Capped off by one of the more memorable main events of the year, Strikeforce’s historic CBS debut was a huge success and concluded with #1-ranked heavyweight “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko stopping previously undefeated knockout artist Brett “The Grim” Rogers in front of millions of worldwide viewers.

MMARising.com was on-site in Hoffman Estates, Illinois for the “Fedor vs Rogers” event and has a complete recap of the card and highlights from the post-fight press conference.

“The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko vs Brett “The Grim” Rogers

Round 1:
Emelianenko landed a one-two early on, but a left jab from Rogers cut Emelianenko badly on the bridge of the nose. Emelianenko scored a quick trip takedown and Rogers battled back to his feet. Rogers clinched against the cage and landed a series of knees to the legs and body. A huge left hand landed for Emelianenko and he swarmed Rogers with punches as Rogers fell to the mat.

From half-guard, Emelianenko worked for a Kimura, but Rogers rolled over and took top position. He escaped the submission and rained down punches on Emelianenko, who quickly transitioned into an armbar. Rogers pressed off of the cage and evaded danger as Emelianenko’s nose bled all over the place. Emelianenko looked for an arm-triangle choke from half-guard, but Rogers regained guard. Emelianenko stood and Rogers kicked at his legs, then avoided a lunging punch. Excellent round and the crowd is going crazy. 10-9 Emelianenko.

Round 2:
Rogers backpedalled in the second round and kept his distance with jabs. Emelianenko landed a quick hook and clinched, then unleashed a barrage of strikes against the cage. Rogers spun free and the fighters traded knees. Emelianenko pushed Rogers off and connected with a massive right hook that dropped Rogers like a brick. Emelianenko dove in and landed two more punches before referee “Big” John McCarthy rescued a badly dazed Rogers. The crowd erupted with deafening applause for the greatest fighter in mixed martial arts history.

Winner: Fedor Emelianenko by TKO (Punches) at 1:48 of round two. He improves to 31-1-0, 1 NC.

Post-Fight Press Conference Notes:
Emelianenko was asked whether he would entertain thoughts of a rematch with Rogers and said that he would welcome one if it was so desired. Rogers stated that he had fought too passively and that a second fight with “The Last Emperor” would be vastly different from their meeting tonight.

Emelianenko will likely next face either Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair “Demolition Man” Overeem or Fabricio Werdum.

Strikeforce Middleweight Championship

Jake Shields vs Jason “Mayhem” Miller

Round 1:
After an exchange of jabs, Miller connected with an overhand right and Shields scored a takedown. Miller remained calm and looked for a Kimura, but Shields took his back in the process. Shields landed punches, but Miller quickly scrambled back to his feet. Shields managed to take Miller down again, but could do nothing with the position.

Miller worked back to his feet and picked Shields up, then slammed him to the mat. He stood up and dove in with a lunging punch, but Shields countered with a heel hook attempt and the fight returned to the feet. Miller twice suplexed Shields to the ground and punched from the top. Though Shields had dominant positions throughout the first three minutes, he did nothing with them and Miller stole the round late. 10-9 Miller.

Round 2:
Miller opened round two with a lunging left hook and the fighters clashed heads, which opened a gash above Shields’s right eyebrow. Miller dragged Shields to the mat, but Shields took his back and looked to secure a Twister. Miller escaped and kicked off of the cage, but Shields retained back control. He tried for a rear naked choke, but Miller defended well. Miller scrambled and looked briefly for a leg submission.

Once again, Shields attempted a Twister submission, but Miller escaped and evaded a follow-up Kimura as well. Shields took Miller’s back and landed punches, then tried for another rear naked choke. Miller spun free and took top position, then landed punches and hammerfists. Shields latched onto Miller’s leg and tried for a heel hook, but Miller stayed out of danger until the bell. 10-9 Shields.

Round 3:
The third round began with a one-two from Miller and he scored a quick takedown. Shields worked back to his feet and took Miller down. Shields moved from side-control to mount, but Miller regained half-guard. Miller rolled over repeatedly and Shields landed punches from mount and from back control. Miller rolled forward and took top position, but Shields scrambled to his feet. Miller connected with a spinning back fist and the fighters clinched against the cage.

Shields appeared to be fatigued as the pace slowed. Time was called to fix the tape on Miller’s gloves and action resumed in a clinch. Shields scored a takedown and tried for a guillotine choke, but Miller easily escaped and stood up. He took Shields’s back in a scramble and secured a body triangle. With less than ten seconds to go, Miller locked on a very tight rear naked choke and Shields was just barely saved by the bell. Incredible end to the round. 10-9 Miller.

Round 4:
Shields took Miller down early in round four and the crowd booed as Shields once again did nothing with the position. For nearly two full minutes, Shields pressed Miller against the cage on the ground, but did nothing else and the crowd began to chant Miller’s name. Miller tried to work back to his feet and Shields held him in place.

Referee “Big” John McCarthy stood the fighters up and Miller scored with a jumping knee to the body. Shields took Miller down and moved to side-control. He tried to isolate Miller’s arms, then moved to mount. Shields worked for an arm-triangle choke, but Miller rolled to his side and defended. Miller twice rolled through to defend, but Shields maintained top position in the scrambles. 10-9 Shields.

Round 5:
Quick punches were exchanged to begin the final round and Shields clinched. He secured a front head lock and landed knees to Miller’s head, then took him down. Miller battled back to his feet, but was put on his back against the cage again. Shields moved to mount and Miller rolled over. Shields punched the sides of Miller’s head and looked to set up a rear naked choke.

Shields kept Miller in place with a body triangle and landed more punches from the back, then worked for another rear naked choke. Miller spun free and took top position, then latched onto a guillotine choke in a scramble. Shields escaped and took Miller’s back. Miller battled his way back to a standing position, but was dragged back to the mat. 10-9 Shields.

The crowd vehemently showered the arena with boos as Shields was announced as the victor. It was definitely not his best performance and Miller’s submission defence was extremely impressive.

Winner: Jake Shields by Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) after five rounds. He improves to 24-4-1 and becomes the new Strikeforce Middleweight Champion.

Post-Fight Press Conference Notes:
Shields had harsh words for former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Cung Le, who had vacated his title to pursue an acting career but will return to competition in December. Shields felt that Le was ducking him and expressed a desire to face Le and other top contenders in the welterweight and middleweight divisions.

Miller stated that he had not trained enough wrestling for the fight and felt that that was his downfall, as the fight progressed into a ground war of “hugging and snuggling.” It should also be noted that Miller’s elaborate ring entrance was as hilarious as ever and made him an instant crowd favourite.