Fedor Emelianenko lands a shot on Fabricio Werdum during their Strikeforce bout Saturday, June 26, 2010 at the HP Pavillion in San Jose, California. Wedum shocked the heavily favored Emelianenko with a first round submission.
Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011 | 2:05 a.m.
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The man many consider the top heavyweight in the history of mixed martial arts is gearing up to make his return next month.
Fedor Emelianenko (32-2) will star in Strikeforce World Grand Prix — Heavyweight Tournament, which will pit the MMA organization’s eight top heavyweights in a single-elimination competition.
“I have been working very hard since my last fight and can’t wait to get back in the cage,” Emelianenko said in a release.
Emelianenko will face Antonio “Big Foot” Silva (15-2) in the first round of the tournament on Feb. 12 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
Emelianenko suffered his first defeat in 10 years the last time he was in the octagon. Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1) got Emelianenko in a triangle armbar and forced him to tap out 1:09 into their fight last June.
Werdum is also involved in the tournament and will fight Alistair Overeem (34-11) at a location and date to be announced later.
Showtime will televise all the bouts in the Strikeforce World Grand Prix.
“I can’t think of a better way to start 2011 than with this major announcement,” Ken Hershman, executive vice president and general manager of Showtime Sports, said in a statement.
Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
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