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.

Strikeforce’s December 19th is beginning to shape up, fighters already rumored for the event include Robbie Lawler, and Scott Smith. Now joining them is a proposed middleweight match up between Matt Lindland and Ronald “Jacare” Souza, and the promotional debut of Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal against an as yet unknown opponent.

Read about the latest Strikeforce news after the jump, including changes to “Fedor vs. Rogers”, changes to Strikeforce Challengers 5, and more.

The anticipated rematch between Tara LaRosa and Roxanne Modafferi scheduled for Ironheart Crown XII on November 8th in Chicago has been scratched after the American Fight League withdrew funding for the matchup.
Sherdog first reported the cancellation earlier today.
The AFL has made headlines in 2008 by signing free agents LaRosa, regarded as MMA’s top female talent, [...]

American Fight League has announced that several of it’s top fighters, female fighters Tara LaRosa and Roxanne Modafferi and featherweight Raphael Assuncao, will be in action at Ironheart Crown’s November 8th event, dubbed “Ironheart Crown XII: Resurrection”, at the UIC Pavillion in Chicago, Illinois.
LaRosa (14-1) will rematch with Modafferi (12-4) on the November card. LaRosa [...]