(Don’t look in his eyes, Reem. That’s how he steals your soul.)

Well, Alistair Overeem, Scott Coker and M-1 Global’s collective prayers may have been answered.

According to a report from Super Lutas, Werdum may be out of action for the rest of the year due to an injury that will likely require surgery and rehab to remedy, likely clearing the way for an Alistair Overeem-Fedor Emelianenko Strikeforce heavyweight title fight later this year.


MMAMania has the English translation of the interview that was originally written in Portugese:

"Everything has changed for better for me. That was very important. I’ve gotten over 30 phone calls a day in my gym after the win, more students have come, the seminar value went up. It’s like at any other profession, a singer, soccer player, as you develop and get the spotlight the value changes. After the seminars I will undergo a surgery on my elbow that I have put off for some time. We’re in July and I only want to come back 100-percent recovered. I think it’s hard to make it back this year due the physical therapy, conditioning and all else. Then I might just get back next year." 

With Emelianenko’s last fight on his current deal with the U.S. organization looming, Strikeforce’s lack of apt heavyweight contenders and Overeem’s vocalized desire to face the Russian fighter, if Werdum does go under the knife, the fight is all but a done deal if Strikeforce and M-1 can come to reasonable terms to make it happen.

I can see them trying to play hardball with the co-promotion revenue for the bout that will no doubt anchor a pay-per-view, but considering Fedor lost his last fight, M-1′s power to negotiate has waned substantially.