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[Sakara=Excitement]

M-1: Fedor Emelianenko fighting Fabricio Werdum in May, off planned April CBS card | MMAjunkie.com

After weeks of doubt about the fighter's once-expected participation, Fedor Emelianenko will not, in fact, fight in April during Strikeforce's return to CBS airwaves.

According to a report from MMAFighting.com, M-1 officials today said at M-1 Selection Eastern European press conference that Emelianenko will fight Fabricio Werdum – but not until May.

Strikeforce officials have not confirmed plans for the April show, but as MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) reported on Wednesday, it could move to Showtime (or be delayed altogether) now that Emelianenko won't be involved.

As part of his contract with Strikeforce, Emelianenko's fights have to air on CBS rather than its premium-cable partner, Showtime, which has a fraction of the audience.

If it does go on, Strikeforce's April show is likely to take place April 17 in Nashville, Tenn., though Tennessee Athletic Commission Executive Director Jeff Mullen told MMAjunkie.com the organization hasn't officially requested the date. A long-expected bout between Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields and UFC veteran/recent signee Dan Henderson would likely take the event's headline slot, and a likely bout between Strikeforce 205-pound champ Gegard Mousasi and Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal could take the co-main-event slot.

Strikeforce Director of Communications Mike Afromowitz on Wednesday said the organization hopes to have the event details locked in by week's end.

As for Emelianenko's involvement, MMAjunkie.com reported on Wednesday that it had been downgraded from questionable to "unlikely." With M-1's confirmation that Emelianenko will fight in May, a recently rumored May DREAM meeting with Alistair Overeem now also would appear unlikely.

Emelianenko (32-1 MMA, 1-0 SF), a longtime PRIDE champion who made his Strikeforce debut with a November 2009 victory over Brett Rogers, and his M-1 management team previously mentioned Werdum (13-4-1 MMA, 2-0 SF) as the Russian's likely next opponent. The former UFC fighter is 2-0 in Strikeforce with wins over Mike Kyle and Antonio Silva.

Stay tuned to MMAjunkie.com for more on this story.

[jaljn]

Pity its been delayed but can't wait to see fedor in action again - can't see Werdum causing him many problems though.

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Man, Strikeforce is almost comically unorganized. I can see Werdum/Fedor in May and then Fedor/Barnett or Overeem on NYE for DREAM.

[integer]

Strikeforce must have their head up the wrong end. I was under the impression that part of Fedor's contract included that he fight on CBS prime time cards. The end seems a little closer for Strikeforce, but I sincerely hope that's not the case.

[KevoOnTheRadio]

Strikeforce=FAIL at this point. They gotta get their shit together and quick. I really see this as a make or break year for them. Either they prove that they can be an exciting and entertaining MMA promotion that can exsist alongside the UFC (if not rival them) or they grab a spot in the cemetary next to EliteXC and Affliction.

[maxp84z]

Originally Posted by KevoOnTheRadio

Strikeforce=FAIL at this point. They gotta get their shit together and quick. I really see this as a make or break year for them. Either they prove that they can be an exciting and entertaining MMA promotion that can exsist alongside the UFC (if not rival them) or they grab a spot in the cemetary next to EliteXC and Affliction.

I don't know about you but past Strikeforce shows have been REALLY entertaining. This is probably one of the few times they dropped the ball. This and Overeem not defending his belt. That is all really.

[mattc25]

....this is bullshit! If their gonna fight in May,then have Fedor fight fucking Overeem,which will probably end up happening. If he ends up fighting Overeem in Japan that aslo would be complete bullshit!! SF's just wants another big fight on a May CBS card with Overeem since the he SAYS he will fight in the US no later than May.

.... Strikeforce figures they better get the title fight in because Overeem will only fight in States once. After he loses to Fedor I predict we will never see him in the state again.

[Pasha K]

Damn I hate "surprises" like this. I would be happy if they say "Fedor wont fight in April. Instead he is fighting in may against Overeem for the title" but he is still fighting Werdum but a month later.

And what happens if Fedor or Werdum get injured or something few weeks before the fight? Again we will have to wait many months to see Fedor fight?

I dont if it is M1 or Strikeforce the responsable for this, but it sucks.

Also of course this is just a rumour but I have read in another forum that SF is planning Overeem vs Rogers for the title.

[Xanatos]

I couldn't be less impressed by the management of Strikeforce thus far. I've only seen one good card, and that was the Rogers VS Fedor fight, other then that they've been shit.

It's not that they dont have the talent to book good shows, they have a handful of the most exciting fighters in mma on their roster and theyre throwing their potential in the trash with awful fights and bullshit contracts. you get nonsense fights like non title bouts; mousasi vs sokoudjou, and give fighters too much freedom where they can run off to japan willy nilly and waste everyones time like alistair overeem. juiced up monkey. call me a rascist i dare you..

this is why you dont give too much freedom to your fighters. You've got tonnes of fans sitting at home waiting for overeem vs. fedor, or rogers, or bobby fucking lashley for all i care, but no, he decides he'd rather juice up in japan and fight gary god damn goodridge. you know what, i think we should have gegard mousasi fight goodridge in japan too, why not eh, who doesnt want to see that. oh wait....

how much you wanna bet that mousasi never defends his belt and he just jumps ship to ufc. dana knows that would really hurt them and would probably give him a big enough chunk of money to drop his belt just to mess with them.

[jay-c]

Uncle Dana's control policies are looking better and better.