Andrei Arlovski vs Brett Rogers Strikeforce Fight Announced

Former UFC heavyweight champion and Affliction MMA veteran, Andrei Arlovski, will make his debut under the Strikeforce banner when he takes on hard-hitting undefeated Team Bison product, Brett Rogers, during the televised main card of Strikeforce: Lawler vs Shields, which is set for the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo., on June 6.

The promotion today made the big announcement during a press conference to hype its second big show to air on the premium cable network, Showtime.

Arlovski was expected to next compete as a boxer — he has grown fonder of the "Sweet Science" ever since hooking up with world renowned trainer, Freddie Roach. "The Pitbull" has been working with Roach over the past year or so to help him improve his striking.

Unfortunately, we didn"t get to see more of it during his WAMMA world title fight against champion Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction: Day of Reckoning back on January 24. Arlovski was winning the stand up exchanges before attempting a fly knee, which the champion countered with a quick right that put Arlovski down for the count midway through the opening frame.

Prior to the loss, Arlovski was seen devouring IFL veteran Roy "Big Country" Nelson at Elite Xtreme Combat: CBS Saturday Night Fights 3 on October 4 of 2008. After losing back-to-back fights in the UFC against Tim Sylvia, Arlovski went on to win five of six with four technical knockouts.

Rogers — who was previously (and inaccurately) rumored to challenge Alistair Overeem for his division title on this same card — will take a serious step up in competition level for this fight.

Arlovski is more experienced and more accomplished than any of the nine men who have stepped in the cage with Rogers throughout his career thus far. "The Grimm" has stormed through those nine men rather easily, finishing each of them with strikes.

In fact, only once — in his most recent victory over Ron "Abongo" Humphrey on the Strikeforce: Shamrock vs Diaz card earlier this month — has the knockout artist faced an opponent who has survived beyond the first round.

It"ll be a short turnaround for Rogers (less than two months to be exact), but he went nearly a full year without competing following his win over Jon Murphy under the Elite XC banner last May. He"s more than likely hungry to get as many fights under his belt as he can in 2009.

At 260 pounds, Rogers should have a decent size advantage over the Belarusian in this fight, which he will undoubtedly look to use to his advantage. He will also look to exploit Arlovski"s chin early and often — he has a history of getting put to sleep.

Strikeforce: Lawler vs Shields will be headlined by a match-up of the last reigning Elite XC middleweight champion, "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler, and the only man to ever hold the Elite XC welterweight title, Jake Shields. In addition, a special 180-pound catchweight fight between Nick Diaz and Scott Smith was also just recently announced.

Strikeforce: Lawler vs Shields will air live on the premium cable network Showtime on fight night, beginning at 10 p.m.

Source: mmamania.com