The biggest MMA fight ever to be broadcast on network television will take place on November 7 on CBS, as the previously announced bout between Fedor Emelianenko and Brett Rogers for the generally recognized heavyweight championship of mixed martial arts will broadcast on CBS, not on Showtime.
Exclusive Interview: Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker on Fedor's Debut
A source with knowledge of the discussions confirmed the booking to FanHouse after it was first reported by MMA Weekly. No venue for the fight has been announced yet.
The decision to broadcast the fight on CBS represents an aggressive move by the network to push its MMA programming, and is a major coup for Strikeforce and M-1 Global, which are co-promoting the fight. It also represents the strongest statement yet that Strikeforce and M-1 Global are working hard to establish themselves as the biggest promotion in MMA, and not just the No. 2 promotion to the UFC.
CBS has shown MMA in the past, with three EliteXC fight cards airing on the network in 2008. But the presence of Fedor makes the November 7 card a very different animal. EliteXC bouts consisted of second-tier fighters, but Fedor is widely regarded as the best fighter in the history of mixed martial arts, and hard-core MMA fans will consider Fedor vs. Rogers -- and not Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin at UFC 106, November's true MMA heavyweight title fight.
Still, the CBS/Showtime/Strikeforce/M-1 partnership has a long, long way to go before it can be considered a legitimate threat to the UFC. The UFC brand name is the gold standard in MMA, and that won't change any time soon -- even though a heavyweight title fight on network television is an awfully big move by the competition.
UPDATE: CBS released a statement from Kelly Kahl, Senior Executive Vice President, Prime Time, CBS Television, saying, "There's no question this is a sport that is fast becoming a force in popularity and as a business. We're excited to be the platform that will enable millions more to see the athlete regarded as the very best in his sport. The Number One heavyweight on the most-watched network has a very nice ring to it."
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker added, "It is an honor to have the opportunity to bring the Strikeforce brand to CBS. We are looking forward to bringing MMA back to the network and to having the world's No. 1 heavyweight - Fedor - compete for the first time on live network television against one of America's most promising young, undefeated stars - Brett Rogers."
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Comments (Page 1 of 3)
heck yea.. this is crazy.. wonder how the ufc plans to counter this show?
I would rather watch the UFC anyway, there are many awesome fighters as opposed to the on big name on their card. "FEDOR"
They won't really be able to. They have 3 shows in the span of two weeks after that. If they do, they will have 4 shows in the span of 3 weeks, which would stretch them out really thin.
GREATEST announcement in a LONG time! Thank you MMA Fanhouse!
They'll simply try to put a recent UFC PPV on Spike TV for free. They've done that plenty of times before.
i would have liked them to counter program this with the vera-couture fight
Yeah great idea counter program the #1 fighter on the planet fighting on network tv with a geriatric Couture vs boring Vera on Spike tv.
What a joke.
I could see the UFC put a recent PPV event on Spike. Like UFC 102. :P
the ufc fight is a joke or my idea? i think it would be a real statement made by stikeforce and i can almost guarentee the only ones that would be watching ufc that night are the ones who didnt know about it on cbs or later that night on thier dvr :)
brock is the man....strikeforce??? please,,what a joke....the ufc is where the best of the best fight....brett rogers??? this guy sucks....brock will destroy fedor........
You're a moron. And a disgrace.
Brett Rogers is just as qualified as Brock's next opponent (Carwin). As far as "brock will destroy fedor" well, you simply don't know Fedor or MMA.
lol the 4-1 brock? the brock who lost in 90 seconds to frank mir? lol fedor has NEVER lost a regular rules mma fight. the only reason he has a "loss" is because the other guy cut him and it was a winner move on tournament style and fedor was not able to because of the cut or FEDOR would have gone on and been the winner. So let me get this right a man who has NEVER lost to the BEST in the world would get destroyed by a guy who lost to frank mir? lol sounds logical and sounds like you know a lot about mma!
Brock lesnar is big and can wrestle.I didnt see much else from him.If you watch fedors fights he has way better skills all around.It would be a miracle if Fedor vs Brock would ever happen.With M-1 controlling fedor and Dana white controlling brock.Never gonna happen.
This is big. I really look forward to seeing this.
I have watched the UFC since the very beginning and now the $44.95 price tag for a pay per view fight card. Come on, it used to be $19.95 what makes it over double the cost. I can not wait for some competition. I think the under cards on spike is great idea, but the UFC is pricing itself out of house holds especially on some of these not so great fight cards. I will pay top dollar for top fight cards but some of these cards should be priced differently. By the way Wednesday's spike fight card was as good or better than 2 of the last 3 pay per views in my opinion.
rewatch a ufc event or watch fedor kick arse? no competition.. i dont think it's gonna matter what the ufc does the night of this fight, but we'll see how the undercard looks. I'm thinkin if strikeforce got this opportunity, they probably gonna put on a pretty good show.
just saw glimpse of who's gonna be on the undercard.. and I'm sorry to say, but this looks like it's gonna be an exciting night come nov 7.
ok strikeforce - take a bite out of the ufc.
i wouldn't call rogers the number 1 contender for best hw, but he's certainly as good as carwin, dos santos, valesquez. rogers doesnt move well on the ground, but he sure a punchers chance. i dont think he gets out of the first round with fedor.
You freakin posers said the same about Mir and look what happened to him!!!! When Brock was done Mir looked like Rocky from the movie Mask! Fedor is scared of the UFC period!!!