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Affliction Signs Exclusive Deal With Fedor Emelianenko

2696615305_d57a464676_mediumMMA Weekly broke the story, but MMA Convert boils it down to these handy bullet points:

  • First "joint venture" will likely take place on Jan. 24 at The Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The main event will feature Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski.
  • Second "joint venture" will likely take place in April or May and feature Josh Barnett vs. Aleksander Emelianenko (unclear if this is planned as a main event). M-1 is confident Aleks will be issued a license to fight. His rumored medical issues have apparently been resolved. No indication if this card will include boxing.
  • Fedor’s thumb is fully healed.
  • M-1 confirmed Fedor will definitely NOT be fighting in Japan on NYE. We can all breathe a collective sigh of relief.
  • Gegard Mousasi may fight in Japan on NYE, but remains "a very feasible" option for Affliction’s January event.
  • Affliction and M-1 have signed an exclusive worldwide deal with Fedor. So definitely no Fedor vs. Randy in the UFC. (Like that was ever going to happen anyways)

Also there's supposed to be a press conference today at which The Donald Trump will announce his involvement in the Fighting Fedor reality show.

About the only thing I'm counting on coming out of all this is that Fedor WON"T be fighting in Japan on New Year's Eve. I would't hold my breath waiting for Aleksander vs Josh Barnett.

In other Affliction news, Sherdog says they're apparently about to sign a Matt Lindland vs Babalu Sobral bout. It'll happen at 195 as a test for Babalu to see if he can fight at middleweight. Should be interesting, but if Babalu is going to move down to 185, I'd rather he just do it instead of crowding Lindland's resume with yet another non 185lb fight.

Meanwhile, M-1 fighter Gegard Mousasi is looking to move to 205lbs but hopefully he'll fight Vitor Belfort or Akiyama at 185lbs first. From Sherdog:

A rumored bout with former UFC standout Vitor Belfort is still a very real option for Affliction’s Jan. 24 return to the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Belfort, who recently dropped into the middleweight ranks himself, took out Terry Martin with an impressive second-round knockout at Affliction “Banned” last July.

“My manager has good contacts with Affliction and he said that there may be the possibility for me to fight Vitor in the United States,” said Mousasi. “I really want to fight for Affliction, but I still have a commitment with Dream, so I don’t know exactly which show I will be competing at next –- on New Year’s Eve in Japan for Dream or for Affliction in January.”

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Hey Nate

Just curious why you think Barnett vs Fedor won’t happen. I have my own reasons as well, but I was curious as to your take.

by Nick Travaglini on Oct 16, 2008 9:56 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I was referring to Josh vs Aleks not Fedor

although I’ve got my doubts about Josh vs Fedor ever happening either. My scepticism about Aleks fighting Josh has to do with the California commission saying he’d probably never be licensed to fight there. Hopefully he’s recovered, but the rumors were UGLY.

by Kid Nate on Oct 16, 2008 10:31 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I thought they said he wouldn’t get licensed anywhere in the States, and not just in Cali?

by asa on Oct 16, 2008 12:47 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The athletic commissions do communicate with each other and they back each other’s decisions, if California says never then it’s doubtful that any other state athletic commission would ever say yes.

by who me on Oct 16, 2008 2:23 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I want to kill Fedor’s management team.

http://mma4real.net/

by Tha Realness on Oct 16, 2008 10:59 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Soooo

How many times can you announce a deal with Fedor? We get it.. Fedor fights for Affliction.

by Blackout612 on Oct 16, 2008 12:12 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Affliction has had more “blockbuster” press conferences than actual events and we all know how things worked out for the last company that had a New York press conference with M-1 and Fedor. I wonder if this has anything to do with Affliction not being able to work out the mixed sport show with Golden Boy for the January event and needing a new partner?

by who me on Oct 16, 2008 12:33 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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