The world’s top heavyweight, Fedor Emelianenko, may be out for up to six months according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker.

Emelianenko injured his left hand in a bout against Brett Rogers this past weekend. He defeated Rogers in the second round via TKO in the main event on Saturday night.

The LA Times talked with Coker who shed more light on the nature of Emelianenko’s injury.

He (Emelianenko) suffered a fracture and tendon damage in his left thumb, and a fractured nose in the Rogers fight, Coker said. Emelianenko stopped in Los Angeles on Monday to be treated for the injuries.

“[The hand injury] could’ve been from that blow when he had Brett on the mat at the end,” Coker said. “We’re hearing he could be out for four to six months.”

Coker said he would use Emelianenko’s layoff to promote Strikeforce’s current heavyweight champion, Alistair Overeem, with North American fans in a future title bout between the two men.

Strikeforce could do well to have Overeem defend his title in the mean time, since the Dutch fighter has yet to do so since winning the belt in November of 2007.

Photo courtesy of Tracy Lee and her CombatLifestyle.com photo gallery of Saturdays Strikeforce show.