Would Jake Shields have gone to sleep had he not been saved by the bell? “Fedor vs. Rogers” coverage here and here.

The preliminary ratings for the CBS broadcast of Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Rogers” returned an estimated 3.79 million viewers for the prime time mixed martial arts event.

The 1.7 rating share for “Saturday Night Fights” was enough to reach number one in several key demographics; however, it did fall short of the high water mark set by YouTube sensation-turned Ultimate Fighter Kimbo Slice, who reached as high as 4.8 million viewers and 3.0 rating share on Elite XC: “Prime Time” back in May 2008.

Still, Strikeforce and CBS can raise those preliminary numbers significantly. The main event of the evening, which the entire Nov. 7 card was based and marketed around, was not included in the estimate because it didn’t get underway until 11:01 p.m. and therefore was not counted.

The final numbers that include the two rounds of action from “Fedor vs. Rogers” will be available Tuesday.

Here’s a snapshot of the quarterly breakdown, courtesy of TV by the Numbers:

9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 3.50 million (#4), Adults 18-49: 1.5 (#3)
9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 3.53 million (#4), Adults 18-49: 1.6 (#2)
10:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.12 million (#3), Adults 18-49: 1.9/ 6 (#1)
10:30 p.m. – Viewers: 4.01 million (#3), Adults 18-49: 1.8/ 6 (#1)

Considering this card was promoted exclusively around the main event between Brett Rogers and Fedor Emelianenko, it’s not unreasonable to think these numbers could spike for the main event, effectively raising the overall totals like it did for the previous CBS/MMA offering by Elite XC.

Whether or not you classify these numbers as a success or as a failure largely depends on what side of the fence you’re on, but considering the top-heavy nature of this card, I would think it falls somewhere in between those two ends of the spectrum.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for the final numbers this Tuesday (Nov. 10). In the meantime, you can get yourself up to speed on all the action from last Saturday here and here.

“It’s my turn now. I have a lot of respect for Fedor. He is the best in the world. I already fought (Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion) Alistair Overeem in Japan. It’s my turn to fight Fedor. I believe in my techniques and if it goes to the ground, I believe in my jiu-jitsu.”

–Strikeforce heavyweight contender Fabricio Werdum, who has a 2006 submission win over current Strikeforce division champion Alistair Overeem, believes his Nov. 7 win over Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva earned him the right to face Fedor Emelianenko in his next bout. “Vai Cavalo,” like many MMA fans and pundits, aren’t convinced that “Demolition Man” is returning to the United States anytime soon to defend his belt and that the show must go on. But is facing “The Last Emperor,” who notched his 27th straight win by stopping Brett Rogers on CBS, biting off more than he can chew?

Tickets for Strikeforce: “Evolution” at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, November 13 at 10 a.m. PT.

However, “Strikeforce Insiders” e-newsletter subscribers will be afforded a special pre-sale ticket purchase opportunity that begins Tuesday, November 10 at 10:00 a.m. PT.

Strikeforce Insiders will receive a special e-newsletter with the pre-sale code.

The event will mark the promotion’s return to its home base of San Jose after successfully holding its first event in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, with Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Rogers” on November 7, in its prime time debut on CBS.

Confirmed for San Jose is a middleweight tilt between former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Cung Le and the always-game Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith.

Several of the promotion’s other top fighters will be in action on the card as well, including a middleweight bout pitting staunch MMA veteran Matt “The Law” Lindland versus grappling guru Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.

Fast-rising light heavyweight prospect Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal is expected to appear as well as “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler against opponents yet to be named.

It’s going to be a great night of fights. If you live in the Northern California area be sure to snag your tickets as quickly as possible.

“Cung Le doesn’t want to fight me. That’s why he vacated the title only to  come back a month later and fight again. You’ll have to ask Cung why he won’t fight me.”

Newly crowned Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields takes at shot at Cung Le during the “Fedor vs. Rogers” post fight press conference on Nov. 7 from the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Shields bested Jason “Mayhem” Miller in a five round unanimous decision victory to lay claim to the belt that Le vacated just last month. Le contends that he was not expecting to be available to to fight so soon, but his current acting gig was delayed when the movie he was filiming got pushed back a year, thus freeing him up for a return to Strikeforce against Scott Smith on Dec. 19. Is Le avoiding the ground game of Shields? Or is this just a case of inconvenient timing? Thoughts?

The Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Rogers” prime time mixed martial arts event airing live on CBS from the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, has come to a close.

So too, has the undefeated streak of Brett Rogers, after succumbing to a brutal right hook from Fedor Emelianenko in the early moments of round two of the main event.

It wasn’t the landslide some predicted, as “The Grim” was tougher than a two-dollar steak, even busting the Russian open with a stinging jab in the first round.

Rogers also avoided multiple submission attempts from Emelianenko by way of brute strength — and even had mount on the former PRIDE champ with some accurate bomb-dropping.

Just another day at the office for Captain WAMMA.

Emelianenko will likely face Fabricio Werdum for a chance to challenge the missing-in-action Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.

Assuming the title is not vacated first.

Marloes Coenen started things off by trying to prove that her previous loss to Roxanne Modafferi was a fluke and that she was a much different, much more dangerous fighter.

Mission accomplished.

Coenen made quick work of her opponent with crisp stand-up and a painful armbar that sent Modafferi to tapsville just over a minute into the first.

Expect her to challenge current women’s champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos sooner rather than later.

Antonio Silva came to the cage with a big foot and a big heart, but it wasn’t enough to sway the judges in his unanimous decision loss to Fabricio Werdum. “Junior” was smashing his way through the first round with heavy hands and the killer instinct, but “Vai Cavalo” survived and eventually turned the tide midway through the fight.

Though both fighters appeared to be exhausted by the third frame, Werdum was the busier of the two, ending the fight in a dominant position and leaving an indellible impression on the judges.

No doubt he’ll be calling the Emelianenko camp first thing in the morning.

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou says he’s from the jungle, which could explain why he has the heart of a lion. Despite being outclassed on his feet and on the ground, “The African Assassin” kept his composure and for once used his vaunted Judo skills to advance position in a fight.

Mousasi went for several takedown attempts that were reversed; however, it wasn’t enough to stop the seemingly unstoppable “Dreamcatcher.”

Turns out he didn’t need to put his championship belt on the line in this one — but rest assured there exists a crop of 205-pounders who won’t let him get away with that in the future.

But if Mousasi fights like he did in his past two fights it probably won’t matter.

What does matter to Jason Miller is putting on a show — as was obvious to anyone watching his entertaining entrance production. Hearing the pop for “Mayhem” and the roar of his “Monkeys” once again had me wondering aloud why he wasn’t promoted at all during the 360 special on Showtime.

Perhaps they knew he was going to give this one away to the slick submission skills of Jake Shields? The former Elite XC welterweight champ continued to roll through any and all challengers, though he wasn’t completely out of danger during the contest.

Miller stunned the grappling wizard with a DEEP rear naked choke in the waning seconds of the third frame. The Gracie disciple was mere seconds from napsville but the horn saved him from a shocking submission defeat.

Jake Shields is your new Strikeforce Middleweight Champion.

Who’s next at 185-pounds to challenge him for the gold? If Cung Le does return in December, he may eventually seek what many believe is still rightfully his.

Now that the first Strikeforce CBS prime time show is in the books, what did you think of the production? The fights? You’ve heard what I had to say on the night’s festivities, now I want to hear from you.

If you missed any of the action you can check out the Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Rogers” play-by-play and live fight coverage here.

Click the banner above or right here for up-to-the-minute results and blow-by-blow coverage of Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Rogers.”

The preliminary fights are now underway and round-by-round coverage of the CBS main card prime time action begins 9 p.m. ET!

If you’re going to leave comments and discuss the fights with all the other MMAmania.com readers be sure to do it on the main Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Rogers” results post and not this one.

Enjoy the show, Maniacs!

Props: Sherdog.com

Quoteworthy:

“EA Sports is the premiere game manufacturing company in the world and I’ve been an EA Sports fan since Madden 1! For them to have Strikeforce in their game as the premiere league, we’re very honored.”

–Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker reacts favorably to the inclusion of his San Jose-based mixed martial arts promotion in the upcoming release of “EA Sports MMA” video game. UFC President Dana White had a very public war of words earlier this year after White accused the gaming giant of turning down his offer for a video game partnership only to then create one of their own after the massive success of THQ’s “UFC Undisputed.” EA Sports will feature Fedor Emelianenko as a digitized version of himself facing any and all challengers — including UFC star Randy “The Natural” Couture, who retains control over his ancillary rights and has language in his contract that allows him the freedom to use his likeness outside of the UFC. Any Maniacs out there interested in adding a primarily non-UFC based video game to their collection? And what can EA do to separate itself from “Undisputed?” Opinions, please.