Shortly after the official press release announcing the debut date for the world top ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, Nov. 7 live on CBS against Brett Rogers, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker talked to FanHouse.com providing more details on the show and other fall events.

Coker also noted that the CBS show will consist of four fights that will include Gegard Mousasi, Cris Cyborg, Jake Shields and Jason Mayhem Miller.

FanHouse: We had previously heard Fedor vs. Rogers would be on Showtime. How did the deal go down to put it on CBS?
Scott Coker: We just got a call that CBS was interested in doing that fight, and we were all in agreement that would be a win-win for CBS to put MMA back on the air. It’s a great day for the mixed martial arts industry.

FanHouse: Will Shields and Miller fight each other?
Scott Coker: That hasn’t been confirmed.

FanHouse: We hear all this talk about co-promotion, between you and M-1 Global. What role did M-1 have in getting this card together and on CBS?
Scott Coker: Well, it goes back to when we purchased the assets of Pro Elite, that included the Showtime deal, and CBS had the option to televise some fights. But CBS had to feel comfortable, because the last regime kind of left a bad taste in their mouths. Well, now we’ve put together great fights on Showtime, and we’ve put together a deal with M-1 — which is Fedor’s company, he’s part owner — and that made CBS decide to activate the deal. M-1 has the best fighter in the heavyweight division, arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and getting the deal done with them was good timing for CBS. M-1 has been a great partner, and they contribute a lot. It’s a great relationship and we’re looking forward to co-promoting this fight on Nov. 7.

FanHouse: You have a pretty busy autumn ahead of you. How many more cards will you do this year?
Scott Coker: We have the Challengers on September 25 on Showtime, featuring Tim Kennedy, who we have a lot of confidence in as a rising star in the sport. Then we have another Challengers show the day before the CBS broadcast, Nov. 6 out of Fresno with Billy Evangelista fighting Jorge Gurgel.

FanHouse: So you’re doing two fights that weekend? Won’t that be rough for you?
Scott Coker: We can definitely do it. We have the staffing to handle it. And then on Nov, 20, at a location to be determined, we have another Challengers fight, and then some time in December we’ll do a Strikeforce fight that will be sizable.

FanHouse: They have Brock Lesnar facing Shane Carwin on Nov. 21 for their heavyweight belt. Do you view
Scott Coker: Fedor vs. Rogers as the true heavyweight title fight in MMA?
Absolutely. Fedor is the No. 1 heavyweight fighting in MMA. Everybody knows that. If you went out and asked 10 reporters who cover MMA who’s the No. 1 fighter in the heavyweight division, I think you know the answer you’d get. Fedor is the guy. The whole thing about him ducking people? Come on. That’s ridiculous. Here’s a guy who fought Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira three times, beat him twice and had a no contest. He beat Mirko Cro Cop. He beat Tim Sylvia. He beat Andrei Arlovski. He was supposed to fight Josh Barnett. He hasn’t ducked anybody. His reputation speaks for itself.

This is an exciting fight for the sport of mixed martial arts. The fans can tune in to CBS on Nov. 7 and see Fedor fight Rogers, plus Jake Shields, Mayhem Miller, Cris Cyborg, Gegard Mousasi, that’s a great day for mixed martial arts. I’m very happy we’re going to put MMA back on CBS and I’m looking forward to it.

Read the entire interview at FanHouse.com by clicking the link.