This is the Strikeforce live blog for Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva, the main event of tonight's Strikeforce on Showtime event at the IZOD Center.
Fedor vs. Silva is a quarterfinal matchup in the 2011 Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. The winner here will advance to meet in the semifinals the winner of Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum.
The live blog is below.
Silva walks out strutting to Eminem's "Lose Yourself." Fedor enters to a strong reaction. Mood is somber with Fedor walking out to his Russian folk song. Fedor avoids eye contact during the glove touch.
Round 1: Silva attacks first with a jab followed by a leg kick. Fedor goes for the kill, swinging wildly. Fedor aggressively throws wildly again and looks like he gets caught with a counter. Silva presses Fedor against the fence and the crowd cheers for Fedor.The referee separates them. Silva charges foward with punches. Fedor with more punches and finally backs when he gets hit with a right hand. Silva pushes Fedor against the fence and then reaches with his hands for the double-leg. Silva lifts him up but Fedor moves off, leaving Silva on his back. Fedor enters the guard. Silva looks for a leglock and Fedor pops his leg out. Fedor hops into halfguard with just over 70 seconds left. Fedor attempts a kimura but Silva escapes. Tough move to land on a much larger opponent. Silva connects on a right and Fedor's nose is bloodied up. Silva lets go and they trade punches. Just recklessly insane. Silva takes Fedor down to end the round. MMAFighting.com scores the round 10-9 Silva.
Round 2: Fedor looks for the right hand but gets taken down. Silva advances to Fedor's halfguard. Silva stands up to drop right hands. Silva enters into Fedor's guard and the fans are cheering for Fedor to get up. Silva takes side mount and then north-south. Silva takes full mount to rain down punches. Fedor gives up his back. Fedor turns back to giving up full mount. Silva drops hammerfists and Fedor gives up his back again. Silva back in full mount to drop punches. Fedor's face is covered in blood. Silva pounds down on Fedor and Fedor is in major trouble. Silva steps over for the arm-triangle choke and there's still nearly two minutes left. Fedor escapes into halfguard and Silva makes him pay with punches. Fedor is in survival mode. Silva attempts a kneebar and Fedor rolls out of it. Silva switches to a heel hook, but Fedor goes for a foot lock of his own! Silva waves his finger "no" to end the round. MMAFighting.com scores the round 10-8 Silva.
The fight is over. Fedor's right eye is closed.
Silva wins via TKO (doctor stoppage) - Round 2, 5:00
There was some confusion at first as Silva thought he was going to a third round, but once he receives word of the stoppage, jumps in excitement. As Fedor receives medical attention, Silva walks over and bows down to Fedor.
Silva, who will face the winner of Overeem vs. Werdum in the semifinals, cries during the result announcement.
During Fedor's post interview, the former PRIDE champ hints at retirement, saying "maybe it's god will" that it's time.
2/12/2011 11:30 PM ET By Ray Hui
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