Here we go! The week of Fedor's debut on US Prime Time television has arrived. Here are some tib-bits from todays Strikeforce Media Call with Fedor and Brett Rogers. This is going to be a very interesting fight, and I can't wait to see this event on FREE TV!
- Don't forget, the fight takes place this coming Saturday at the Sears Center outside Chicago!
- Strikeforce CEO, Scott Coker, with some welcoming comments.
- This is a co-promotion with M1 Global and is the Strikeforce debut on CBS
Here come the questions!
Q: Does Brett think Fedor's recent marriage is taking his mind off the fight and taking him lightly?
A: Rogers says no way. He's a professional. And as far as he knows this isn't Fedor's first marriage, so he's "been there done that". Rogers is sure he's set aside the time he needed for training.
Q: Has Brett been studying tape on Fedor? Because in the past he has not studied his opponents.
A: Absolutely. He wants every advantage he can get so he's been studying tapes of Fedor's previous fights.
A: Brett reiterates that he's been training for 3 months for this. He's focused. Brett says he just has to wait for Fedor to take him down. Brett says that "Fedor can't handle me on the feet". Even if Fedor does take him down, Brett has been studying MMA for 6 years and knows what he's doing there. Brett says "I'm the bigger stronger guy out there".
Q: Does Fedor ever get nervous before a fight?
A: "I'm not really nervous during or before the fight. One day before the fight I might be nervous, I'm a human being, definitely".
Q: Scott Coker indicated that Fedor was the one that wanted to fight in Chicago. Why was that important for Fedor?
A: There are a lot of Russian people in Chicago, and her certainly wants to fight for the American people, but also for the Russian people.
Q: What was Fedor's experience like at the Chicago Bears game on Sunday? Would he have made a good American Football player?
A: Fedor found the game interesting, but he found the games on TV more interesting and exciting. Watching from the sidelines it's hard to tell if he could play the game at a high level, perhaps just with his friends as he does not know the rules very well.
Q: Who do Brett and Fedor think the crowd will be supporting on Saturday? Does Brett expect to have more fan support having been born in Chicago? Does Fedor expect any fan backlash since so many fans wanted him to fight in the UFC?
A: Brett is hoping the fans cheer him on since he's from Chicago. He's got a lot of fans from Minnesota coming out to support him. Brett thinks it will be 50/50 but "it is what it is". Fedor says he certainly understands that many in the crowd will be supporting Brett since he is from there. Fedor states that he does have experience in fights where the audience was in support of his opponent. Fedor says he thinks his fans will understand that he could not sign a "one-sided contract" with the UFC.
Q: Brett and Fedor are asked about the challenges of marketing this fight. For example, Fedor's inability to speak English, and his fight in Vegas not drawing a large gate.
A: Scott Coker steps in saying that CBS has definitely helped out with marketing. With spots during football and "Survivor", they're reaching an audience that MMA does not usually reach. Ultimately you have the #1 Heavyweight in the world fighting the #6 Heavyweight in the world and that will help market the fight to MMA fans and new fans alike.
Q: Does Fedor consider it a challenge to break through in America?
A: Fedor states that he does not think about that because he is training. It is always his focus to put on an interesting and "beautiful" fight because he wants the audience to learn more about "us" (assuming he means MMA, fighters, himslef and Brett Rogers?).
Q: A lot has been made of Brett's back story, changing tires at Sam's Club, etc. How did his life change after the Arlovski fight and his ability to train full time?
A: It changed his life tremendously. He has gotten a number of sponsorship offers, movie offers, etc. It has given him the ability to train full time and he doesn't need to work at Sam's Club anymore.
A: For both fighters, what are their pre-fight rituals like?
Q: For Brett, a lot of meditation and relaxation, he says he's got to get his mind right. He starts his focus and meditation the week of the fight. The day of the fight includes nothing but focus. He sleeps up until the show, and prepares to fight. All focus. For Fedor, as he arrives in the US he has some short workouts the week of the fight. Mostly he relaxes, rests, takes walks around the city, and before the fight / day of the fight, he sleeps and relaxes. Medical exams, massages, warm ups and fight prep.
Q: How does Fedor respond to the criticism of other fighters that at times he is a "sloppy fighter"?
A: Fedor says that maybe when you look from the side, it looks more vivid (?... tranlation issues between Russian and English are pretty apparent).
Q: Brett is asked to speak of his new pitbull and his association with "Knock Out Dog Fighting"?
A: Brett says up until now he's been mainly a "cat guy". But now that he has a bigger place he's been able to get a dog which he's always wanted. He's an animal lover and whatever he can do to help animals, he will.
Q: Does Brett think he's being underated since the bookies have him as a huge underdog? Especially after his KO of Arlovski.
A: Brett does think he's a little underated but he understands that Fedor is the #1 heavyweight in the world so he expected to be the underdog.
Q: Does Brett think the fight will finish quickly?
A: Yes.
Q: Fedor is often seen training outdoors and without many of the newer technologies or comforts of newer gyms. Why is that?
A: Fedor states that he has always trained this way, and his coaches and training partners are there, so he sees no reason to change his training style or location. He feels it's effective.
Q: How much does Fedor think fighting in the cage for the first time will effect his striking and submission game?
A: Fedor says he does not think his striking or submissions are dictated by the surroundings, whether it's a ring or a cage. He does not think the cage will have any effect on his game.
Q: How does Brett feel the cage will be different for Fedor?
A: Brett says that fighting in the cage definitely is different than fighting in a ring. You can't do certain things in a cage that you can in a ring, and Brett says he's going to use those things to his advantage.
Q: Does Scott Coker have a preliminary number for ticket sales?
A: Scott says he beleives the venue holds about 16,000 and that they are about 85% sold out. He anticipates being completely sold out by fight time.
Q: Scott Coker is asked to confirm the December 18th date for the next Strikeforce event.
A: Scott does not confirm the date and says only preliminary discussions have taken place.
Q: When did it first cross Brett's mind that he'd be the next guy to fight Fedor? When did he know he had a legitimate shot?
A: First when Affliction folded, and then when Fedor did not sign with the UFC he knew he'd be "seeing Fedor sooner rather than later". When he found out he was tagged as the next opponent for Fedor he was already ready, and had already been mentally ready thinking he was going to fight Fedor next.
Q: Does Brett think he's as fully prepared for Fedor as he can be?
A: Brett says he's confident and comfortable and has been training for 3 months, watching tapes, has multiple coaches. He's ready and done all he can to prepare.
Q: Can Scott Coker address the co-promotion with M1? What has M1 done to help promote this fight?
A: Scott Coker says that for this fight all M1 has had to do is bring Fedor. They have been very good with ticket sales, and partnered with a company for international distribution. The fight will be on in Russia, Korea, Japan, a total of 40 countries around the world. But the day to day operations for the fight have been handled by Strikeforce because he feels they are efficient with that and did not need any assistance there, especially given the fight is taking place in the US.
Q: What does Brett Rogers think sets him apart from all the others that have fallen short against Fedor?
A: Coming from nothing and wanting to be something. (AWESOME answer... I love Brett Rogers)
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