No Fedor vs Barnett?

[SiDeWiNdEr]

"Affliction: Trilogy" Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett headliner could be scrapped
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jul 22, 2009 at 9:00 am ET
With just 10 days remaining until the long-awaited heavyweight matchup, the "Affliction: Trilogy" main event between Fedor Emelianenko (30-1) and Josh Barnett (24-5) is likely to be scrapped.

Barnett is unlikely to be licensed by the California State Athletic Commission after potentially failing a drug test, as first reported by Sherdog.

Barnett, who reportedly denied any usage, could be replaced by Vitor Belfort (18-8) at the event, which takes place Aug. 1 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

In an email to MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com), a representative from the California State Athletic Commission said the regulatory body would issue a statement today. Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday morning.

Although he's won four consecutive fights, Belfort has recently been competing as a middleweight and even reportedly turned down a "Trilogy" bout with light heavyweight Gegard Mousasi because he didn't want to move up a weight class. However, he'd move up two weight classes to fight Emelianenko, though the payday is likely to be much greater.

Belfort is currently scheduled to fight surging middleweight Jorge Santiago on the event's main card, so a Belfort-Emelianenko booking would spoil at least one main-card bout from the pay-per-view broadcast, barring a last-minute replacement.

The Emelianenko vs. Barnett matchup had long been promoted and was the featured attraction at an event that could determine Affliction's future in the fight business. The potential loss of a main event between arguably the No. 1 and No. 2 heavyweight fighters in the world would certainly be a blow to the event's marketability.

If it turns out Barnett did fail a drug test, it wouldn't be the first time. The 31-year-old defeated Randy Couture to win the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 36 in 2002, but he was stripped of the belt just months later after the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced that Barnett had tested positive for an anabolic steroid. He never fought in the UFC again. However, when speaking to Sherdog, Barnett said he plans to "clear his name" if the latest CSAC test comes back positive for drug use.

MMAjunkie.com will have more on this story throughout the day.

In the meantime, for the latest on "Affliction: Trilogy," stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

[SiDeWiNdEr]

I'm going to guess if this doesnt happen it's really going to hurt Affliction

[complete]

That is the main event and if this fight doesn't happen, the next Affliction show will be a very hard sell.

It's funny. I got a call from a friend yesterday who asked me if I wanted to go to this show because he can get some discounts. I was tempted but I couldn't. It would've been sad if I went and this fight didn't happen.

[SiDeWiNdEr]

Josh Barnett Out Of Bout With Fedor
July 22nd, 2009 by Bryan Levick

The highly anticipated heavyweight showdown between WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko and Josh Barnett is off according to a report from Sherdog.com.

It appears that Barnett has tested positive for an substance yet to be deternined. Affliction is now looking to find a replacement for Barnett and apparently Vitor Belfort and Bobby Lashley are being considered as last minute replacements.

Barnett released a statement in which he said he has not been contacted or informed of any wrongdoing and if this is true he will fight to clear his name. He said that this is something that will not define him. This wouldn’t be the first time Barnett has tested positive for a banned substance. Shortly after defeating Randy Couture for the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 36 in March of 2002. He was stripped of the title and hasn’t fought in the octagon since.

Belfort is scheduled to face rising middleweight Jorge Santiago who I interviewed last month. You can read that interview here. In the beginning of his career Belfort fought as a heavyweight before dropping down to the light heavyweight division where he at one time captured the UFC’s 205lb championship. He has since settled into the middleweight division nicely earning stunning knockout victories as a middleweight. He has stated a desire to face Emelianenko but it is unclear if he could put on the necessary weight in such a short amount of time.

Lashley has been fighting for some smaller organizations as he has made the transition from full time pro wrestling to mixed martial artist. Lashley recently signed a deal with the upstart TNA wrestling organization and wants to be able to do both wrestling and MMA. His most recent bout saw him defeat Bob Sapp on Fight Force International’s Ultimate Chaos card that took place on June 27th. Lashley is currently 4-0 and trains with the famed American Top Team camp.

Lashley was contacted and had this to say regarding a potential match-up with the man many claim to be the best pound for pound mixed martial artist in the world. “”I don’t know if I would want it right now. Since the last fight, I haven’t really been into training again.” He also said that while he could make a lot of money he doesn’t want to fight just for the money and that he would have to take a long hard look at taking a fight of this magnitude so early in his career.

Whomever replaces Barnett this is a huge blow to Affliction as they struggle to remain afloat. Although both of their previous shows were action packed and filled with stars, their payroll was outrageous. They paid Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski a combined $2.25 million to last a total of 3:50 with Fedor. Speculation has been rampant from day one that the organization would not make it past it’s third show and with news like this coming out so soon to the pay-per-view, that theory may prove to be correct.

[TRIANGLEFROMGUARD]

Not saying either way but the CSAC is notorious for over testing. Certain supplements combined can give the appearance of a steriod use. Whatever the case is this sucks, now it's not even worth ordering!!!!!!!

[SiDeWiNdEr]

They must be scrambling to go after Lashley so early, the other thing is if Lashley was training solely for MMA maybe he'd have a VERY slim chance to shock everyone.

[SiDeWiNdEr]

interesting matchup? I'd say it's still early for Rogers as well.

From Yahoo.com

"The opportunity to fight Fedor on 10 days (notice) is something that Brett would entertain,” his agent, Ken Pavia told MMAWeekly.com. “A lot of stars would have to align, but it is not beyond the realm of possibilities.”


Rogers, who has an undefeated 10-0 record, is fresh off a 22-second knockout win over former UFC heavyweight titleholder Andrei Arlovski. Emelianenko is 30-1 and unanimously regarded at the No. 1 ranked heavyweight in the world. He is also coming off a knockout victory of Arlovski."

[Joemoplata]

I've seen recent reports that it may be Vitor Belfort. Interesting matchup there.

CSAC is known for being super tough on testing and unfortunately for Barnett this will be his second positive which will make leave his career in ruins as well as hurt Affliction. If it doesn't happen and we find out that California busted him for something stupid like Actifed I'm going to be pissed.

[SiDeWiNdEr]

Jeff Monson: "My name's in the mix" for Affliction fight with Fedor Emelianenko
by Dann Stupp on Jul 23, 2009 at 2:00 pm ET
Add another name to the list of potential "Affliction: Trilogy" opponents for Fedor Emelianenko (30-1), who lost original opponent Josh Barnett (24-5) on Wednesday because of a failed drug test.

Former top UFC heavyweight contender Jeff Monson (31-8) today joined MMAjunkie.com Radio (MMAjunkie.com Radio | MMAjunkie.com) and said he's under consideration for the open slot on the Aug. 1 card.

"My name's in the mix to fight Fedor," Monson said.

Emelianenko's fight headlines Affliction's third show, which takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., and airs on pay-per-view.

MMAjunkie.com reported on Wednesday that middleweight Vitor Belfort, currently slated to fight Jorge Santiago on the "Trilogy" main card, has agreed to the fight with Emelianenko, assuming financial terms can be agreed upon. Trainer Shawn Tompkins has even go as far as saying Belfort has signed for the fight, though no official announcement has been made.

However, earlier today at a press conference in Moscow, Vadim Finkelchtein, M-1 Global president and Emelianenko's manager, said they would rather the Russian fighter take on Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers. (However, Strikeforce executive Mike Afromowitz told MMAjunkie.com on Wednesday that neither Rogers nor fellow Strikeforce heavyweight Fabricio Werdum would be loaned out for the Affliction fight.)

So how serious are Affliction's discussions with Monson?

"I'm not really supposed to say," Monson said. "I can say [it] is more than just me saying, 'I want to fight him,' though."

Monson, an accomplished grappler and ground technician, is perhaps best remembered for his loss to then-UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia at UFC 65 in 2006. However, the American Top Team fighter is 9-2 since the loss, and he's currently riding a seven-fight win streak (with wins over notables such as Roy Nelson and Sergei Kharitonov).

"I think my best strengths are maybe not his strengths," Monson said of Emelianenko. "It'd be a tough match, but I think it's a fight I can win.

"(With the fight) nine days away, I'm ready to fight. I don't know if anyone is ever really, really ready. But here at American Top Team, I'll have a good game plan and be ready to go."

One factor that could make Monson a serious option is that he's apparently willing to take a payday that's smaller than most other fighters are reportedly requesting. The going rate to fight Emelianenko is said to be between $600,000 and $1 million. Monson wouldn't talk specific amounts, but he's willing to take a smaller payday now for the possibility of a bigger one in the future.

"I've never been about the money," the 38-year-old said. "I just like to fight. I'm a fighter. It's what I do for a living. More (money) is better, of course. I have kids. But I just want to fight. If you win and beat Fedor, you never have to worry about it (money) again."

And Monson is confident those big days would be right around the corner.

"I see me choking him," Monson said. "I see me winning. You've got to get him on the floor, that's for sure. ... And that's where I'd end it."

For the latest on "Affliction: Trilogy," stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

[TRIANGLEFROMGUARD]

I just sent Jeff a text message that said NO!!!. He's going to kill me