"If Fedor takes me down, I'm not going to be looking for no submissions. I'm going to be looking to get up and try to knock him out.  It's gonna have to be an up-and-down war. In Jiu Jitsu, and specially for someone on his level, he loves his Jiu Jitsu game, I'm not to the point to say that I love my game.  I just trust it for defense only. I'm just getting up and getting out and knocking him out. It's good for me to come down here in California to train with Josh Barnett and Chase because they are big guys. I train with lighter fighters because I need speed too, but I wanted to test myself against the bigger guys because if I can push around them, I shouldn't have any problems pushing him around.  When it comes down to it, he's never fought nobody like me. If he can take my best shot, I'm going to be shocked," stated Strikeforce heavyweight contender Brett Rogers as he talked about his upcoming clash with Fedor Emelianenko. Check it out!

OS: What was your background in martial arts before going to MMA?

BR: Before going to MMA, I basically did Tae Kwon Do.  I did a bunch of amateur [boxing] fights. After amateur boxing, I felt I needed to do something else so I gave MMA a shot.  Then it just went on from there, you know what I mean?  I bumped into my manager Mike Riley, this is about a good 6 or 7 years ago, and just been working ever since.

OS: What made you go to MMA?

BR: Actually, when I was boxing at that particular time, I didn't have a coach or any order, so I was just kind of doing whatever.  I was fan of the sport [mixed martial arts] and when I use to watch the fights, I was like, "I bet I can do that. I can see me doing that." So I had to test the waters. I tested the waters and it was the best feeling. I felt that if my hands weren't working, I can take you down to the ground or play defense.  Things like that, having the different choices, different options is what set in my mind that MMA is for me.

OS: How do you feel about getting the chance to fight Fedor, who many consider to be the best fighter in the sport, only after your tenth fight?

BR: You know what? It amazes me too, but at the same time, I've been working hard man.  Early on in my career, you know, I was working 2 or 3 jobs and trying to stretch the workout time for MMA. I feel that I deserve this and I deserve to prove to the world that you can turn nothing into something.  As long as you have heart and strong desire for something that you are trying to accomplish, you can accomplish anything.  That's why I put these tattoos on for a reason.  I got the word "Patient" on my arm and I got "Success".  If you're patient enough for whatever, you are always going to be successful and I live and die by that. I'm not into tattoos, but I have to put something on me to show that I'm for real and I'm going to be here for a long time.

OS: How do you stay level-headed considering you've had a lot of success so early in your career?

BR: By keeping it real and knowing where I came from. I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth.  Just knowing that and having my family to keep me calm and straight; just keep the bullshit out of my life.  There's someone that's always negative and I've pushed those people away.

OS: I know you prefer to fight standing up.  Are you prepared to fight Fedor if he takes the fight on the ground?

BR: Yeah. I have been working on Jiu Jitsu.  I've been working on my Jiu Jitsu; my coach and manager is a Jiu Jitsu specialist.  It's going to be like this, if Fedor takes me down, I'm not going to be looking for no submissions. I'm going to be looking to get up and try to knock him out.  It's gonna have to be an up-and-down war. In Jiu Jitsu, and specially for someone on his level, he loves his Jiu Jitsu game, I'm not to the point to say that I love my game.  I just trust it for defense only. I'm just getting up and getting out and knocking him out. It's good for me to come down here in California to train with Josh Barnett and Chase because they are big guys. I train with lighter fighters because I need speed too, but I wanted to test myself against the bigger guys because if I can push around them, I shouldn't have any problems pushing him around.  When it comes down to it, he's never fought nobody like me. If he can take my best shot, I'm going to be shocked.

OS: As you know, the mental aspect is an important part in the fighting game. Many of Fedor's opponents come into the fight intimidated and it takes away from their gameplan.  Do you think the fact that you don't know much about Fedor and his mystique will help you?

BR: Definitely! It's gonna help me a lot. In the Arlovski fight, obviously I was a fan and I loved watching him fight, but once I pushed that out of my head, I had no problems fighting him. It was just like fighting another person. So from here on out, I don't care who you is or what you've done. You can't allow yourself to think about what that person has done or what he's capable of doing because if you do that, you are just clogging your focus.  I like to be the dominant one.  I know my fights have been short, but I still like to dominate. 

OS: Thanks Brett. Do you have any message to you fans?

BR: Hey, just a keep a lookout for me. I'm gonna be here for a long time. If you like watching a knockout, just tune in to me November 7th.