Mr.Freeze
31-07-2008, 11:26 AM
POSTED: July 30, 2008 - 8:18 pm
CATEGORIES: MMA, International
Affliction's second pay-per-view event, proposed for Oct. 11 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, could be undergoing an extensive list of changes. Earlier today, the California State Athletic Commission issued medical suspensions to a number of fighters from the inaugural show, including WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko (28-1, 1 NC), who won the title at the July 19 event against Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran and former heavyweight titleholder Tim Sylvia (26-6).
Emelianenko, known as "The Last Russian Emperor," has been suspended for 180 days with no contact due to an injury that he suffered to his right hand. The suspension can only lifted if he is cleared early by an orthopedic doctor.
It was previously reported that Emelianenko would take on Andrei Arlovski (13-5) in the main event. Both fighters reigned supreme in bouts against students of legendary trainer Pat Miletich at Affliction: Banned.
Emelianenko, often referred to as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, needed only 36 seconds to submit Sylvia via rear naked choke. The former Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight champion looked virtually unstoppable in the bout, aggressively dominating regardless of the 30-pound weight difference.
On the same card, Arlovski ended the 13-fight winning streak of "Big" Ben Rothwell (33-6). The Belarussian Sambo expert unleashed a flurry of strikes, bursting at his 264-pound opponent with flying knees and precision punching. Rothwell stood his ground before ultimately tumbling to the ground in the third round.
In addition, Sylvia has equally received a 180-day suspension due to a left elbow injury. Similarly, his suspension pends clearance from an orthopedic physician. Rothwell, Sylvia's training partner, also made the list of nine fighters that were suspended.
Emelianenko, Sylvia and Pedro Rizzo, all of whom are on the list, previously expressed interest in participating on the second card.
The full list of suspensions includes:
- Fedor Emelianenko (def. Tim Sylvia): Suspended 180 days with no contact for 180 days due to a right-hand injury (can be cleared early by an orthopedic doctor)
- Tim Sylvia (lost to Fedor Emelianenko): Suspended 180 days with no contact for 180 days due to a left-elbow injury (can be cleared early by an orthopedic doctor)
- Ben Rothwell (lost to Andrei Arlovski): Suspended 60 days with no contact for 60 days due to an ear-lobe laceration (can be cleared early by a doctor); minimum suspension of 45 days with no contact for 30 days for precautionary reasons
- Edwin Dewees (lost to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira): Suspended 180 days with no contact for 180 days due to undisclosed reasons (can be cleared early by an orthopedic doctor); minimum suspension of 45 days with no contact for 30 days for precautionary reasons
- Pedro Rizzo (lost to Josh Barnett): Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days for precautionary reasons
- Mike Whitehead (lost to Renato Sobral): Suspended 180 days with no contact for 180 days due to a left-hand injury (can be cleared early by an orthopedic doctor)
- Vitor Belfort (def. Terry Martin): Suspended 180 days with no contact for 180 days due to undisclosed reasons (can be cleared early by an orthopedic doctor)
- Terry Martin (lost to Vitor Belfort): Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days for precautionary reasons
- Fabio Nascimento (lost to Matt Lindland): Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days for precautionary reasons
This could drastically change the framework in place for the succeeding Affliction spectacular.
However, the show's success may now lie solely in the hands of one man: Tito Ortiz (15-6-1).
Despite Affliction vice president Tom Atencio denying rumors of the signing, stating he cannot be in contact with Ortiz until after a clause in his UFC contract expires, a fight pitting "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" against another UFC veteran, Renato "Babalu" Sobral (30-7), is highly speculated.
The non-compete clause is set to expire on Aug. 3, giving the green light for an official announcement if a deal has been made.
It's coincidental that an Affliction press conference is set to take place on Aug. 6 in Las Vegas, only three days after Ortiz is freed up to sign a contract with another promotion.
Originally rumored to be the co-main event, Ortiz and Sobral may have to step up and headline the second show held by the clothing label turned MMA promotion, especially if Emelianenko is unable to defend his newly won title.
No stranger to the main event scene, Ortiz would be looking to rebound from a loss to Lyoto Machida at UFC 84 in May, as well as a draw against Rashad Evans last July in what was a highly competitive bout.
Sobral, a crafty Brazilian veteran fighting under the "Gracie Barra Combat Team," has racked off three consecutive victories since losing back to back fights against Chuck Liddell and Jason Lambert in the UFC. His latest win came at Affliction: Banned, as he earned an impressive unanimous decision nod against a physically bigger opponent in Mike Whitehead.
With 45 wins between them, Ortiz and Sobral are two of the most recognized faces in all of mixed martial arts. If the light heavyweight matchup is indeed signed for Oct. 11, the pressure of the spotlight would be just another day in the lives of two seasoned combatants.
If Emelianenko is cleared to compete by October, the second Affliction spectacle may surpass the initial July 19 event and prove to be the most stacked card in the history of the sport.
CATEGORIES: MMA, International
Affliction's second pay-per-view event, proposed for Oct. 11 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, could be undergoing an extensive list of changes. Earlier today, the California State Athletic Commission issued medical suspensions to a number of fighters from the inaugural show, including WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko (28-1, 1 NC), who won the title at the July 19 event against Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran and former heavyweight titleholder Tim Sylvia (26-6).
Emelianenko, known as "The Last Russian Emperor," has been suspended for 180 days with no contact due to an injury that he suffered to his right hand. The suspension can only lifted if he is cleared early by an orthopedic doctor.
It was previously reported that Emelianenko would take on Andrei Arlovski (13-5) in the main event. Both fighters reigned supreme in bouts against students of legendary trainer Pat Miletich at Affliction: Banned.
Emelianenko, often referred to as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, needed only 36 seconds to submit Sylvia via rear naked choke. The former Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight champion looked virtually unstoppable in the bout, aggressively dominating regardless of the 30-pound weight difference.
On the same card, Arlovski ended the 13-fight winning streak of "Big" Ben Rothwell (33-6). The Belarussian Sambo expert unleashed a flurry of strikes, bursting at his 264-pound opponent with flying knees and precision punching. Rothwell stood his ground before ultimately tumbling to the ground in the third round.
In addition, Sylvia has equally received a 180-day suspension due to a left elbow injury. Similarly, his suspension pends clearance from an orthopedic physician. Rothwell, Sylvia's training partner, also made the list of nine fighters that were suspended.
Emelianenko, Sylvia and Pedro Rizzo, all of whom are on the list, previously expressed interest in participating on the second card.
The full list of suspensions includes:
- Fedor Emelianenko (def. Tim Sylvia): Suspended 180 days with no contact for 180 days due to a right-hand injury (can be cleared early by an orthopedic doctor)
- Tim Sylvia (lost to Fedor Emelianenko): Suspended 180 days with no contact for 180 days due to a left-elbow injury (can be cleared early by an orthopedic doctor)
- Ben Rothwell (lost to Andrei Arlovski): Suspended 60 days with no contact for 60 days due to an ear-lobe laceration (can be cleared early by a doctor); minimum suspension of 45 days with no contact for 30 days for precautionary reasons
- Edwin Dewees (lost to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira): Suspended 180 days with no contact for 180 days due to undisclosed reasons (can be cleared early by an orthopedic doctor); minimum suspension of 45 days with no contact for 30 days for precautionary reasons
- Pedro Rizzo (lost to Josh Barnett): Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days for precautionary reasons
- Mike Whitehead (lost to Renato Sobral): Suspended 180 days with no contact for 180 days due to a left-hand injury (can be cleared early by an orthopedic doctor)
- Vitor Belfort (def. Terry Martin): Suspended 180 days with no contact for 180 days due to undisclosed reasons (can be cleared early by an orthopedic doctor)
- Terry Martin (lost to Vitor Belfort): Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days for precautionary reasons
- Fabio Nascimento (lost to Matt Lindland): Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days for precautionary reasons
This could drastically change the framework in place for the succeeding Affliction spectacular.
However, the show's success may now lie solely in the hands of one man: Tito Ortiz (15-6-1).
Despite Affliction vice president Tom Atencio denying rumors of the signing, stating he cannot be in contact with Ortiz until after a clause in his UFC contract expires, a fight pitting "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" against another UFC veteran, Renato "Babalu" Sobral (30-7), is highly speculated.
The non-compete clause is set to expire on Aug. 3, giving the green light for an official announcement if a deal has been made.
It's coincidental that an Affliction press conference is set to take place on Aug. 6 in Las Vegas, only three days after Ortiz is freed up to sign a contract with another promotion.
Originally rumored to be the co-main event, Ortiz and Sobral may have to step up and headline the second show held by the clothing label turned MMA promotion, especially if Emelianenko is unable to defend his newly won title.
No stranger to the main event scene, Ortiz would be looking to rebound from a loss to Lyoto Machida at UFC 84 in May, as well as a draw against Rashad Evans last July in what was a highly competitive bout.
Sobral, a crafty Brazilian veteran fighting under the "Gracie Barra Combat Team," has racked off three consecutive victories since losing back to back fights against Chuck Liddell and Jason Lambert in the UFC. His latest win came at Affliction: Banned, as he earned an impressive unanimous decision nod against a physically bigger opponent in Mike Whitehead.
With 45 wins between them, Ortiz and Sobral are two of the most recognized faces in all of mixed martial arts. If the light heavyweight matchup is indeed signed for Oct. 11, the pressure of the spotlight would be just another day in the lives of two seasoned combatants.
If Emelianenko is cleared to compete by October, the second Affliction spectacle may surpass the initial July 19 event and prove to be the most stacked card in the history of the sport.