Overeem/Rogers and Arlovski/Silva

Compliments of Sherdog.com

Heavyweight bouts between Alistair Overeem and Brett Rogers and Andrei Arlovski against Antonio Silva will anchor Strikeforce “St. Louis: Heavy Artillery†on May 15 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo., the promotion announced on Friday.

Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem returns to the promotion in the non-title bout following a 30-month absence from the U.S.-based promotion. In the interim, the 6-foot-5 Golden Glory striker has amassed seven victories in eight fights (1 NC) in various promotions, including Dream, Ultimate Glory, and K-1 in Japan. Overeem also participated in K-1’s popular year-end kickboxing grand prix.

Previously undefeated Rogers was stopped by Fedor Emelianenko with strikes in the second round at the promotion’s November “Fedor vs. Rogers†effort in Hoffmann Estates, Ill. The bout garnered over five million viewers during a live CBS telecast.

Rogers, 29, earned his crack at the world’s No. 1 heavyweight with a 22-second knockout against Arlovski at Strikeforce “Lawler vs. Shields†last June in St. Louis, Mo. The Minnesotan striker also holds wins over Jon Murphy and James Thompson.

Arlovski, a former UFC heavyweight champion, will look to rebound from back-to-back knockouts against Rogers and Emelianenko in his sophomore effort with the promotion.

Arlovski, who went 11-4 in the UFC between 2000-2008 with key victories against Vladimir Matyushenko, Tim Sylvia, Paul Buentello, Marcio Cruz, and Fabricio Werdum, boxed a four-round exhibition match against former heavyweight contender Fres Oquendo earlier this month in Miami for “The Consequences Charity. The 31-year-old Belarusian is currently training with American Kickboxing Academy fighters Cain Velasquez, Mike Kyle, and Daniel Cormier in San Jose, Calif., before returning to his Team Pitbull homebase in Chicago for final preparations.

American Top Team’s Silva dropped a unanimous decision to Fabricio Werdum at Strikeforce “Fedor vs. Rogers†in Hoffmann Estates, Ill., the Brazilian’s first fight back on U.S. soil following a one-year suspension for alleged steroids use by the California State Athletic Commission. During his suspension, the one-time EliteXC heavyweight champion notched first-round victories against Yoshihiro Nakao and Jim York for the Sengoku promotion in Japan.

Strikeforce St. Louis “Heavy Artillery†broadcasts live on Showtime.

 

Non-title. Wow. What a fucking joke the Strikeforce HW division is. I mean, I would understand not wanting to give Roger's a title shot coming off a loss, but why schedule him to fight the "Champion" if it's not even going to be for the title? Are they saving it for Fedor? I guess they don't want Fedor to have to fight Roger's again. Maybe it was a little too scary for their liking.

 

Rogers is knocking Overeem the fuck out, btw.

 

The fight won't happen. Overeem will come up with some mystery injury days before the fight, then fight some no name scrub in Holland the next week.


TFK

 

I agree for sure about Rogers, but Silva will have his hands full with AA.

Do any of you ever read sherdog? Over there 99% of the guys are giving Rogers no chance against Overeem. It's pretty funny actually. As inexperienced as Rogers is, he was good enough to give Fedor some serious problems before he got knocked out. It's just crazy how hyped a guy can get because he did well in some K-1 events and fought a couple cans in MMA. Overeem has to be one of the most overhyped fighters ever.

 

I read over there, but I don't post. The shit is just as you describe too. Everyone saying Overeem will destroy Rogers. Rogers will break Overeem in two. But like TFK said, he will have some injury before this fight comes and then be fighting overseas somewhere a week later. They should have stripped this fuckup over a year ago.

 

Rogers will get exposed. And AA could either look revitalized or just get KO'd again and fall into obscurity. Interesting watch though..

 

Serious, what makes you think Overeem can do anything to Rogers?

 

I think Rogers will get subbed.

 

I think that could be his weakness, but of all people to sub him.....Overheem???? A K-1 fighter?

 

Overeem is a grappler as well, he has his fair share of submission wins. 19 of them.

 

Has this Guy REALLY Gone 30 Months w/Out Defending his "Title"???....


REED::

 

I thought Arlovski quit MMA for boxing

 

Pretty much. He is all juiced up to he'll, only fighting oversees for fear of getting popped.

 

,yes

Strikeforce should make it a title match in hopes Rogers takes it off of his sorry ass.

 

The fight is now for the strap.

 

How unlike me.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/...1089&zoneid=13

 

its very suprising they don't have Fedor fighting for the title.

 

No kidding. Brett loses to Fedor and will likely be the champion after the Overeem fight. Fun stuff.

 

Too bad Overeem is going to expose Rogers' overrated ass.

 

It should have been Fedor vs Overeem, but M-1 fucked it up by trying to renegotiate Fedor's contract. Now he's probably not fighting until late summer.

 

I agree. Rogers was hanging with Fedor just fine before the bomb dropped on his face. I think Overeem is getting stopped in the first.

 

Possibly. If he's getting circled and leg kicked then just flashes the guy then maybe not but if he actually shows some type of skill then I will.

 

So landing punches isn't a skill. Does he have to execute a take down and snatch Overeem's arm to show skill?

What?

 

Lots of guys land a lucky punch, if the guy has a weak chin and he has power.

Lawler vs Manhoef is an example of that. I'd criticize Manhoef more than praise Lawler for that performance.

 

What about if Rogers gets his face busted up standing, then they fall to the ground with Rogers on top, he gets reversed on the ground and overeem ground and pounds him for a bit, but it's still an fairly competitive round with both guys taking some damage and then in the second Rogers knocks Overeem out cold with a giant looping right hand?

 

There's no such thing as a lucky punch, you retard.

If Rogers lands one "lucky" punch after another, and beats almost everyone in front of him, he has a huge amount of ability, even if in your eyes it's just a "lucky" punch.

It's results that count, and when Rogers KO'd Overeem, he deserves credit, however "lucky" it is in your feeble mind.