

Strikeforce in-Depth: Can Brett Rogers Pull off the Impossible?

Originally posted on BloodyElbow.com

Most fans have ignored anything that EliteXC veteran Brett "The Grim" Rogers has stated in the media regarding his upcoming Heavyweight tilt with former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski. For the most part, it has been a fight that is glanced upon by many and immediately deemed a squash match due to the experience and versatility of Andrei Arlovski and the fairly one-dimensional style that plays into Arlovski's strengths in Brett Rogers. I'd be a liar if I truly thought Rogers could compete with an Andrei Arlovski who has recently began training for a potential run in the Heavyweight boxing world, but Brett Rogers truly believes he can pull off the impossible.

Click here to read the entire article at BloodyElbow.com

Strikeforce Preview Part 2

Originally posted on Sherdog.com

Andrei Arlovski vs. Brett Rogers

The Breakdown: The old guard runs headfirst into a man representing the supposed next generation, as former UFC heavyweight champion Arlovski (15-6) takes on the undefeated Rogers. While Rogers’ headfirst brawling tactics have served him well thus far, Arlovski made his name picking apart one-note bombers with uncommonly precise punches and fluid footwork. Unless Rogers (9-0) can turn this into more of a slugfest than a boxing match, he’ll have to rely on gutting out Arlovski’s offense and answering back with something that can put the Belarusian on the defensive.

The X Factor: Anytime Arlovski starts stringing together blows, his fans will hold their collective breaths, knowing full well that a single synapse-scrambling strike from Rogers could send their guy straight to the canvas. That’s the reality of the heavyweight division, and it’s always been a particularly cruel one for Arlovski, who has seen some of his best performances go unrewarded thanks to his notoriously fragile chin. Outgunned as he may be, Rogers needs only one of his bombs to land for this fight to turn into his coming out party.

Click here to read the entire article at Sherdog.com

Rogers Looking to Open Doors with Win over Arlovski

TheTandD.com

Brett Rogers has quit his day job.

That means two things. One, folks in St. Paul, Minn., are now without their favorite 6-5, 265-pound Mohawk sporting Sam’s Club tire tech. Two, Rogers – who finished Abongo Humphrey off with a second-round TKO via knees in his last fight, on Strikeforce’s April 11 card on Showtime — has turned his attention fully to the world of MMA, where he sports a 9-0 record.

“Right after the Abongo fight I was pretty much done with the 40-hours per week thing and then trying to train,” Rogers said after a training session Saturday. “I flipped the script and put all my time into the gym. I do two-hour sessions, and I try to break it down to three times a day.”

With his three kids and a few small cousins playing in the background on what Rogers called “a nice Minnesota day,” the up-and-coming heavyweight explained the tire tech job was a way to help make ends meet between fights. It was also inspiration.

“I knew I was going to make (MMA) happen,” he said. “One way or the other, I was going to make this happen. I was going to go out there and knock people out. I knew this was the easy way to get out of that working world and open up other doors. Fighting isn’t forever, but the money that comes along with it, I can invest it in something else, and I don’t have to worry about somebody else telling me what to do, what time I have to be there and all that there, so I have got to make it work.”

Click here to read the entire article at TheTandD.com

Rogers Wants Respect Against Arlovski

Originally posted on MMAweekly.com

Brett Rogers has taken the short, sure way to gain respect in the MMA world: take on opponent widely perceived to be on a higher level.

Andrei Arlovski, his charge on June 6, is a bona fide Top 10 heavyweight. The former UFC heavyweight champion fell short in his chance to knock off the number one guy, Fedor Emelianenko, but he’s still a talented and dangerous fighter.

Never mind that, Rogers says.

“Now, it’s about building respect,” he told reporters Wednesday on a Strikeforce teleconference promoting his June 6 fight with “The Pitbull.” “I’m just at that point where I have a great gym now, we have top coaches, and I’m doing everything I need to do to take on top fighters.”

Rogers was originally scheduled to take on Alistair Overeem on the main card of the St. Louis fight, but Overeem injured his hand in a barroom brawl in Holland and was forced to withdraw. Arlovski stepped in, still under a non-exclusive contract with Affliction, and suddenly, Rogers had the biggest challenge of his career.

The undefeated heavyweight bristles at Overeem’s recent fortune, but thinks everything worked out for the best.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAweekly.com

Brett Rogers Says He Wants to Hurt Arlovski

Originally posted on CagePotato.com

Last night, Strikeforce sent out a roundup of quotes from a media conference call held yesterday, where Scott Smith, Andrei Arlovski, and Brett Rogers took questions about their upcoming matchups on June 6th. While Arlovski didn't say much other than he was excited for the fight and he should have stuck to his gameplan against Fedor, "The Grim" stole the show, discussing everything from his preparation for Arlovski to Alistair Overeem acting like a fool. Here are some highlights:

What are your thoughts on being offered this big step up in opposition?
Rogers: Once I got the phone call and Arlovski was set in stone, I was excited. I remember watching this guy at a younger age and thinking, ‘man I get to take on someone like that?’ He’s an explosive guy; he likes to move around. It’s definitely going to be a challenge, but nothing I don’t think I can handle. He’s big, slimmer guy. He likes to move, he likes to be quick and move his hands. I’m kind of mellow with the fighting stance, so it’s definitely going to be me taking my time and controlling the fight.’’

How long have you been training for this fight — after planning on fighting Alistair Overeem?
Rogers: I was hoping someone would bring that up. I thought I was fighting him, but I got this one about three weeks ago. It’s cool because, the way I see it, it’s actually going to be a better fight than the one with Overeem would have been. With Overeem, we might have ended up on the ground and did all that up-and-down stuff. With Arlovski, he likes to stand and bang and I like to do that too. This is going to make for a better fight. I was putting in some time for Overeem. Then he wanted to act like a fool. He’s a pro fighter and he wanted to act like a fool. That’s on him. I’m moving onto bigger and better. I’m getting this fight. I’ll knock Arlovski out and hopefully move on to somebody better. I’m trying to get into that top-10 ranking. This isn’t going to be forever so I need to make my move like right now when I’m healthy.’’

Click here to read the entire article at CagePotato.com

Arlovski and Rogers Share Their Mutual Respect

Originally posted on FCfighter.com

Heavyweights Andrei Arlovski and Brett Rogers were quick to share their respect for the other, during a teleconference held yesterday by Strikeforce, as the two will square off at the promotion’s upcoming June 6th “Lawler vs. Shields” event in St.Louis. The card will of course be headlined by a catch-weight bout of 182lbs. between Jake Shields and Robbie Lawler, and will also feature Scott Smith vs. Nick Diaz and Joe Riggs vs. Phil Baroni.

Although Rogers (9-0) will head into bout having never lost, the Elite XC vet apparently feels as though he has not received the level of respect he deserves.

“Things are great,” Rogers said during the teleconference. “I’m just getting ready for next week. This is definitely going to be a step up in class. Arlovski has been in the game for quite some time. He has plenty of experience. Those are the type of fighters I’m trying to fight from here on out. For me, now, it’s about building respect. I feel like I don’t have it, so fighting Arlovski is going to be a fun and challenging event on June 6.’’

Click here to read the entire article at FCfighter.com

Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers: "For me, now, it's about building respect"

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

Undefeated Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers (9-0) wrapped up his April win over Ron Humphrey by telling anyone that would listen that he was ready for bigger and better challenges.

When his June 6 co-main event bout with Andrei Arlovski (15-6) at "Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields" in St. Louis was announced, many believed Rogers might have gone just a little too far up the heavyweight ladder.

But in a recent media call promoting the event, Rogers said he got exactly what he wanted.

"This is definitely going to be a step up in class," Rogers said. "Arlovski has been in the game for quite some time, and he has plenty of experience. (But) those are the type of fighters I'm trying to fight from here on out.

"For me, now, it's about building respect. I feel like I don't have it, so fighting Arlovski is going to be a fun and challenging event."

"Fun" and "challenging" might not be the words most would use to describe Arlovski. "Pitbull" has faced some of the best fighters in the world in his 10-year career, including wins over Roy Nelson, Ben Rothwell, Fabricio Werdum, Marcio Cruz, Paul Buentello, Tim Sylvia and Vladimir Matyushenko.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

Strikeforce: Arlovski vs. Rogers winner not guaranteed a shot at champ Overeem

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

Much of the build-up surrounding the "Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields" heavyweight co-feature between Andrei Arlovski and Brett Rogers has focused on the possible title shot implications.

But on a recent media call promoting the June 6 event at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Strikeforce Director of Communications Mike Afromowitz said a win for either fighter didn't guarantee an appointment with title holder Alistair Overeem.

"There are a lot moving parts there depending on the winner," Afromowitz said. "It's definitely a possibility, but there are a lot of moving parts."

While Arlovski, a former UFC champion, is certainly favored in the contest, his existing contract status with Affliction may prove to be a significant hurdle.

"We can't really go into dialogue about [Arlovski's contract status] right now," Afromowitz said. "Andrei is a great fighter, and we're looking forward to having him fight on this card – and hopefully we'll see about the future."

When pressed on the circumstances that brought Arlovski to Strikeforce for the June 6 event, Afromowitz declined to elaborate.

"I'd say it was more of a mutual opportunity," Afromowitz said. "I'll leave it at that. The opportunity came about and it just worked out for both [Strikeforce and Affliction]."

Rogers is firmly under contract for Strikeforce, and his shot at the title would seem to be a bit more secure should things play out in "The Grim's" favor on June 6. But Afromowitz would not guarantee that possibility.

"We'd have to revisit where Andrei is at if he wins," Afromowitz said. "If Brett wins and he's healthy, it’s definitely a possibility. Right now, we're focused on this fight and we'll see what happens. But either fighter skill-wise could easily challenger Alistair for the title.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

Brett Rogers on Andrei Arlovski: “I’m not going into this fight to try and be bouncey-bouncey with him.”

Originally posted on fiveouncesofpain.com

There is little doubt the upcoming ”Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields” event on June 6 should feature more than one knockout given bouts featuring Scott Smith, Nick Diaz, Phil Baroni, headliner Robbie Lawler, and a number of other hard-hitting mixed martial artists. Two men more-than familiar with rendering opponents unconscious who will be facing each other that night, Andrei Arlovski and Brett Rogers, offered their thoughts on throwing down in St. Louis during a conference call to media.

The imposing 9-0 “Grim” made it clear that while he was excited about fighting someone with Arlovski’s credentials, he was also making sure to keep his focus squarely on the task at hand.

“Things are great,” said Rogers. ”I’m just getting ready for next week. This is definitely going to be a step up in class. Arlovski has been in the game for quite some time. He has plenty of experience. Those are the type of fighters I’m trying to fight from here on out. For me, now, it’s about building respect. I feel like I don’t have it, so fighting Arlovski is going to be a fun and challenging event on June 6.

Click here to read the entire article at fiveouncesofpain.com

MMA Quick Quote: Brett Rogers ready to put Andrei Arlovski in check during Strikeforce fight

Originally posted on MMAmania.com

“When I found out I was fighting Arlovski I was excited. I remember watching him when I was younger. After that, I reminded myself I can’t get caught up in all that. I’m pushing all that aside because Arlovski is just another fighter now … I was supposed to fight Alistair Overeem and he got hurt. In my mind, this Arlovski fight will be better for the fans. I know Arlovski likes to stand and bang and I like to do that too … I have been focusing on my cardio and cage control. Arlovski is a lighter heavyweight so I will need to be well conditioned and control him. If he get careless or crazy I will have to check him and put him against the cage…When I go in there I just like to hurt. That is all I think about. After I knock out Arlovski, I will establish myself as a Top 10 fighter…I had my mind set on that Strikeforce belt so I will deal with Alistair after this fight.”

– Undefeated heavyweight Brett Rogers (9-0) — who will soon face the toughest test of his mixed martial arts career when he tangles with Andrei Arlovski at Strikeforce: “Lawler vs. Shields” on June 6

Click here to read the entire article at MMAmania.com

Thursday Blog: Flawless UFC Victories -- Part IV

Originally posted on Sherdog.com

By Loretta Hunt (lhunt@sherdog.com)
Thursday, 5:05 p.m. ET: I was as surprised as anyone when Strikeforce suddenly added a bonus matchup between heavyweights Andrei Arlovski and Brett Rogers to their June 6 event at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. You hear a lot of rumors in the biz –- no secret stays one for long -- but this was a big one that seemed to slip through the cracks.

That is until I heard the deal had been masterminded in the wee hours that Tuesday morning.

I love last-minute deals –- it’s just another perk of this unpredictable sport. So, I asked Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker how it all went down.

“This fight was supposed to be between Alistair Overeem and Brett Rogers, and then Alistair hurt his hand in the last seven days, we were waiting to see if his hand was going to heal or if he was supposed to come out [to the U.S.],” Coker said Tuesday. “It turns out that he could not, so Brett Rogers was left without an opponent. At that time, the opportunity for Andrei Arlovski to fight on our card appeared on our doorstep, and we thought it would be a great fight with him and Brett.”

With a main event between the Terminator that is Robbie Lawler against jiu-jitsu ace Jake Shields, as well as the scraps that will likely be Nick Diaz versus Scott Smith and Phil Baroni trading blows with Joe Riggs, I hardly thought this card needed an extra boost.

Click here to read the entire article at Sherdog.com

Rogers vs. Arlovski Set added to June 6th Strikeforce Event

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

Strikeforce has added some heavyweight talent to its June 6 fight card.

Undefeated Brett Rogers (9-0) will meet former UFC champion and recent Affliction fighter Andrei Arlovski (15-6) on the night's main card, which airs live on Showtime.

The bout was officially announced today at a press conference in St. Louis and completes the official lineup for the card.

The city's Scottrade Center hosts the June 6 event, which features a main event between former EliteXC middleweight champ Robbie Lawler and former EliteXC welterweight champion Jake Shields (at a catch-weight of 182 pounds).

The booking should surprise fans who were expecting a title fight between Strikeforce world heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem and Rogers. Rogers, a former top EliteXC heavyweight, recently moved to Strikeforce and said he wanted a real challenge in his next fight.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

Quick Strikes: Spanning World of MMA

Originally posted on MMA.fanhouse.com

- Heavyweight Brett Rogers is keeping himself ready for a potential fight on the upcoming June 6 Strikeforce event in St. Louis. As of Friday morning, Rogers' involvement on the card is not official, as Strikeforce is looking for a suitable opponent for him. The former EliteXC fighter was once rumored to be fighting current Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem, but thus far, no deal has been reached. Right now, there is one slot to be filled on the Showtime portion of the card, as the Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante vs. Jared Hamman fight has been moved to the non-televised undercard.

- Former WEC lightweight champion "Razor" Rob McCullough, pictured right, underwent a second surgery to repair his broken right hand on Thursday. McCullough injured the hand in his most recent victory against Marcus Hicks at WEC 39 in March. It appears as though he will now be out of action for the remainder of the calendar year.

- Female fighter Erin Toughill returns to action tonight at Palace Fighting Championship 13 in Lemoore, Calif., against Emily Thompson. According to Toughill's agent, Ken Pavia, she has an offer on the table to join Strikeforce's stable of female fighters. "While we're weighing all our options, Strikeforce is a very attractive one," Pavia told FanHouse. Toughill was originally offered to fight Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos on the April 11 Strikeforce card, but wanted a little more time to train for one of the best female fighters in the world.

- And finally, War Machine (born Jon Koppenhaver) is considering an offer from the War Gods promotion to compete on their upcoming June 20 card. The event takes place in San Diego, which is where War Machine currently lives and trains. Since his release from the UFC last spring, he has won his last three fights in a row. No potential opponent has been announced. War Machine fighting on a War Gods card seems like a pretty natural fit.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAfanhouse.com

Report: Alistair Overeem vs Brett Rogers Strikeforce title fight possible for June 6

Originally posted on MMAmania.com

Strikeforce MMA has perhaps found an opponent for its heavyweight champion, Alistair Overeem (29-11), according to Sports1140.com, setting up the Dutchman to take on undefeated former Elite XC standout, Brett Rogers (9-0), in a featured match on the promotion’s “Lawler vs. Shields” card, which is set for the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo., on June 6.

It’s important to note that company officials could not confirm the showdown between the two feared strikers at press time; however, it was also not ruled out entirely, meaning it could (or could not) be announced shortly.

*************

“The Grim” will be taking a serious step up in competition level for this fight. Overeem is more experienced and more accomplished than any of the nine men who have stepped in the cage with Rogers throughout his career thus far.

The Minneapolis Team Bison product has stormed through those nine men rather easily, too, finishing each of them with strikes. In fact, only once, in his most recent victory over Ron “Abongo” Humphrey on the Strikeforce: “Shamrock vs. Diaz” card earlier this month, has the knockout artist faced an opponent who has survived beyond the first round.

It’ll be a short turnaround for Rogers — less than two months to be exact — but he went nearly a full year without competing following his win over Jon Murphy under the Elite XC banner last May. He’s more than likely hungry to get as many fights under his belt as he can in 2009.

At 260 pounds, Grim should have a decent size advantage over the champion in this fight. Both fighters measure in at 6′5,” but Overeem — who used to compete as a light heavyweight — will probably be about 30 pounds lighter than the challenger on fight night. That’s something Rogers will undoubtedly look to use to his advantage.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAmania.com

Brett Rogers Interview: On Overeem, Werdum, more

Originally posted on MMAfighting.com

"I'm definitely first and foremost trying to hurt you."- Brett Rogers

Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers is one big man. Along with this, he's had to cut weight to get to the heavyweight maximum before every one of his nine victories (all of which came by way of stoppage). In the end, if this undefeated fighter were just big, fighting him wouldn't be so bad. Unfortunately for would-be opponents, Rogers is also a very heavy hitter that showed some takedown defense capabilities in his last fight.

Bad news for all those guys hoping to defeat him with jiu jitsu.

So coming off of his ninth consecutive professional MMA victory, MMAFighting.com's Robert Rousseau got the chance to ask Rogers about his recent battle with Abongo Humphrey, the possibility of fighting Alistair Overeem or Fabricio Werdum, and more. And you won't want to miss his responses.

MMAFighting.com: How are you feeling since the Humphrey fight?

Brett Rogers: You know what, I'm feeling good. No injuries or anything like that. I'm moving on for the next one.

MMAFighting.com: Did that fight go down how you thought it might?

Brett Rogers: Yeah, actually it did. I knew Abongo wasn't going to be somebody just to walk in punch one time and fall down. I definitely respected him as a fighter, you know. As far as everything else goes, the outcome was as expected. I just wasn't expecting it to go into the second round.

MMAFighting.com: You lost a point for hair pulling somewhere in there. What went down to cause that? Was it just that his hair was so long?

Brett Rogers: His hair was long and thick. I have some big fingers, and it's just like a comb, you know? You start using the comb, you're going to pull the hair a little bit, right? It was a bad situation. . .

It's just kind of motivated me even more to knock him out. . .Plenty of situations where a guy in a fight loses a point and it costs him at the end. So I wasn't trying to have that happen.

**********

MMAFighting.com: Anything else you'd like to say to fans? Anything else coming up for you?

Brett Rogers: Put it to you like this, anybody that's out there listening that's gonna try to tangle with me, please believe I'm coming to grab you. I'm not in the game to be around, hang with celebrities and all that there. I'm coming out there to put on a show. I'm definitely first and foremost trying to hurt you. If you don't come in there with your A-game on, might as well sit down, lay down, pretend that you're dead, one of the two. Also, I'm gonna thank Mike Reilly, MMA Agents, Tapout, they've definitely been helping me out. VAS, MRO, thank you much.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAfighting.com

MMA Junkie Radio Feat. Brett Rogers

Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers, UFC lightweight Frankie Edgar and MMA pioneer Don Frye are all scheduled as guests on today's edition of MMAjunkie.com Radio.

Rogers will discuss his impressive win over Ron "Abongo" Humphrey at "Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz," Edgar will preview his UFC 98 bout with fellow top contender Sean Sherk, and Frye will return for his popular personal-advice segment, "Don Fryedays."

Catch MMAjunkie.com Radio Monday-Friday at noon EST (9 a.m. PST) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino's Race & Sports Book. Listen to and watch the show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz salaries

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

The full payouts included:

Nick Diaz: $39,950 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
def. Frank Shamrock: $369,790

Gilbert Melendez: $49,890 (no win bonus)
def. Rodrigo Damm: $9,190

Scott Smith: $49,940 (includes $25,000 win bonus)
def. Benji Radach: $16,940

Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos: $18,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
def. Hitomi Akano: $1,450

Brett Rogers: $39,940 (includes $20,000 win bonus)
def. Ron "Abongo" Humphrey: $3,205

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

5 Oz. Video Interview: Brett Rogers (post-fight)

MMAjunkie.com Radio: Brett Rogers

Catch MMAjunkie.com Radio Monday-Friday at noon EST (9 a.m. PST) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino's Race & Sports Book. Listen to and watch the show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

Brett Rogers Sherdog Post-Fight Interview

Brett Rogers KOs Abongo Humphrey in Hair-Pulling Slugfest

Photo Courtesy of DwizzlesWorld
Originally posted on MMA.fanhouse.com

Saturday night's Strikeforce MMA show on Showtime got off to a fast-paced, hard-hitting, hair-pulling start as Brett Rogers knocked out Abongo Humphrey with a series of vicious knees in the second round.

Yes, I said hair pulling. Humphrey wears his hair in long dreadlocks, and three times during the first round, Rogers grabbed that hair. That's a foul, and referee Herb Dean (who also wears his hair in long dreadlocks) warned Rogers twice before taking a point away. In fairness to Rogers, it appeared that at least one of the hair pulls was unintentional, as a result of getting his hands tangled in Humphrey's hair.

Click here to read the entire article at MMA.fanhouse.com

Brett Rogers prepared to send Abongo Humphrey to 185-pounds on April 11 (Video)

FIGHT-BY-FIGHT: Strikeforce Shamrock vs. Diaz

Originally posted on MMAweekly.com

Scott Smith vs. Benji Radach

Former EliteXC middleweight title challenger Scott Smith faces off with IFL veteran Benji Radach. Both fighters are known for their ever exciting stand-up wars and big time knockouts. This fight should be no different and there is a little more at stake as the winner will move closer to a probable title shot in the near future. These two will be going headhunting, so don’t expect the fight to go the distance.

Smith will have the small advantage on the feet with technique, but the bigger advantage that he enjoys is the power that he packs behind his punches. Radach has been developing his boxing technique, but it would be in his best interest to take the fight on the ground where he would enjoy a distinct advantage because of his wrestling ability. Cardio could come into play as both fighters do like to push the pace of the fight.

Smith would like nothing more to turn the fight into a brawl. If the fight is a slow technical battle, it would benefit Radach, as he would not be exposing himself to Smith's power. Radach’s best bet will be to take the fight to the ground and work from there, while Smith will want the fight to turn into a brawl to get the knockout.

Brett Rogers vs. Ron Humphrey

EliteXC heavyweight prospect Brett Rogers faces off with Iron Ring participant Ron Humphrey. Both fighters are undefeated and have finished all of their opponents either by knockout or via strikes. These two will get the night started with a bang, but don’t expect the fight to last too long.

Neither fighter will be taking the fight to the ground and both will be swinging away. Rogers has faced the better competition of the two and has more big fight experience. Humphrey will be making his debut on a big stage. Rogers should also have the advantage on the feet with more technical striking and power behind his strikes.

This is a very good way to get the Showtime telecast started, as they will surely give the viewing audience a dose of guilty pleasure as they watch two guys slug it out. More than likely the winner of the fight will be the first one to land the big shot and its likely that Rogers will be that man.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAweekly.com

Strikeforce Predictions

Originally posted on fiveouncesofpain.com

Benji Radach vs. Scott Smith

Cory Brady: If there’s one thing Scott Coker and Strikeforce know how to do, it’s putting on exciting, relevant fights. I mean, seriously, who doesn’t want to see Scott Smith and Benji Radach slug it out like a couple of cowboys in western saloon brawl? Crickets chirping………..Exactly. There are quite a few parallels that jump out at me between these two middleweight knockout artists. The first being, they’re both knockout artists, that’s the obvious comparison. On top of that, both men recently bounced back from knockout defeats to score impressive knockout victories of their own. Both have been knocked out in the not so distant past, and both have shown an extreme capacity to separate their opponents from consciousness during the course of their beatdown filled careers. When you factor the fact that Radach and Smith have made it perfectly clear that they have every intention to stand up and bang it out, you have the recipe for a thrilling back and forth brawl with the loser taking a quick nap on the canvas. I think Radach’s slight edge in wrestling will be the difference in this one. Even though I think these guy’s are going to bang it out, Radach’s ability to offset the tempo with the threat of a takedown should open up some holes in Smith’s defense, and possibly lead to a Radach knockout. Fights like this are impossible to pinpoint, but whatever happens, it’s going to be fun to watch, guaranteed.

Brett Rogers vs. Ron Humphrey

Cory Brady: This is my guilty pleasure bout of the evening. While it’s hard not to get excited about the match ups like Shamrock vs. Diaz, and Radach vs. Smith, it’s something about these big, heavy handed heavyweights that sends a special chill through my body right before the two tap gloves to signify the start of the bout. Something about the impending and inevitable destruction that is sure to come from big, powerful men with track records of leaving their opponents in a heap squaring off in a “somebodies 0 has got to go” match, there’s nothing like it. Rogers has stopped every one of his eight opponents with his fists, while Humphrey has finished all five of his bouts with strikes as well. Translation: Someone’s getting knocked out. You’ve got to love it! While I don’t know much about Humphrey, other than he wrecks fools, I’m thinking Rogers will bring a quick close to this one. He punches like a truck, and I’m really glad to see him finally return to
action.

David Andrest: I’ll be honest, the only thing that will make me happy here is a QUICK KO. I don’t want to hear about working at the tire warehouse. I don’t want to see 9 people unrelated to the sport dancing and celebrating in the cage after a victory. I want a quick KO, look impressive, and leave quietly. Let the brain dead Rob and Big fans try to convince the world you belong in the same sentence as Alistair Overeem. Winner Rogers.

Click here to read the entire article at fiveouncesofpain.com

Brett Rogers: I'm in This to Hurt, to Smash, to Win

Originally posted on mma.fanhouse.com

Ten months ago, Brett "The Grim" Rogers was riding high. He had just knocked out another opponent to improve to 8-0 in his mixed martial arts career, a win that carried special significance because it was the first MMA fight ever carried live on network television.

But it hasn't been easy for Rogers since then. His promotion, EliteXC, folded, leaving him without a job. He went from being a professional athlete fighting in front of millions to working at Sam's Club, and he wondered if his MMA career would ever resume.

On Saturday it finally will, as Rogers will fight Ron "Abongo" Humphrey for Strikeforce on Showtime. I interviewed Rogers this week about his time off, his thoughts on the fight and his future plans. The full interview is below.

Michael David Smith: You won the first MMA fight ever to be carried live on network TV. How significant do you think that is?
Brett Rogers: First and foremost, it was the most nervous I ever was in my life. While I was waiting around for the undercard to get over, I was so nervous. But I thought of it as an opportunity to go out there and put on a show, and that's what I did.

At the same time, that fight was in May of 2008. If I had told you then that you weren't going to fight again until April of 2009, I imagine you would have been disappointed.
Yeah, I would have been pretty disappointed. It's been a long time. It's been tough, but I knew this wasn't something I could give up on. It's something I love to do. Fighting is fun, and I'm working hard on being more than just a fighter, developing all my MMA skills. I think I'll show that this weekend.

You're a big puncher, and you've used punches to win every fight. Do you also have a ground game?
Yes. Most of the time I was off I was working on my jiu jitsu. In fact, I kind of put the stand-up game behind me so much that I was worried that I might have lost something in my timing on the stand-up. My ground game is very good, it's just that nobody has pushed me to use it. But I'm working at a gym where my coaches are pushing me to improve my ground game. It's coming together.

Click here to read the entire article at MMA.fanhouse.com

Tough Road Leads Brett Rogers to Strikeforce

Originally posted on MMAweekly.com

Heavyweight Brett Rogers sees his fight at “Shamrock vs. Diaz” this Saturday as a chance to blow off a year’s worth of pent-up steam.

“The way I see it, this dude is about to pay my bills,” the 28-year-old Minnesota resident said of his meeting with former "Iron Ring" contestant Ron Humphrey. “It’s been a long time, and I’m just going to have to take out a little aggression on him.”

For a guy who put himself on fans’ radar by calling it like he sees it, Rogers has been mostly quiet since the collapse of former home base EliteXC. There’s been little to talk about – except his uncertain situation.

A year ago, Rogers was a promising heavyweight in an organization poised to be the first on network TV. He and his wife had quit their jobs, and he was training full-time. Five months later, he was stuck in a contract with a promotion that couldn’t put him to work.

The fight purses Rogers earned slowly evaporated, and with no means to make a living, he had to ask for his old job back, installing tires at Sam’s Club.

“Out here, you just can’t be letting jobs go, because people aren’t hiring,” said Rogers. “It’s hard to find anything with an educational background.”

His managers let him know the return wouldn’t be permanent, either. They were already stretched thin.

“Realistically, I shouldn’t be working there,” he continued. “They knew that I needed it. So they were just like, as soon as the time comes, you’ve got to let it go. I said just let me work the next couple of months, and then I’ll disappear.”

The struggles made him wonder if it was all worth it.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAweekly.com

Strikeforce: Brett Rogers vs. Ron Humphrey Prediction

Originally posted on MMAbettingblog.com

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His opponent, Rogers, is best known for sending James Thompson’s head into orbit on an EliteXC show, and subsequently calling out Kimbo Slice at the press conference following Slice’s unimpressive win over Thompson. Also undefeated at 8-0, Rogers will be more than willing to give Humphries the slugfest he is looking for. In fact, by the time Rogers is done, Humphries will no doubt have learned the wisdom in the classic adage “be careful what you wish for”.

Rogers will grant Humphries’ wish with a quick first round knockout.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAbettingblog.com

Strikeforce: Brett Rogers looks to shatter "big-man" misconceptions

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

In Brett Rogers' (8-0) three fights with the ill-fated EliteXC, the heavy-handed striker spent just over five minutes earning three wins.

But if you think you've seen all there is to see with "The Grim," the 28-year-old advises you to pay attention to his April 11 Strikeforce bout with "Abongo" Humphrey (5-0).

"I've been working Wing Chun, Muay-Thai, and a lot of the ground game," Rogers told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) on a recent media call. "Those are different things that I haven't had the chance to show because my fights have usually lasted a minute."

Rogers has yet to fight beyond the first round in his eight professional contests. But the 6-foot-5 heavyweight doesn't believe he'll have troubles should the fight last beyond the opening frame. And Rogers doesn't believe "lumbering" is a term that should be used to describe his 265-pound frame.

"I'm a big guy, but that doesn't necessarily mean I'm a slow guy," Rogers said. "(And) just because I'm big doesn't mean my gas tank is going to be low."

Instead, Rogers wants to be seen as the complete package as a heavyweight fighter. And with EliteXC's demise keeping him on the sideline for nearly 11 months, Rogers said he's had plenty of time to progress his skill set.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

Brett Rogers vs. "Abongo" Humphrey finalizes April 11 Strikeforce card

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

A heavyweight contest between undefeated fighters Brett Rogers (8-0) and Ron "Abongo" Humphrey (5-0) will fill the final television slot on Strikeforce's "Shamrock vs. Diaz."

FiveOuncesOfPain.com first reported the possibility of the contest, and Strikeforce executive Mike Afromowitz informed MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that bout agreements were finalized earlier today.

The main card of the April 11 event will air live on Showtime.

The bout will be the first appearance for one-time EliteXC contender Rogers since a May 2008 knockout win over Jon Murphy in the opening bout of the CBS-broadcast "EliteXC: Primetime." A winner of his first eight career bouts, the Team Bison fighter has earned seven wins by knockout or TKO.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

Brett Rogers wanted, but Strikeforce still searching for final main-card fight

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

With less than a month until Strikeforce's debut on Showtime with the April 11 "Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz" card, the organization's search for its fifth and final-main card bout continues.

While a heavyweight fight between former EliteXC fighter Brett Rogers (8-0) and Ron Humphries (5-0) was originally expected to take the slot, Strikeforce executive Mike Afromowitz today told MMAjunkie.com it simply remains an option.

"It's possible," Afromowitz said. "But it's not definite. There's not just one person making the decision."

On Wednesday FiveOuncesofPain.com first reported that the Rogers vs. Humphries fight had been signed. Sources close to the fighters then confirmed the news with MMAjunkie.com. However, later in the day, Afromowitz said that wasn't the case.

"You know how the guys get," Afromowitz told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) on Wednesday. "[The fight signing] gets close, and everyone gets excited and starts talking and saying it's done. But it's not signed."

Strikeforce acquired Rogers, who's undefeated with first-round stoppages in every one of his career fights, when the organization purchased select assets from ProElite, the parent company of the now-defunct EliteXC organization, earlier this year. Rogers was one of the organization's top stars and defeated Jon Murphy in the first-ever MMA fight televised on major U.S. network television.

However, Rogers hasn't fought since that May 31 EliteXC event on CBS.

Afromowitz said event organizers want to get Rogers on the April 11 card. However, he couldn't elaborate on what exactly is holding up the fight with Humphries from being signed.

Regardless, Rogers remains a priority.

"We'd like to have Brett (on the card); that's for sure," Afromowitz said. "We could scrap the fight (with Humphries) all together, or we could find a different opponent. We just have to find the right fit."

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

Rogers vs. Humphries could complete Strikeforce's April 11 card

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

A heavyweight bout between former EliteXC heavyweight Brett Rogers (8-0) and Strikeforce newcomer Ron Humphries (5-0) could take the last remaining main-card slot on Showtime's broadcast of "Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz."

The April 11 event takes place at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. In the main event, Frank Shamrock meets Nick Diaz at a catch-weight if 179 pounds.

FiveOuncesofPain.com first reported the matchup. And although sources close to the fighters confirmed the fight, Strikeforce executive Mike Afromowitz today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) the bout has not been signed.

"Right now, it's not official," Afromowitz said. "It's a possibility."

Strikeforce has just four official bouts for its five-fight main card. As MMAjunkie.com reported last week, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker expected the slot to go to a middleweight fight between Joe Riggs and Phil Baroni or a heavyweight bout with Rogers.

The organization is apparently close to choosing Rogers, one of the 40-plus EliteXC fighters Strikeforce acquired in February from ProElite, and newcomer Humphries.

Rogers would return to action for the first time in nearly a year. He went 3-0 in EliteXC, which included a 61-second knockout of Jon Murphy in a historic bout. The May 31 fight was the first MMA contest ever to air on major U.S. network television. However, Rogers has been on the sidelines ever since the May 31 CBS-televised event.

Rogers is currently 8-0 with eight first-round stoppages (all due to strikes).

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

Scott Coker Discusses Brett Rogers with FiveOuncesofPain.com

Riggs vs. Baroni or Rogers vs. TBA to complete April 11 Showtime card

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

A middleweight bout between Joe Riggs (29-10) and Phil Baroni (13-10), or a heavyweight bout between Brett Rogers (8-0) and an as-yet-undetermined heavyweight, will take the final spot on the April 11 "Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz" Showtime-televised main card.

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Riggs is 4-2 since leaving the UFC after a December 2006 decision loss to Diego Sanchez and most recently defeated Luke Stewart via second-round TKO. Baroni is 3-0 since a three-fight losing skid he endured from 2007-2008.

Rogers, meanwhile, is a perfect 8-0, and all eight of his victories have come via first-round stoppage due to strikes. He went 3-0 in EliteXC (with wins over Ralph Kelly, James Thompson and Jon Murphy) before the organization's eventual collapse.

Rogers was one of the more than 40 EliteXC fighters that Strikeforce picked up with a recent purchase of EliteXC assets.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

Strikeforce's Scott Coker on Brett Rogers, Kimbo, Tito, Fedor, Ken Shamrock and Dana White

Originally posted on MMA.fanhouse.com

When will we see Brett Rogers fight for Strikeforce?
We're going to put him to work right away. I talked to his management and we're talking about a couple of events in May. ... We'll do a big fight in May and we'll also do a ShoXC card in May, and we're going to put him to work right away.

Click here to read the entire article at MMA.fanhouse.com

MMA Free Agents The UFC Should Sign

Originally posted on BleacherReport.com

Brett Rogers

This big heavyweight could easily spice things up in the UFC. He's still undefeated so it would be interesting to see him match it up with the UFC's best fighters. Rogers has beaten some good fighters in the past, but not great fighters, a fight against Gonzaga, Carwin or Kongo could be very interesting.

What makes Brett such an interesting choice is he's undefeated and won all his fights in the first round against good fighters. This guy could be great, he's untested against the best fighters in the heavyweight division.

Click here to read the entire article at BleacherReport.com

Team Bison Tears it Up

Originally posted on 8countnews.com

Although Kelly Kobold is best known for her decision loss to Gina Carano on October 4th’s Elite XC Heat fight card, the girl’s got more wins than Gina’s had fights. Kobold has been fighting professionally since July 2002, and her 16-3-1 record includes notable wins over two of MMA’s top tier fighters, Adrienna “AJ” Jenkins and Shayna Baszler.

Kobold trains at Team Bison, along with many of the Twin Cities’ top fighters such as Mike Bjork, Cory Walmsley, Brandon Foxworth, Sammy Morgan, Paul Giegorff and the undefeated Brett Rogers. Team Bison has over 400 wins in the cage, 25 regional titles and has fought all over the world. Since I was in Minnesota for the holidays, I decided to stop by the gym and check it out.

Click here to read the entire article at 8countnews.com

Could A New Year Bring New Faces Into the UFC?

Originally posted on UFCblogger.wordpress.com

Heavyweights

Keep an eye on: Brett Rogers

Middleweights

David Loiseau - A couple of wins since leaving the UFC and Loiseau finds himself knocking on the UFC door again. He may be signed for the next Canada card, but he may need one more win. Nevertheless, look for the former number 1 contender to be given another chance.

Welterweights

Phil Baroni - He is re-invented at 170 lbs. In a recent interview with FiveOuncesofPain Baroni said he would like to be in the UFC in 2009. I think he could get a chance. He may need one or two more wins though. Baroni has said he is tired of being a “journeyman” which means he may want to fight for a US based organization.

Click here to read the entire article at UFC Blogger