Fedor likely out four to six months with injured hand

An injury to his left hand suffered this past Saturday against Brett Rogers could force Fedor Emelianenko out of action up to the middle of 2010, according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker.

"[The hand injury] could've been from that blow when he had Brett on the mat at the end," Coker said in an article published Tuesday on the Los Anglees Times. "We're hearing he could be out for four to six months."

Coker said Fedor suffered torn ligaments in his left thumb and a fractured nose and was taken to the hospital following the night's press conference.

Hand injuries has been a persistent problem throughout Fedor's career. During his PRIDE days, Fedor underwent surgery for a broken hand that sidelined him for the first half of 2006. Last year, Fedor was medically suspended for six months for a hand injury following his Affliction win over Tim Sylvia.

"It's the way he hits," Bas Rutten said on a past episode of HDNet's Inside MMA, as quoted by MMAJunkie. "It's a little awkward. It's not an overhand. It's a really crazy punch, and he connects with it. That's the whole problem, once you connect with a crazy punch."