Fedor Emelianenko has officially signed with STRIKEFORCE! The blockbuster announcement has been released via M1Global and Fedor’s management. The entire announcement is available below:

World’s No. 1 MMA Heavyweight To Fight In STRIKEFORCE / M-1 Global Co-Promoted Events

First Fight To Air This Fall, Live on SHOWTIME®

NEW YORK (August 3, 2009)–After a week of intense negotiations and speculation, the hottest topic of discussion in the professional fight world has come to a head as the world’s number one heavyweight and most sought after mixed martial arts (MMA) champion Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko has signed a historic, multi-fight agreement that will see him headline mega-events co-promoted by world championship promotions STRIKEFORCE and M-1 Global.

Emelianenko, known globally as Fedor, will make his premium television debut this Fall when his first fight under the new agreement airs live on SHOWTIME®. Up until now, Emelianenko’s live fights have aired exclusively on pay-per-view in the United States.

“I am looking forward to going back to work and fighting at the highest level,” said the 33-year-old Emelianenko. During his nine year professional fight career, which included a four and a half year stay with the world’s former top MMA promotion, the now defunct PRIDE Fighting Championship, the Russian native has faced and defeated all comers.

In his last effort, the 6-foot, 235-pound Emelianenko decimated the number two ranked heavyweight at the time Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski with a single punch in the first round (3:14) of the main event of Affliction: “Day of Reckoning” at Anaheim, California’s Honda Center on January 24.

“STRIKEFORCE is a top fight promotion that houses some of the greatest fighters in the world,” continued Emelianenko. “I am prepared to fight any of them.”

“We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with M-1 Global and Fedor,” said STRIKEFORCE Founder and CEO Scott Coker, a martial arts fight promoter of over 25 years. “Fedor has been the reigning king of MMA’s heavyweight division for quite some time now so being able to work with M-1 and Fedor will substantially increase the level of competition amongst the athletes in this weight class.”

Hieron Signs with STRIKEFORCE

The pieces are falling ladies and gentlemen! Jay Hieron follows in the footsteps of fellow Affliction victim Gegard Mousasi and has signed with STRIKEFORCE. This strengthens Strikeforce’s welterweight division a little more since having an absolute stud like “The Thoroughbred” is a real nice addition to a weak division depth wise.

Hieron who is coming off a 45 second KO victory in his last outing at Affliction “Day of Reckoning” is one of the better welterweight fighters not fighting in the talent rich UFC division and was actually offered a UFC contract before he signed on to Affliction due to business reasons.

Hieron is now being touted as Nick Diaz’s next opponent and may in fact be fighting on the August 15th card, replacing Joe “Diesel” Riggs and further strengthening an already stacked card on Strikeforce “Carano v/s Cyborg”.

If this match is made, this could possibly be the show stealer in this card and makes Strikeforce’s next event an even more must-watch.

It had to happen and it did. Gegard Mousasi now has the chance to announce his arrival on the US scene in grander style when he takes on veteran Renato Sobral for his Strikeforce Light heavyweight title on August 15th. The fight will be telecast during the SHOWTIME portion of the Carano vs Cyborg card.

“STRIKEFORCE is one of the world’s top promotions and I am proud to be a part of their roster of world-class fighters,” Mousasi said.

Mousasi, the last DREAM middleweight champion relinquished his belt to move to the light heavyweight division had in the past two days expressed his regret about the demise of Affliction just days before the event in which he was to be featured. This announcement, I am sure, comes as a major relief to not just Mousasi but to Sobral as well.

Sobral, a very highly respected and dangerous fighter, is on a 5-fight win streak and was last seen choking out Sokoudjou on the second Affliction card.

This is going to be a major fight in the LHW division and the addition of Gegard Mousasi to the roster only means that STRIKEFORCE is once again moving in the right direction in becoming a legitimate top two organization in the MMA sphere.

Well, I guess its wait and watch again as far as Fedor’s future holds but a contract with Strikeforce only means that Fedor will have an option of fighting against Overeem, Brett Rogers and Fabricio Werdum as big names …

With the UFC of course, you get the entire gamut of big names coming in. The only problem is that M-1 and the UFC have not always met eye to eye to say the least. Keep tuned in to MMARumours to hear the latest on this development.

Live from Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion, we bring you Strikeforce At the Mansion 2. Keep refreshing for live and updated results and blow by blow coverage of the event. Tonight’s main card features the US debut of two former PRIDE stars, a champion’s first defense and a rematch from way back as Mitsuhiro Ishida and Kazuo Misaki make their debuts, Josh Thomson is showcased in a non-title match and Trevor Prangley takes on Anthony Ruiz in a replacement match after Bobby Southworth and Babalu Sobral withdrew due to injury.

Quick Results:
Kazuo Misaki defeats Joe Riggs by TKO – Round 2 (early stoppage)
Josh Thomson defeats Ashe Bowman by KO – Round 1
Terry Martin defeats Cory Devela by TKO – Round 3
Mitsuhiro Ishida defeats Justin Wilcox by submission armbar – Round 1
Trevor Prangley defeats Anthony Ruiz by Unanimous Decision
Luke Stewart defeats Jesse Juarez by submission: arm bar – Round 1
Eric Lawson defeats Kenneth Seegrist by Rear Naked Choke – Round 1

Main Card:
Joe Riggs vs. Kazuo Misaki
Cory Devela vs. Terry Martin
Ashe Bowman vs. Josh Thomson
Justin Wilcox vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida
Trevor Prangley vs Anthony Ruiz

Ken Shamrock is one of your announcers cage-side and he seems happy to be there. I would be too

Kenneth “Sinner” Seegrist vs Eric Lawson

Round 1

Lawson slams Seegrist on the cage and improves to side mount. Seegrist uses the cage and stands back up. Seegrist has a guillotine but Lawson defends and gets to side mount again. Lawson gets a good belly to back slam. Seegrist tries to defend again and tries for a guillotine. Seegrist seems to have it deep. Lawson drives Seegrist down and moves out of it. Seegrist eats a few punches and Lawson gets him back down. Lawson tries to pass guard and gets hit by a few upkicks. Lawson on full mount now and throws some punches to Seegrist. Lawson has the back and looks for a choke. Lawson wins!! Seegrist taps to a rear naked choke by Eric Lawson. Seegrist loses for the first time and is bloodied up!!

Winner: Eric Lawson by Rear Naked Choke – Round 1.

Jesse Juarez vs Luke Stewart

Round 1

Stewart with a middle kick. Juarez counters with a high kick and takes Stewart to the cage. Stewart tries to drive Juarez down but Juarez doing a good job keeping it up. The fighters both go down now with Juarez on top. Stewart holding on to prevent damage. Stewart has his head to the cage and tries to get a heel hook. Stewart gets a achilles lock but Juarez doing the smart thing by trying to get Stewart away. Both men are back on their feet and Juarez has Stewart’s back. Juarez with a knee to Stewart and now with some foot stomps, trying to get Stewart off balance. Stewart looking for a kimura but Juarez defends again. Stewart finally gets Juarez down but Juarez defends. Stewart gets the mount and looks to drop down some punches. Stewart looks for an arm bar and is pulling hard as Jesse Juarez taps! Just like that! Luke Stewart wins by armbar!

Winner: Luke Stewart by submission: arm bar – Round 1 (4:55)

Trevor Prangley vs Anthony Ruiz

We have a video interview with Ruiz where he mentions that he never tapped to the armbar the last time they fought, so he wants this opportunity to get a win back. Prangley thinks that he will get the win.

Round 1

Prangley looks to measure his distance with some jabs on Ruiz. Ruiz rushes into a clinch but Prangley gets some punches to the body. Ruiz has Prangley on the cage and throws some knees. Prangley defending well. Prangley with a knee that hits Ruiz a little low and the referee calls for a separation.

The match is back underway. Ruiz throws a big right and Prangley gets a good knee. Ruiz with some good shots and Prangley is back on the cage. Prangley with some knees to Ruiz. Prangley with a throw and immediately moves to the full mount. Ruiz bucks and Prangley gets the back. Ruiz defending the rear naked but Prangley is working hard. Prangley is on the fence and that could be dangerous but Prangley is working with punches from the back to get the choke in. Ruiz controlling Prangley’s arms. Ruiz doing a good job defending the submission attempt. Prangley has his hands around Ruiz’s neck but does not have it deep. Ruiz spins out and into Prangley’s full guard. Ruiz throwing punches but Prangley immediately stands up. Ruiz with some punches. Both men throw as the round comes to a close.

Round 2

Ruiz moves forward to get a jab but Prangley immediately slams Ruiz and moves to the side mount. Prangley with knees to the body. Prangley tries to neutralize Ruiz’s left hand but RUiz bucks and Prangley is on his back. Prangley with some big punches from the back. Prangley with knees to the body. Ruiz tries to move away but Prangley has him. Ruiz tries to get a trip and get control but Ruiz does not succeed. Prangley with some big punches to Ruiz’s head. Prangley is totally in control on the ground. Prangley with punches and knees to Ruiz’s body and head. Ruiz powers to his feet finally. Ruiz looks for a single leg but Prangley defends well. Prangley with a double leg takes Ruiz down again. Trevor is in side mount and gets Ruiz’s back again. Prangley with some big punches to Ruiz’s body, gets the full mount and throws some big punches. Prangley looks for an armbar but Ruiz uses that to get up. Prangley still has his arm but they separate and Ruiz throws a right as the round comes to a close.

Round 3

Ruiz throws a jab and Prangley gets Ruiz down immediately. Prangley immediately moves to the side mount. Prangley with knees to the body. 3:30 remaining in the match and Prangley has Ruiz’s back again. Same script as round two, Prangley throws punches to Ruiz’s head and body. Ruiz is now on the fence and tries to get up. Ruiz on the feet and tries to turn into Trevor. He does and immediately Prangley gets Ruiz to the ground. Half way into the last round and Prangley is dominating the match. Prangley moves to half guard and throws some punches. Prangley smothering Ruiz. Trevor moves to side mount and now gets his back again. Prangley with some knees to Ruiz’s body . Prangley moves to side mount on the other side now and continues to punish Ruiz. Ruiz tries to get up and Prangley still has the double. Prangley with a big slam to put an exclaimation point on the match.

Winner: Trevor Prangley by Unanimous Decision

The announcer calls the next fight as Justin Wilcox vs Mitsuhira Ishidi …

Justin Wilcox vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida

AKA fighter Justin Wilcox takes on former PRIDE superstar Mitsuhiro Ishida as Ishida makes his US debut at the Playboy Mansion. Ishida is looking to get back to his winning ways after losing his last fight to Caol Uno. Ishida has some gruesome looking cauliflower ears.

Round 1

Ishida with a high kick. Wilcox with a jab. Wilcox fakes a shoot. Ishida with a right. Ishida moves around the ring as Wilcox follows. Wilcox looks for a single leg and Ishida spins out from the hammerlock, spins and gets the armbar! Wilcox taps quickly and Ishida wins his US debut!!

Winner: Mitsuhiro Ishida by Submission: Arm bar – Round 1 (1:21)

Cory Devela vs. Terry Martin

Terry Martin is coming off a quick loss to Vitor Belfort at the Affliction show and prior to that, won a strange dq win. Martin will be looking to put on a big performance and get back on the right track. Devela is on a 7-fight win streak and is a Hallman trained fighter.

Round 1

Martin looking to press the action but Devela doing a good job moving away from Martin’s punches. Devela is taken down by Martin and is now pushed to the cage. Devela gets back on his feet. Devela has Martin on the cage and throws a few punches before moving away. Devela misses with a left and Martin takes him down again. Devela looking for a kimura but Martin has a lot of power and is defending pretty much with his strength. Devela is back on his feet and moves away again. Both men jab. Devela with a nice right. Devela shoots but Martin defends but is driven to the cage. Devela looking to switch levels but Martin has it covered. Martin with double underhooks but Devela moves away with a knee. Both men throwing punches. Devela drops his hand while punching. Both men exchange leather again. Devela jabbing and moving away for the most part. Devela with a 1-2. Devela with a flying knee. Devela is able to keep Martin on the outside with his reach. Martin gets a right as the round ends.

Round 2

Devela with some wild punches. Martin looks for a single leg, gets Devela to the ground. Devela has a closed guard and is holding Martin down to prevent damage. Devela looking for the kimura on the outside again. Martin pushing Devela to the cage as Martin throws punches to the body. Devela trying to use the fence to get back up. Martin has double underhooks and tries to get another takedown but Devela moves around and has Martin at the fence. Both men jockeying for position. Devela with a elbow and moves away. Devela with a high kick and another. Devela with some punch combos. Martin with a wild right. Marting lands some punches but is not able to capitalize. Devela with a flying knee and a punch that grazes Martin. Devela shoots and Martin sprawls. Martin holding the head of Devela and knees Devela who stands back. Devela with some more leg kicks. Devela jabs and moves. Both men exchange punches. Devela hits Martin a little low and Ken Shamrock dubs it the “spinning cup-kick” as the round ends.

I have Devela winning on points. Lets see what happens.

Round 3

Martin pushing the action finally. Devela counters with a low kick. Devela moving and getting some jabs. Martin lands a right. Devela with a high kick. Devela with some punch combos and gets hit by a hard right. Martin getting an occasional punch but Devela moving and throwing. Devela with another kick to the head. Martin is just not able to cut the cage off. Devela with a knee. Devela with a low kick and Martin throws a left to Devela and Devela is down. Martin follows up with a big right and Devela is out! Martin gets a hard fought victory.

Winner: Terry Martin by KO – Round 3

Ashe Bowman vs. Josh Thomson

Next up is Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson who goes up against Ashe Bowman in a non-title fight. Thomson will be defending the title he won from Gilbert Melendez in one of the match of the year contenders of 2008. Ashe Bowman is a Lion’s Den fighter and is coming in as a relative unknown commodity. This is his opportunity to make a mark on the big stage.

Round 1

Thomson with a low kick to start things. Bowman with a middle kick and Thomson replies with a high kick. Thomson with a low kick. Bowman gets a straight kick to push Josh back. Bowman with a right but Thomson with a right that rocks Bowman followed by a flurry of punches as Bowman goes down. Herb Dean stops the fight but not before Thomson gets a right in on Bowman.

Winner: Josh Thomson by TKO – Round 1

We are ready for the main event of the evening as Joe Riggs takes on the “Grabaka Hitman” Kazuo Misaki, who is making his US debut. Shamrock calls Herb Dean “Cecil”.

Joe Riggs vs. Kazuo Misaki

Joe Riggs talks about his preparations for this fight with Jeremy Horn and then with Xtreme Couture. Riggs talks about his gameplan which is to stand and take Misaki down. We see Tom Atencio bouncing around as Misaki makes his way to the cage. Misaki used to be a street fighter before joining GRABAKA and has a lot of power in his punches as well as the grappling technique to take this fight to Riggs.

Round 1

Misaki moves into the center of the ring immediately. Misaki moving showing his speed but no action from either fighter yet. Misaki shuffling around. Riggs looks for a jab. Misaki still not really doing anything. Riggs looks to move forward and throw. Both men still feeling each other out. Almost halfway into the first round and there is almost no action yet. Riggs with a right and Misaki moves away. Misaki with a body kick. Misaki with a left to the body followed by a right to the head. Misaki moves out of the way of a Riggs right. Misaki with a right to the body. Riggs with a left that connects. The round is almost over. Riggs with a high kick and the round is over.

Round 2

Misaki with a low kick followed by a left that missed. Misaki with a kick. Misaki with a right to the body. Riggs moving forward. Misaki with a right to the body and Riggs gets a left hook in. Riggs moving forward now. Misaki moving around and gets a straight kick to Riggs’ body. Riggs with a right that connects and Misaki goes down but gets back up. Misaki with a right to Riggs and and Riggs is down. Misaki immediately moves in and lands some punches from the mount. Riggs has his hands up and Misaki misses some punches and lands a few. Referee Josh Rosenthal stops the fight!!??!!

Very early stoppage!! Misaki wins but this is not a very good stoppage.

Winner: Kazuo Misaki by KO – Round 2 (2:29)

Very early stoppage. Don’t know what Josh Rosenthal was thinking stopping this.

Hope you had fun following this event. Keep tuned into MMARumours for all the news, live coverage and Rumours from the world of MMA.