FEDOR, GEGARD MOUSASI, “MAYHEM” MILLER, FABRICIO WERDUM, ANTONIO “BIG FOOT’’ SILVA WORKOUT QUOTES

Posted on | November 5, 2009 | No Comments

Wednesday, Nov. 4, POW Kickboxing Gym, Chicago, Illinois

CHICAGO (Nov. 4, 2009) – The famed Fedor “The Last Emperor’’ Emelianenko, Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi, colorful, flamboyant Jason “Mayhem’’ Miller and heavyweights Fabricio Werdum and Antonio “Big Foot” Silva” participated in a media workout Wednesday at POW Kickboxing.

In three days, on Saturday, Nov. 7, the talented Mixed Martial Arts fighters will be featured on a fight card at the Sears Centre on the CBS Television Network (9 p.m. ET/PT).

Fedor (30-1, 1 NC), of Russia, will be opposed by undefeated, hard-hitting Brett Rogers (10-0) of St. Paul, Minn., in the main event.

Mousasi (29-2-1), of the Netherlands, will put his 13-fight winning streak on the line against Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (7-4) of Murrieta, Calif., in a non-title scrap; Miller (22-6) of Orange County, Calif., will take on a winner of 12 in a row, Jake Shields (23-4-1), of San Francisco, for the Strikeforce world middleweight belt; and Werdum (12-4-1), of Marina Del Rey, Calif., and Silva (13-1), of Coconut Creek, Fla., will clash in a battle of highly regarded Brazilian heavyweights in the other CBS matchups.

Tickets, starting at $35, are on sale at the Sears Centre Arena box office (www.searscentre.com), at all Ticketmaster locations (800) 745-3000, Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com) and STRIKEFORCE’s official website (www.strikeforce.com). Doors for the live event open at 5:15 p.m. CT. The first non-televised bout begins at 6 o’clock CT.

What the fighters had to say Wednesday:

FEDOR

“I am always amazed at the reaction I get in cities in the United States and it gives me a good feeling. I appreciate it very much. It only makes me want to give a better performance.

“I am really happy to be in Chicago and I have enjoyed my time here.

“This is going to be a good fight. Brett Rogers is good opponent who is undefeated. Fighting in a cage will be different, but I have trained in a cage before.’’

GEGARD MOUSASI

“I feel good and I am happy to be part of such a great card. The exposure we will get for ourselves and the sport of MMA will be tremendous on Saturday night.

“My opponent is very dangerous and I expect a very difficult fight. He has lost a couple fights but they were to good fighters, so there may be some people who are underestimating him. But I am not.

“This fight will last longer than my last one, which I was actually hoping would last longer. But I don’t think there is any way this will go the distance.’’

JASON “MAYHEM’’ MILLER

“I think it’s funny how some people are underestimating me. I’m shocked at the odds. I should be the favorite. But oddsmakers’ jobs are to make money and to get action.

“I’m going to turn this into a brawl. I’m not interested in turning it into a hugging contest, which is what he may do. I want to keep the fight at a fast pace, while I think Jake will want to slow it down and grind it out.

“It’s possible, if I have my way, and Shields does his part, that we will have the fight of the night.’’

FABRICIO WERDUM

“I have prepared very hard for a good fight and that’s what I expect. I think this fight will have a little bit of everything. He’s a very strong opponent and has lost only once.

“I want to fight the best, but my focus is always on my next fight. So, right now, my concentration is totally on Silva. I have to win Saturday so I can continue to do what I want to do.’’

ANTONIO “BIG FOOT’’ SILVA

“I am very happy to be fighting again in the United States against a very worthy opponent on CBS.

“I had a fight in late September, but that only lasted one round (3:51). But I trained very hard before that and I trained very hard after it. I’ve been training daily for about four straight months.

“There was a time, in the beginning, after I was told I couldn’t fight, that I actually doubted that I’d be able to fight again. But as time went on, and things progressed and everything was solved, I became more confident.

“Still, it was a huge relief when I was told I could fight again.

“I am ready for Saturday and prepared for anything he has to offer and ready to go anywhere the fight goes.’’