Scott Coker: Schedule Fedor vs. Brett Rogers NOW

Strikeforce head Scott Coker has gone on the record entertaining the notion that Fedor Emelianenko, ostensibly the world's top heavyweight, may make a couple preliminary "warmup" appearances on Showtime events before fighting for the Strikeforce title.

Let's analyze that remark by reviewing the list of Strikeforce's heavyweights:

• Brett Rogers - A big, mean brawler...his size and reach could give Fedor problems.  Consensus on Rogers is that despite being relatively untested he has shown tremendous potential, which places him in the world's top 10 heavyweights.
  
• Alistair Overeem - Bad-ass accomplished kickboxer, most recently knocking out bad ass kickboxing knock-out artist Badr Hari.  Lost his fair share of Pride bouts.
• Fabricio Werdum - Cut by the UFC after a couple lackluster fights, Werdum is a top-20 heavyweight and a veteran...but not top-10 in the world.

Rogers is the only fighter on this list in the world's top 10 heavyweights.  He disposed of Andrei Arlovski in less than 30 seconds earlier this summer, due perhaps in no small part to the Belarussian's earlier journey into the spirit world courtesy of Mr. Fedor.  

Brett Rogers is the opponent fans want to see in the cage with Fedor.  Fedor has never fought in the cage, and to be considered the world's top fighter he must face the greatest level of competition instead of ducking it.

Ideally, the #1 heavyweight should face the #2 heavyweight, and that means Fedor vs. Brock Lesnar.  Since Dana White wouldn't bow to Fedor's manager's request to finance construction of a Wally World theme park in Stary Oskol (or something equally excellent), the fans are being denied this fight.

Until Dana caves in and ponies up the rubles, we'll have to settle for Fedor vs. Brett Rogers.  Hopefully Coker gives us this fight.  Anything else will be lackluster, inappropriate and detrimental to public opinion of Fedor.