Strikeforce and M-1 Global are close to finalizing a revised co-promotion deal that will clear the way for the return of top-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko to Strikeforce this summer. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker confirmed that a June event, headlined by Emelianenko vs. fellow contender Fabricio Werdum, was possible.

Despite reports that ongoing negotiations between Fedor Emelianenko and Strikeforce may prevent the top-ranked heavyweight from returning to action in May, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker today said that they are in the final stages of talks and expect to make an announcement in the coming days on his next fight.

Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem is set to resume his Strikeforce career more than two years after winning the title, as he’s likely to fight Brett Rogers in a non-title bout at the promotion’s May 15 Showtime-televised event in St. Louis.

Strikeforce will return to CBS for its recently-confirmed April 17 event in Nashville, Tennessee, while an event is also in the works for May 15 in St. Louis, Missouri that would air on Showtime.

The April 17 event is set to include Jake Shields vs. Dan Henderson, and is also likely to feature Gegard Mousasi vs. Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and the return of Herschel Walker, while Fedor Emelianenko vs. Fabricio Werdum is in doubt for the May 15 card.

A matchup between top-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko and fellow contender Fabricio Werdum, previously expected for April, is now scheduled to take place in May, Emelianenko’s manager, Vadim Finkelstein, today announced at an M-1 Selection press conference in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Gegard Mousasi is rumored to fight Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal at Strikeforce’s April event on CBS, former UFC welterweight Karo Parisyan said he expects to return to action in “the next few months,” and Carlos Condit expects to return to UFC action this spring.

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M-1 Global President Vadim Finkelchtein has issued a statement denying UFC President Dana White’s recent comments that the companies had resumed discussions to bring top-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko to the UFC.

The UFC and M-1 Global have recently resumed discussions to bring top-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko to the UFC, UFC President Dana White confirmed at Saturday’s post-UFC 108 without offering details on the latest round of talks.

Negotiations between the world’s largest promotion and Emelianenko’s management broke down in July over co-promotion issues, but despite Emelianenko’s contract with rival Strikeforce, talks have apparently resumed between the companies.

A recently-reported April Strikeforce event on CBS is likely to be headlined by top-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko vs. Fabricio Werdum, and is also expected to feature Dan Henderson’s promotional debut against middleweight champion Jake Shields, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker announced on Saturday.

Strikeforce will return to CBS in April with a card featuring top-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko and former UFC contender Dan Henderson, the network revealed on Tuesday, with a specific date and location for the event to be determined.

Top-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, originally expected to be sidelined up to six months due to a hand injury suffered in his Saturday win over Brett Rogers, underwent surgery on Tuesday for a dislocated thumb and is now likely to return early next year, according to Sherdog.

“Emelianenko said he planned to return to training, sans striking, upon his return to Russia later this week. M-1 officials said Emelianenko could headline his second co-promoted Strikeforce card in the first quarter of 2010.”

Fedor EmelianenkoTop-ranked Strikeforce heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko could be out of action for up to six months due to a hand injury suffered in his second-round knockout of Brett Rogers on Saturday, according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker.

“[The hand injury] could’ve been from that blow when he had Brett on the mat at the end,” Coker today told the LA Times. “We’re hearing he could be out for four to six months.”

Top-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko suffered a broken nose and injured his hand in his second-round knockout of Brett Rogers on Saturday in the main event of Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers, according to Sherdog.

The extent of Fedor’s injury is likely to affect the upcoming matchups for Strikeforce, as Fedor was likely to fight Fabricio Werdum, who also won on last night’s card, or heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem in his next fight, but Werdum and Overeem could instead square off if Emelianenko is sidelined.

Despite being bloodied in the opening seconds of the fight, top-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko did what most predicted he would, scoring a second-round knockout of previously undefeated Brett Rogers on Saturday in the main event of Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers.

In the evening’s co-headliner, Jake Shields was crowned Strikeforce’s middleweight champion with a unanimous decision victory over Jason “Mayhem” Miller.

All 20 fighters who will be in action at tomorrow’s CBS-televised Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers event in Hoffman Estates, Illinois successfully made weight today for their bouts.

Top-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko tipped the scale at 232 pounds, while his main event opponent, Brett Rogers, came in 32 pounds heavier at 264 pounds.