By Affliction on Aug 22, 2008 | In Chris Horodecki, Dan Lauzon | No Comments »
According to Sherdog.com, former star of the IFL Chris Horodecki and 20 year old newcomer Dan Lauzon have both agreed to meet at Affliction’s upcoming show on October 11.
Both lightweights have agreed to the fight, though bout agreements have yet to be signed. Lauzon is waiting to see a bout sheet for the Horodecki fight before making a multi-fight commitment to Affliction.
Horodecki, also 20, made waves in the International Fight League, stringing together 7 straight victories before finally losing a bout to Ryan Schultz at the World Grand Finals at the end of 2007. He came back with a win over Nate Lamotte in April of this year, just before the organization went under due to financial strains.
Horodecki, one of the hottest free agents on the market, was scooped up by Affliction who has been on the prowl lately for lighter weight fighters to round out their roster of mostly heavyweights.
Dan Lauzon, a veteran of the World Championship Fighting organization and brother of the UFC’s Joe Lauzon, has put together six straight victories in a row since losing to Deividas Taurosevicius back in January of 2007.
These two fighters with their youth and aggressiveness should set off some fireworks inside the Affliction ring on October 11th at the Thomas & Mack Center in Vegas.
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By Affliction on Aug 21, 2008 | In Affliction Banned | No Comments »
Two fighters from Affliction’s debut show “Banned” have now tested positive for a banned substance. Justin Levens was first in line, testing positive for pain killers.
Now the California State Athletic Commission has confirmed with MMAWeekly.com that Edwin Dewees, who lost his bout to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at the inaugural show, has tested positive for Nandrolone, a common illegal steroid.
Not only that, but Dewees had a huge amount of the drug in his system. The tests showed that Edwin had 499ng/mL in his system, far more than any any previously suspended high profile fighters in the past. Douglas from the Athletic Commission said that the amount makes it very hard to explain away.
Dewees faces a one year suspension and $2,500 fine. He declined to comment on the matter with MMA Weekly.
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By Affliction on Aug 20, 2008 | In Ozzy Osbourne | No Comments »
Affliction will one-up their debut show “Banned” which featured heavy metal band Megadeth, with a live performance from the “King of Metal” himself Ozzy Osbourne at “Day of Reckoning” on October 11th. MMAJunkie.com confirmed the news today.
The “Prince of Darkness” who is under contract with Affliction Clothing and featured on the website, was no doubt any obvious choice for the organization’s encore event which features a #1 contenders bout between Arlovski and Barnett.
With Ozzy’s dedicated legion of fans, it’s a smart move on the part of Affliction to fill up seats that otherwise might have remained empty.
The former front man of legendary band Black Sabbath has put together an amazing career which has spanned 40 years and led to the sale of over 100 million albums. His recently featured hit reality show “The Osbournes” has won him multiple Grammy’s and catapulted the singer into a new era of fame and success.
Osbourne was rumored as a possible act for “Banned” but Megadeth ended up taking the spot. Like Megadeth, Ozzy will most likely perform throughout the show including a set to kick off the main PPV card.
Affliction “Day of Reckoning” takes place in the UFC’s backyard at the Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus in Vegas.
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By Affliction on Aug 16, 2008 | In Vitor Belfort | No Comments »
Sherdog.com has reported that Vitor Belfort has been forced to withdrawal from his scheduled bout with Matt Lindland at Affliction “Day of Reckoning” due to a lingering hand injury. Atencio confirmed the unfortunate news on Friday.
“It’s really disappointing,” Atencio said. “It’s a big fight, but if [Belfort] can’t fight, he can’t fight. The guy’s got a broken hand. There’s no use crying over spilled milk.”
A new opponent for Lindland has yet to be named but recent rumors have indicated that Shields is currently in talks with the organization. If that panned out and EliteXC allowed him to fight at Affliction, Lindland could very well be his opponent. Shields stated that Affliction had offered him a fight with a top 5 middleweight. Lindland would fit that bill.
Vitor injured his hand at his Affliction debut in July against UFC veteran Terry Martin. “The Phenom” of old showed up that night and knocked out Martin in the second round with strikes. Atencio still claims that Belfort and Lindland will meet at a future Affliction show.
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By Affliction on Aug 14, 2008 | In Jake Shields | No Comments »
According to MMANews.com, EliteXC welterweight champion Jake Shields, who was originally rumored to be participating in a bout against John Alessio, is now looking at a fight at Affliction’s upcoming Oct. show.
“That fight was on the table but I’m looking at something different right now,” Shields told MMANews.com “This is a really great offer that I’m just waiting for approval on from EliteXC.”
“This fight is a great fight for me and the money is great as well,” Shields continued They’re (EliteXC) not happy about it but my manager has has a meeting with them on Monday to try and work things out.”
Shields then told MMA News that the organization his upcoming fight could be with is Affliction. Affliction could not be reached to confirm anything but Jay Hieron, who has also been rumored to be competing on Affliction’s “Day of Reckoning” card, could be a possible opponent for Shields.
Strikeforce VP Mike Afromowitz also debunked the rumor of a possible fight between Shields and Trigg on Strikeforce’s upcoming Oct. 3 card.
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By Affliction on Aug 14, 2008 | In Video | No Comments »
Affliction’s VP of Entertainment Tom Atencio spoke with Sherdog.com in a candid video interview.
Topics discussed in the video:
- Atencio’s background in MMA
- The real reason the UFC “banned” Affliction
- Fedor vs Couture
- The signing of Ortiz rumor
- Atencio asking fighters to take pay cuts rumor
- “Day of Reckoning” card
Click here to watch the video at Sherdog.com
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By Affliction on Aug 14, 2008 | In Fedor Emelianenko | No Comments »
While a vast legion of MMA fans insist that Russian Red Devil team leader Fedor Emelianenko is without question the number one pound for pound Mixed Martial Artist in the world, “The Last Emperor” himself claims it isn’t him.
“I don’t consider myself on top of the pedestal. I have certain weaknesses and I make certain mistakes. Of course, that is frustrating, because like any athlete, I strive to get better each day. I know a lot of the media and the fans want to say I’m the best. I appreciate that, but that’s not how I consider myself.”
Unfortunately the WAMMA heavyweight champ declined to assign the status of pound for pound king to anyone else. As far as Anderson Silva, St. Pierre or BJ Penn, Emelianenko stated that he hasn’t seen that much of them.
Fedor, like many fighters, doesn’t pay much attention to MMA unless it involves himself. In fact the only reason he will be attending Affliction’s encore show on Oct. 11 is because the main event between Arlovski and Barnett directly affects his future as a fighter.
“This is my job, and to be honest with you, if I didn’t have to work this job, I probably wouldn’t,” he said, chuckling. “It’s how I make my living. It’s even tough to accept this is what I do for the living.”
When asked by MMAJunkie.com what he would do if he wasn’t a professional Mixed Martial Artist, Fedor paused and said he would be a fight instructor.
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By Affliction on Aug 14, 2008 | In Ben Rothwell, Pedro Rizzo | No Comments »
Despite reports yesterday that a bout between heavyweights Ben Rothwell and “Might Mo” was in the works for Affliction’s upcoming Oct. show, a previously reported heavyweight showdown between Ben Rothwell and Pedro Rizzo was confirmed yesterday by Affliction VP Tom Atencio.
MMAJunkie.com, who originally reported the bout between Rothwell and “Mighty Mo” clarified Affliction’s stance on “Mighty Mo” attending the upcoming event.
Indeed, Siliga was one of the fighters considered for a slot on the card, but Atencio described talks between his staff and the K-1 veteran’s camp as “preliminary in nature.”
Atencio went on to say that he would be interested in “Mighty Mo” fighting for the Affliction at some point, but the Hawaiian’s current K-1 contract would likely prohibit that from happening in the near term.
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By Affliction on Aug 13, 2008 | In Ben Rothwell, Mighty Mo | No Comments »
According to a source close to MMAJunkie.com, we could see a heavyweight showdown between former IFL heavyweight champ Ben Rothwell and heavyweight slugger Siala “Mighty Mo” Siliga at Affliction “Day of Reckoning.”
The fight is not yet confirmed but apparently discussions are underway to make it happen. K-1’s approval of “Mighty Mo” fighting outside of his current contract, appears to be the only obstacle keeping this bout from coming to fruition.
Siala “Mighty Mo” Siliga is a but a youngster in the pro MMA fight game with a total of three bouts to his credit. He has finished all three of his opponents with strikes. His most recent knockout victim was Ruben Villareal at “K-1 Hero’s Dynamite,” who only managed to make it to the 1:33 before getting blasted by “Mighty Mo’s” concrete fists. However, it will take more than Siliga’s heavy hands to pull out a victory over the experienced 29-6 Ben Rothwell.
Rothwell suffered his first loss in 14 fights at Affliction’s inaugural show “Banned” succumbing to the fury that is Andrei Arlovski. Rothwell managed to make it to the third round before eating the canvas after a melee of Arlovski punches.
Arlovski will headline Affliction “Day of Reckoning” in a “Wamma Elimination Bout” against a very game Josh Barnett. The show takes place at the Thomas & Mack Center in Vegas and tickets are on sale now.
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By Affliction on Aug 9, 2008 | In Video | No Comments »
In a recent video interview with MMANews.com, Affliction VP Tom Atencio updates us with some new details regarding Affliction “Day of Reckoning” including two new fights confirmed.
The first fight he confirms for October 11 is a heavyweight match up between Pedro Rizzo and Ben Rothwell, both of whom competed at Affliction’s inaugural show in July. The second bout he confirms is a featherweight bout between (in his words) “the #1 Mexican MMA fighter” Antonio Duarte and Albert Rios.
He also speaks about the Tito deal, claiming that he hasn’t talked to Ortiz period. He says that he is still looking for an opponent for Renato “Babalu” Sobral.
Finally he confirms that another band will be performing at there second show, like the first.
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