Strikeforce Announces Heavyweight Tournament

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Fedor Emelianenko is returning to action in February.

The 34-year-old Russian MMA icon is slated to meet Antonio (Bigfoot) Silva on Feb. 12 as part of an eight-man Strikeforce heavyweight tournament.

Also on the Feb. 12 card at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski (15- takes on Sergei Kharitonov (16-4), Strikeforce said Tuesday.

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Friday's Strikeforce card
The other two tournament quarter-finals, at a time and place yet to be announced, pit Strikeforce champion Alistair (The Demolition Man) Overeem against Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1) and Brett (The Grim) Rogers (11-2) against Josh Barnett (29-5).

Emelianenko's last outing was an upset loss to Werdum in June, ending a 28-fight unbeaten streak. His only other defeat, by doctor's stoppage due to cuts against Tsuyoshi Kosaka, was in December 2000.

Emelianenko's record is 31-2 with one no contest.

Silva (14-2) is coming off a comeback win in December over Mike Kyle.

Does this mean that Fedor has to stick with Strikeforce if he wins his first fight?