HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill -- In a good way to start the return of MMA to network television, Fabricio Werdum beat Antonio Silva by unanimous decision Saturday night at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers.
Silva floored Werdum in the early going and appeared close to finishing him on the ground, but Werdum stayed poised and managed to get back onto his feet. Midway through the first round Silva threw Werdum onto his back, but when Werdum stayed there, Silva wanted none of it and took the fight back to his feet. It went that way for much of the round, with Silva controlling it but always careful not to get caught in one of Werdum's submissions. The first round was exciting and left the crowd giving the fighters a standing ovation.
The second round was less action packed, and the crowd started to boo when they clinched against the cage after three minutes. Werdum managed to get on top of Silva on the ground with a minute left in the round, transition to side control and then get hold of Silva's leg, but he wasn't able to get Silva in any real trouble.
In the third round Werdum began to go on the offensive, getting Silva's back and landing several strikes. But when he attempted to sink in a rear-naked choke, Silva managed to get back up. With a minute to go in the round Werdum again got Silva's back and again landed strikes from the top, but he wasn't able to finish him.
Werdum is an Abu Dhabi Combat Club champion and arguably the best heavyweight grappler in MMA, and it was clear throughout the fight how much respect Silva had for Werdum's jiu jitsu. Silva would get Werdum on his back and then let him back up, afraid of ending up in Werdum's guard. All three judges ruled that Werdum did enough on the ground to win the second and third rounds, and that gave Werdum the unanimous decision, 29-28 on each card. MMA FanHouse has full Fedor vs. Rogers results, MMA Twitter updates and more.
Fedor Emelianenko makes his way to the cage at his Strikeforce debut on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Brett Rogers makes his way to the cage at the Strikeforce event on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Fedor Emelianenko and Brett Rogers grapple on the cage at the Strikeforce event on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Fedor Emelianenko punches Brett Rogers in the head at the Strikeforce event on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Fedor Emelianenko of Russia, right, fights Brett Rogers in the second round of the Heavyweight Main Event Strike Force Mixed Martial Arts match at The Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Il. Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009.
Paul Beaty, AP
Fedor Emelianenko of Russia, top, fights Brett Rogers in the second round of the Heavyweight Main Event StrikeForce Mixed Martial Arts match at The Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill. Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. Emelianenko stopped Brett Rogers in the second round in a Strikeforce M-1 Global heavyweight bout.
Paul Beaty, AP
Fedor Emelianenko of Russia, right, fights Brett Rogers in the second round of the Heavyweight Main Event Strike Force Mixed Martial Arts match at The Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Il. Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009.
Paul Beaty, AP
Fedor Emelianenko attempts a submission against Brett Rogers at the Strikeforce event on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Fedor Emelianenko connects with a punch against Brett Rogers at the Strikeforce event on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Fedor Emelianenko winds up for another punch against Brett Rogers at the Strikeforce event on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill -- In a good way to start the return of MMA to network television, Fabricio Werdum beat Antonio Silva by unanimous decision Saturday night at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers.