Miller aims to impress audience

Mixed martial arts’ return to network television is being built around Fedor Emelianenko.

Strikeforce’s acquisition of Emelianenko, widely considered the top heavyweight in the world, led to its deal with CBS, which will air his Strikeforce debut against Brett Rogers on Nov. 7 in Chicago live in prime time.

But that won’t be the only bout on the card.

Jason “Mayhem” Miller, one of MMA’s most outrageous characters, will take on Jake Shields for the vacant Strikeforce middleweight title.

Miller, who is no stranger to television as host of MTV’s “Bully Beatdown,” joked about his title fight being overshadowed by the nontitle heavyweight bout.

“It’s great that Fedor will be on the undercard of this show. Wait, what? Oh, never mind. I guess I’m on the undercard for Fedor,” Miller said in a conference call last week. “I’m really pumped and excited for Strikeforce, (which) it appears is making some big, big moves in the MMA world.”

The charismatic 28-year-old, who has spent much of his career fighting in Japan, said he hopes to use his CBS appearance to endear himself to the American audience.

“I’m going to put some showmanship into it. That’s not that common in the shows here in America, but if I can put some flair into it and people are going to be talking about it around the water cooler on Monday, well there you go,” he said. “That’s the way to capitalize that we’re on CBS, regular television where you can get it on your bunny ears.”

The national TV exposure won’t add any pressure to perform well, Miller said.

“Is there like some kind of special mat that we fight on for CBS that is thicker than other mats that’s going to make us slower or not used to?” he said. “I don’t think at this stage of my career I’m going to be nervous or worry about anything. Those days are far behind me, to be overly excited because everyone is watching me.”

Also on the card, Gegard Mousasi will meet Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in a light heavyweight bout, and Fabricio Werdum takes on Antonio Silva at heavyweight.

• MACHIDA READY FOR DEFENSE — Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida enters his first title defense in the main event of UFC 104 in Los Angeles on Saturday with a seven-fight winning streak in the organization.

He doesn’t plan on doing anything differently now that he has the belt.

“My thought process is not much different than before,” he said. “I (will come) in to get the belt. I’m not there to defend the belt. I feel like I am there to win it again”

Machida will take on Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

• WEC 45 — World Extreme Cagefighting will host an event at the Palms on Dec. 19, a source close to the organization said Monday.

The main event for the card has yet to be announced, but it is not expected to be the anticipated lightweight title unification bout between Jamie Varner and Ben Henderson.

Varner, the champion, has been out of action since January while recovering from a hand injury. Henderson won the interim title by decision in a battle with Donald Cerrone on Oct. 10.

Henderson probably will not be ready to compete by December.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.