The bout capped off the promotion’s first CBS-televised event, which took place at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois just outside Chicago.

Rogers opened up a gash on Fedor’s nose with his first punch of the fight, but Emelianenko recovered to batter Rogers with punches throughout the round and also attempted several submissions, but was unable to earn the stoppage in the first.

The pair clinched to start the second but separated and squared off in the center of the cage, where Fedor dropped Rogers with an overhand right and forced the referee, “Big” John McCarthy, to intervene after several follow-up punches on the ground.

Fedor improves to 31-1 with the victory, extending his winning streak to 27-straight, while Rogers falls to 10-1 after suffering the first loss of his career.

After the bout, both Emelianenko and Rogers said they were open to a rematch, though both will almost certainly take on other opponents first. Fabricio Werdum, who won a hard-fought decision over Antonio Silva earlier on the card, and Strikeforce champ Alistair Overeem could be next in line for Fedor, while Silva is among the possibilities for Rogers’ next fight.

Shields Tops “Mayhem” To Win Middleweight Title

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

Though Miller appeared closest to ending the fight, securing a tight rear naked choke in the third that he was forced to give up when the bell sounded, Shields was dominant on the ground in earning the victory, taking Miller’s back and getting to mount nearly at will.

Shields, who jumps to 24-4-1 with his 13th-straight win, captures the title which was vacated by Cung Le earlier this year and appears poised to fight the winner of a December 19 matchup between Le and Scott Smith, made official during Saturday’s event, in his first title defense next year.

Miller drops to 22-7 after the loss, his second in his past three fights.

Mousasi, Werdum Earn Main Card Wins

Once-feared striker Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou appeared improved in his non-title matchup with Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Gegard Mousasi, but in the end it was an outcome”The African Assassin” has become all too familiar with over the last two years, as Mousasi finished a tired Sokoudjou with punches in the second.

In a matchup of heavyweight contenders making their Strikeforce debuts, former UFC contender Fabricio Werdum took out former EliteXC champ Antonio Silva, who returned to the United States after serving a one-year steroid suspension while fighting in Japan.

Coenen Sets Up “Cyborg” Fight With Win; Curran Snaps Losing Streak

On the “Fedor vs. Rogers” preliminary card, Marloes Coenen quickly submitted Roxanne Modafferi to likely earn a title shot against champ Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos early next year, while Jeff Curran snapped his four-fight losing streak when opponent Dustin Neace was forced to quit due to a rib injury in the opening round.

The official results for Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers were:

MAIN CARD

• Fedor Emelianenko def. Brett Rogers via TKO (strikes) — Round 2, 1:48
• Jake Shields def. Jason “Mayhem” Miller via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
  Strikeforce Middleweight Championship
• Gegard Mousasi def. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou via TKO (strikes) — Round 2, 3:43
• Fabricio Werdum def. Antonio Silva via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Marloes Coenen def. Roxanne Modafferi via submission (armbar) — Round 1, 1:05
• Jeff Curran def. Dustin Neace via submission (injury) — Round 1, 1:39
• Shamar Bailey def. John Kolosci via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
• Nate Moore def. Louis Taylor via submission (strikes) — Round 2, 3:24
• Christian Uflacker def. Jonatas Novaes via unanimous decision (29-26, 30-25, 30-25)

Note: A scheduled fight between Deray Davis and Mark Miller was scratched due to time constraints.

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.

The event’s official weigh-in results were:

MAIN CARD

• 265: Fedor Emelianenko (232) vs. Brett Rogers (264)
• 185: Jason “Mayhem” Miller (184) vs. Jake Shields (184.5)
  Strikeforce Middleweight Championship (vacant)
• 205: Gegard Mousasi (205) vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (204)
• 265: Antonio Silva (263) vs. Fabricio Werdum (242)

PRELIMINARY CARD

• 145: Marloes Coenen (145) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (140)
• 170: Deray Davis (170.5) vs. Mark Miller (171)
• 135: Jeff Curran (145) vs. Dustin Neace (150.5)
• 170: Shamar Bailey (170) vs. John Kolosci (171)
• 185: Nate Moore (184) vs. Louis Taylor (185.5)
• 155: Jonatas Novaes (155.5) vs. Christian Uflacker (156)

Don’t forget, MMAFrenzy.com will be providing live “Fedor vs. Rogers” results tomorrow beginning at 7pm ET, with main card coverage of the event getting underway at 9pm.

WEC 44, which is headlined by featherweight champ Mike Brown vs. Jose Aldo and airs live on Versus, now includes LC Davis vs. Diego Nunes, John Franchi vs. Cub Swanson, James Krause vs. Ricardo Lamas, and Seth Dikun vs. Frank Gomez.

Mark Miller vs. Deray Davis and Christian “Xaropinho” Uflacker vs. Jonatas Novaes have been confirmed for Strikeforce’s CBS debut, while features Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brett Rogers and Jason “Mayhem” Miller vs. Jake Shields.

For the latest WEC rumors and Strikeforce rumors check out the MMAFrenzy.com MMA rumors section.

Pictured: LC Davis

UK coach Michael Bisping  is joined by assistants Mario “Sucata” Neto and Dave Jackson while US coach Dan Henderson has tapped Heath Sims, Cyril Diabate, Ricardo Feliciano, and Gustavo to help him coach the American squad.

Team US will choose the first matchup, but are concerned about Team UK’s extended two week layoff compared to just a few days since the US fighters last stepped into the octagon. The team eventually settles on having welterweight Mark Miller square off with Team UK’s Nick Osipczak.

With Bisping having been unable to watch Team US’ opening fights in person, the UK coaching staff and Osipczak review tape of Miller and devise a game plan. Osipczak, who fought his opening fight as a southpaw, will switch to orthodox for this fight in an attempt to disrupt the plans of Miller, which were likely to rely on his southpaw stance.

Back at the house, the season’s pranks commence with Team US writing on a shirt Team UK left behind and, later at the gym, the US goes up “2-0″ in the pranks by writing on a pair of wrestling shoes which are left behind.

In the 170-pound contest, Osipczak and Miller engage on the feet and the canvas until Osipczak secures a guillotine and nearly submits Miller, who appears to tap but the referee allows the bout the continue with Miller escaping the hold. In the second round, Osipczak knocks Miller out cold with right head kick that immediately halts the contest and puts the UK squad up 1-0.

TEAM USA
WELTERWEIGHTS

• Mark Miller – Eliminated by Nick Osipczak on Episode 4
• Jason Pierce
• Damarques Johnson
• Frank Lester

LIGHTWEIGHTS

• Richie Whitson
• Santino DeFranco
• Cameron Dollar
• Jason Dent

TEAM UK
WELTERWEIGHTS

• David Faulkner
• Dean Amasinger
• Nick Osipczak (1-0)
• James Wilks

LIGHTWEIGHTS

• Ross Pearson
• Martin Stapleton
• Jeff Lawson
• Andre Winner

Before we get to the fights the US and UK teams as well as the fighters who must still fight their way onto the squad head to The Ultimate Fighter house. The fighters get along well, except for Browning, who opts to lob eggs onto the basketball court where the other fighters are assembled. Back in the house, Browning gets his drink on then gets into it with Team UK before eventually smashing an egg on potential teammate Jason Pierce, who wisely chooses not to respond to the instigator.

The next day is the first workout for both teams and the trash talking begins between Team US and Team UK coach Michael Bisping. After the workouts we’re onto this week’s bouts.

Frank Lester joined Team US after opponent Kiel Reid knocked himself unconscious when his head hit the mat during an attempted slam.

In the final elimination bout, Jason Dent filled the final Team US opening with a first-round TKO of Rob Browning.

Team US coach Dan Henderson wins the coin toss and will pick the first matchup on next week’s episode of The Ultimate Fighter 9.

With the final two bouts now in the books, the official US and UK teams are:

TEAM USA
WELTERWEIGHTS

• Mark Miller
• Jason Pierce
• Damarques Johnson
• Frank Lester

LIGHTWEIGHTS

• Richie Whitson
• Santino DeFranco
• Cameron Dollar
• Jason Dent

TEAM UK
WELTERWEIGHTS

• David Faulkner
• Dean Amasinger
• Nick Osipczak
• James Wilks

LIGHTWEIGHTS

• Ross Pearson
• Martin Stapleton
• Jeff Lawson
• Andre Winner

We next learn that John-David Shackelford will be unable to compete on the show due to a herpes lesion and he’s quickly dismissed from the competition.

Christian Fulgium is the next US fighter to struggle with shedding weight, coming in two pounds over the welterweight limit on his first weigh-in attempt. With 40 minutes to go before he has to hit 171-pounds Fulgium, who comments that he’s stopped sweating, hops on the treadmill in an attempt to drop the extra weight but it’s obvious he’ll be unable to do so, collapsing to the floor. White informs Fulgium that failing to make weight is a decision he’ll regret for the rest of his life and sends him packing.

With two fighters already dismissed only six of the eight elimination bouts can take place as scheduled. The results of the bouts are:

US WELTERWEIGHT ELIMINATION BOUTS

• Mark Miller def. Kevin Knabjian via TKO (strikes) — Round 2
• Jason Pierce def. Steve Berger via unanimous decision — Round 3
• Damarques Johnson def. Ray Elbe via TKO (strikes) – Round 1

US LIGHTWEIGHT ELIMINATION BOUTS

• Richie Whitson def. Paul Bird via submission (rear naked choke) — Round 1
• Santino DeFranco def. Waylon Lowe via submission (rear naked choke) — Round 2
• Cameron Dollar def. Tom Hayden via submission (rear naked choke) — Round 2

With six bouts now in the books, White reveals the two replacement fighters: Rob Browning (Junie Browning’s younger brother) and Frank Lester. Next week, we’ll see Jason Dent square off with Browning in the final lightweight opener while Kiel Reid takes on Lester in the last welterweight eliminator.

Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com each Wednesday for recaps of The Ultimate Fighter 9.

Michael Bisping

PRESS RELEASE; NEW YORK, March 9 — More than two centuries after the United States achieved its independence from England, friction between the two nations is about to flare up again when “The Ultimate Fighter: United States Vs. United Kingdom” premieres Wednesday, April 1 at 10:00 PM, ET/PT on Spike TV.

For these 32 up-and-coming mixed martial arts fighters, two things are on the line: bragging rights for their respective countries, and a six-figure contract with the preeminent mixed martial arts organization in the world, The Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Season nine of Spike TV’s wildly successful original series, “The Ultimate Fighter,” features 16 lightweights (155 lbs) and 16 welterweights (170 lbs). They will train and compete under the watchful eye of the coaches, “The Ultimate Fighter 3? champion and top middleweight contender Michael Bisping, and former concurrent PRIDE champion of the 185 lbs and 205 lbs divisions and U.S. Olympian, Dan Henderson.

Each of the 32 contestants must fight his way into the Ultimate Fighter House by winning a preliminary bout that will be featured during the first two episodes (April 1 and 8). The remaining 10 episodes will feature the victorious 16 fighters and their quest for the coveted “Ultimate Fighter” crown.

The 32 fighters for “The Ultimate Fighter: United States Vs. United Kingdom” include:

Fighting to Represent the United States

Welterweight:

• Ryan Biglar — A member of team Cobra Kai in Las Vegas, Biglar is a 24-year-old jiu-jitsu artist originally from Guam.
• Ray Elbe — Born and raised in Arizona, the 25-year-old Elbe (20-11) has spent parts of the last three years perfecting his muay thai skills in Phuket, Thailand.
• Christian Fulgium — Fighting out of the Gladiator camp in Lafayette, Louisiana, Fulgium is a wrestler with a combined 6-2-1 mixed martial arts record.
• DaMarques Johnson — Johnson, a member of Elite Performance in Salt Lake City, Utah, began training in mixed martial arts in 2001 while serving in the military. He has since amassed a 13-6 mixed martial arts record.
• Kevin Knabjian — Born and raised in Chicago, Knabjian (10-3-1) wrestled at Division 1 Eastern Illinois University and graduated with a degree in Business Management. Knabjian trains out of Gilbert Grappling in Chicago.
• Mark Miller — A 5′ 10″ welterweight muay thai artist, Miller (10-4) trains out of Dino Costeas MMA and Toro Muay Thai in Chicago.
• Jason Pierce — A former soccer standout at the University of Illinois at Springfield, Pierce (9-0) trains with Bettendorf’s Miletich Fighting Systems camp.
• Kiel Reid — Born and raised in Bettendorf, Iowa, Reid (8-1) returned to the area in 2005 to take up mixed martial arts full-time with the Miletich Fighting Systems camp.

Lightweight:

• Paul Bird — A stand-up fighter, Paul Bird (4-1) trains in West Des Moines, Iowa out of the Des Moines MMA camp.
• Santino DeFranco — 26-year-old Santino DeFranco trains out of Southwest MMA in Tempe, AZ. A 5′ 10″ jiu-jitsu specialist, DeFranco holds a 13-4 mixed martial arts record.
• Jason Dent — Submission specialist Jason Dent owns and operates Griffon Rawl gym in Mentor, Ohio. He holds a combined 19-9 mixed martial arts record with bouts against Roger Huerta at UFC 63 and Gleison Tibau at UFC 68 under his belt.
• Cameron Dollar — A member of Fight Factory in Colorado Springs, CO, Dollar (4-1) has trained with TUF alums Cory Hill and Noah Thomas.
• Tom Hayden — Tom Hayden, 4-0, is a ground specialist who trains out of TUF 2 alum’s Jorge Gurgel camp in West Chester, OH.
• Waylon Lowe — Fighting out of Jorge Gurgel’s camp in Ohio, the 28-year-old Waylon Lowe owns a 5-2 mixed martial arts record.
• Josh Souder — A well-rounded fighter out of Team Prodigy in Ohio, the 5′ 7″ Josh Souder owns a 7-2 overall mixed martial arts record.
• Richie Whitson — Born and raised in Alaska, the heavy-handed Whitson holds a perfect 4-0 mixed martial arts record. He currently trains out of Temecula, CA with Team Quest.

Fighting to Represent the United Kingdom

Welterweight:

• Dean Amarasinghe — Rough House Gym’s Dean Amarasinghe (4-1) is a 5′ 10″ grappler from Nottingham, England.
• James Bateman — 5′ 10″ striker James Bateman (2-1) trains with Grimsby NHB in Grimsby, England.
• David Faulkner — 5′ 9″ ground specialist David Faulkner trains with Wolfslair in Widnes, England. The 28-year-old born in Kirkby holds a 2-1 mixed martial arts record.
• Tommy Maguire — 20-year-old Tommy Maguire trains in Wisbech, England with Tsunami Gym. The 5′ 7″ stand-up fighter holds a 5-2 mixed martial arts record, with three wins coming via TKO.
• Che Mills — Born is Gloucester, England, 6′ 2″ welterweight Che Mills (7-2) trains with Mark Weir’s Range Fighting in the UK.
• Nicholas Osipczak — Sporting a perfect 3-0 record, Nicholas Osipczak trains in London, England with Pancrase UK.
• Alex Reid — Alexander Reid trains in London, England with the London Shoot Fighters. The 33-year-old stand up artist is 10-9-1 in his twenty mixed martial arts bouts.
• James Wilks — Born and raised in England, 30-year-old fighter James Wilks has trained with Eric Paulson in Orange County, California since 2000. The 6′ 1″ striker is 5-2 in his mixed martial arts career.

Lightweight:

• James Bryan — Lightweight James Bryan (3-1) is a 25-year-old stand up fighter from Somerset, England.
• Dan James — Dan James, 3-0, is a stand up artist fighting out of Swansea, Wales. The 5′ 10″ fighter has won two of his fights by TKO.
• Gary Kelly — Wolfslair fighter Gary Kelly (2-1) is a 25-year-old striker from Liverpool, England.
• Jeff Lawson — 5′ 6″ lightweight Jess Lawson (13-2) trains with Team Bulldog out of Dorset, England.
• Ross Pearson — 24-year-old striker Ross Pearson (9-3) is a member of Sunderland Jiu-Jitsu & MMA Club in Sunderland, England.
• Martin Stapleton — Born in Manchester, England, 25-year-old Thai boxer Martin Stapleton (5-1) trains with Quannum Combat Arts.
• AJ Wenn — Cambs, England’s AJ Wenn is a well-rounded fighter training out of Tsunami Gym. The 24-year-old has a 7-2 mixed martial arts record.
• Andre Winner — Lightweight Andre Winner (9-2-1) trains out of Rough House in London, England.

During the six-week taping of “The Ultimate Fighter: United States Vs. United Kingdom,” these 16 men who survived the prelims endured a grueling regimen of jiu-jitsu, judo, muay thai, karate, boxing and wrestling. The intense competition between the fighters continues after they leave the gym – at The Ultimate Fighter House. These warriors must live together, knowing that any day they might be forced to fight each other in the famed UFC Octagon.

The two finalists will square off in a live finale Saturday, June 20 on Spike TV, when the two weight class winners will be declared “The Ultimate Fighter” and net the aforementioned contract and a cash prize. UFC President Dana White will once again serve as host of the series.

For the latest Adrenaline MMA rumors check out the MMAFrenzy.com rumors section.

MAIN CARD

• Jeff Monson (23-7) vs. Mike Russow (9-1)
• Daiju Takase (7-11) vs. Terry Martin (16-4)
• Zac George (11-2) vs. Clay French (14-2)
• Tony Fryklund (14-9) vs. Brian Gassaway (25-17-1)
• Jeff Cox (9-6) vs. Bart Palaszewski (28-11)
• Tiawon Howard (6-1) vs. Rory Markham (14-4)
• Anthony Lapsley (13-3) vs. Mark Miller (9-3)
• Herc Hayes (7-5) vs. Kerry Schall (22-9)
• Rob Kimmons (15-3) vs. Hector Urbina (11-3)
• Aaron Rosa (10-2) vs. Ron Fields (23-24-1)
• Louis Taylor (4-0) vs. Adam Maciejewski (6-4)

PRELIMINARY BOUTS

• Dom O’Grady (5-0) vs. Mike Stumpf (9-1)
• Joe Jordan (41-11) vs. Ryan Williams (6-1)
• Joe Pearson (22-9) vs. John Hosman (8-3-1)

• 205: Vladimir Matyushenko def. Jamal Patterson via TKO – Round 2, 3:35
• 145: Wagnney Fabiano def. Shad Lierley via KO – Round 1, 0:37
• 170: Jay Hieron def. Mark Miller via TKO – Round 1, 2:10

American Top Team vs. Miletich Fighting Systems

• 145: LC Davis def. Rafael Dias via KO – Round 3, 3:56
• 170: Emyr Bussade def. Jesse Lennox via submission – Round 2, 1:25
• 205: Mike Ciesnolevicz vs. Carmelo Marrero – No Contest (cut)

Midwest Combat vs. Renzo Gracie Academy

• 155: Jim Miller def. Bart Palaszewski via unanimous decision
• 170: Brad Blackburn def. Delson Heleno via KO – Round 3, 1:50

Non-Title Bouts

• 205: Alex Schoenauer def. Brendan Barrett via split decision
• 155: Chris Horodecki def. Nate Lamotte via unanimous decision