Latest on potential opponent from Meltzer:
--As of 8 p.m. Eastern time, here is how things stand. Affliction has made no decision regarding who will face Fedor Emelianenko. Mike Aframowitz of Strikeforce has been quoted as saying they will not approve of either Brett Rogers or Fabricio Werdum, although Affliction has not shut the door on trying to get approval for Rogers and Rogers people haven't been told Strikeforce won't clear him for the fight. Both Strikeforce and Showtime would have to clear either Werdum, who is scheduled on Strikeforce's 8/15 show, or Rogers. Rogers and Vitor Belfort are known to be both still in play. Tank Abbott wants to be in play although I wonder if Affliction would want to go in that direction. He'll mean more for ticket sales in Orange County and PPV than any alternative. The flip side is he's Tank Abbott in his 40s. One ould think a decision is going to be made shortly.
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Like I said when biss brought it up, Tank would definately be the best alternative for business purposes, assuming Lashley is not in play (which all signs point to being the case).
It sounds like Strikeforce is in no hurry to lead Rogers to slaughter. I don't blame them, but at them same time, anything short of a complete and total ass kicking will make Rogers a bigger star than anything he can do for Strikeforce.
At the end of the day, it dosen't really matter, because Fedor isnt drawing more than his usual 100k vs Barnett, Belfort, Rogers, or anyone else, so instead of booking Tank for a few extra $$$'s might as well make the best fight possible..which obviously isnt Tank.