Affliction and De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions have teamed up to bring the world’s two greatest fighting sports together on the same stage.

Golden Boy’s CEO Richard Schaefer made the landmark announcement today in Vegas during promotions for the organization’s upcoming Joel Casamayor vs Juan Marquez boxing match. The two companies will team up 50/50 to do four PPV events in 2009.

The events will feature top level fighters from MMA and boxing on the same fight card. In doing so, both organizations hope to breathe new life into both sports expanding their fan bases along the way. “Day of Reckoning” will likely be the first of the four events although neither organization confirmed how much of the fight card would stay in tact.

“Day of Reckoning” was recently postponed due to lackluster tickets sales which inevitably led to the organization’s new direction. Nothing was mentioned about Fedor who was expected to fight against a yet to be determined opponent at the previously scheduled October 11 show.

It was also announced that Affliction will make exclusive fight t-shirts for Golden Boy starting with the De La Hoya vs Pacquiao fight on December 6th.

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Affliction COO Michael D Cohen has confirmed that Fedor Emelianenko will return at Affliction’s rescheduled “Day of Reckoning” card on January 17th at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.

Emelianenko, who pulled out of the originally scheduled Oct. 11 “Day of Reckoning” card with a hand injury, will now likely push aside Arlovski vs Barnett to take the main event spot in January. His opponent is still to be determined.

Cohen also revealed today that the organization has a big announcement in store that will “change the dynamics of mixed martials arts. Not just nationally, but globally.”

Speculation of what exactly the announcement could be has already ensued. It likely has to due with a TV deal or partnership that would impact the company on a global level.

Ironically Tito Ortiz is expected to announce his new signing in two weeks as well.

Stand by for the latest Affliction “Day of Reckoning” news!

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It appears that Affliction fans will have to wait a little longer to see Andrei Arlovski and Josh Barnett vie for top heavyweight contender status at Affliction “Day of Reckoning.”

Sherdog.com is reporting today that Affliction’s encore show has been moved to a new location and a new date. Keith Kizer of the Nevada State Athletic Commission was contacted by Affliction on Wednesday morning and told that “Day of Reckoning” will take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA, sometime in January.

If anything this will give the up-and-coming organization more time to promote their sophomore show. The postponement will also unfortunately delay the WAMMA heavyweight bout between Fedor and the winner of Arlovski vs Barnett.

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Affliction has signed a new deal with Mark Cuban’s HDNet Fights that will allow the burgeoning MMA promotion to air three preliminary fights preceding the main PPV card on October 11th.

As part of the agreement, Affliction will allotted a 90 minute time slot on the popular HD channel. The undercard will feature Jason High vs Mike Pyle in a welterweight battle followed by Paul Buentello vs Roy Neslon in a heavyweight brawl. The third bout has yet to be named.

A similar format was used for Affliction’s debut event “Banned” in which two of the cards preliminary fights were aired free on FSN (Fox Sports Network).

HDNet Fights CEO Andrew Simon spoke of the new partnership with Affliction.

“This is the beginning of a long-term partnership with Affliction that encompasses live MMA, co-marketing and top fighters for the top weekly show in MMA — ‘Inside MMA’ on HDNet,” stated Andrew Simon, HDNet Fights CEO. “Affliction has quickly become one of the top organizations in MMA, which means it is a must have for HDNet.” 

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Today Michael Waltrip Racing unveiled the official Affliction #00 Toyota Nascar wrapped in “Day of Reckoning” logo’s and skulls. Mike Skinner will be racing this car at the Pepsi 500 in Southern Cali on Sunday.

  

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Affliction will hit the pavement this Sunday at the Pepsi 500 in Southern, CA, to promote their upcoming October 11 show “Day of Reckoning.”

Mike Skinner, member of “Michael Waltrip Racing,” will be at the wheel in Affliction’s new Nascar wrapped in skulls at Sunday’s race where he will race 250 laps around the oval at Auto Club Speedway.

It’s another big step forward towards main stream acceptance of MMA as a world-wide sport.

“Affliction is proud to make racing history as the first MMA organization to sponsor a car in NASCAR,” said Tom Atencio, vice president of Affliction Entertainment. “NASCAR fans are huge supporters of MMA and this is a great collaboration for both sports.”

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Thanks to a tip from OCSandman, we have learned that Xtreme Couture fighter Jay White will face off against undefeated Chase Gormley at Affliction “Day of Reckoning” on October 11th.

White’s sponsor, Throwdown, revealed the new undercard bout which will air on HDNet preceding the main card on PPV. The site also revealed that White has signed a three fight contract with the MMA clothing companey turned MMA promotion.

Although White has only won two of his eight fights, he has fought some tough competition along the way including UFC vets Jeff Monson and Jake O’Brien.

Gormley has gone 6-0 in his pro career and would like to make it seven. He last victory was over Eric “Big” Pele at MFC 16 “Anger Management” a few months back.

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MMAJunkie.com has just confirmed that Team Quest leader and top ranked middleweight Matt “The Law” Lindland finally has an opponent for “Day of Reckoning” after losing his original opponent Vitor Belfort to a hand injury.

Sources close to the fight revealed that Lindland, who fought and won his Affliction debut against Fabio Negao, will face the experienced Trevor Prangley  who up until the end of 2007 was fighting for Strikeforce. Brief rumors that Lindland would face EliteXC welterweight champion Jake Shields obviously had no validity which EliteXC VP Jared Shaw eventually confirmed.

Prangley is a solid match up for Lindland who’s only fight in the past 16 months was a Affliction’s debut “Banned.” Prangley comes in with an impressive resume that includes wins over Yuki Kondo, Travis Lutter, Chael Sonnen and most recently Falaniko Vitale at Strikeforce in November of last year.

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According to Sherdog.com, former IFL stand out Jay Hieron has verbally agreed to to take on “The Master” Drew Fickett at Affliction “Day of Reckoning” in October.

Alexander Oxendine, Fickett’s manager, confirmed the offer and told Sherdog that negotiations are currently underway. While Affliction isn’t the only organization in the mix for a deal with the submission wiz, they are at the top of the stack.

“We’re in discussion with a few organizations and Affliction is one of them,” said Oxendine. “They are at the top of our list. As far as Drew is concerned, he’s made a great turnaround with his life and training. He is ready to move forward.”

Ficketts fight career has been unstable over the past year with two attempts at a title fight with EliteXC welterweight champ Jake Shields falling through due to injuries on both sides. That being said, the 28 year old with a record of 35-6 has still stayed busy in the ring with four fights already in 2008.

It has also been reported by EliteXC representatives that the organization will be releasing Fickett from his contract due to a strained relationship that they chalk up to Drew’s “personal problems” outside of the cage.

While Fickett’s days with EliteXC are numbered, he is ready to move on with his career.

“He’s ready to move forward and handle himself professionally,” says Oxendine of Fickett’s last few months. “He wants to take his fighting career seriously and to the next level.” 

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