Josh Barnett vs Gilbert Yvel Affliction Promo for ‘Day of Reckoning’

Props MMAmania.com

Affliction Clowns

“I was disappointed, yes,” he told MMAWeekly.com. “That was supposed to be my fight. We talked about it at some point prior to going to Japan, and I found out that I didn’t get the fight while in Japan. I continued to work on some business there, especially after I found out I wasn’t getting the fight.”

- Josh Barnett on losing the Arlovski fight to a fat guy, article here

It is good for Affliction that they partnered with Golden Boy/Trump from a financial perspective, but as far as the ultimate product for fans, I am not convinced it will be the best outcome. Basically the t-shirt salesman used the excuse of Barnett being out of the country to explain his absence from the show this Saturday. Truth of the matter is communication around the world is seamless at this point, in fact, I Blackberry message with people in other countries on a daily basis so to say they couldn't get in touch is ludicrous. Secondly, I agree with Barnett not taking the Fedor fight in January, because you need a set fight camp and training regime for that fight. Everything for Affliction is so last minute and unorganized right now that you can't just say "Be ready to fight in January.......maybe" to a fighter of Barnett's caliber. So it will probably be Arlovski/Fedor in January, which is not a bad match up, but it is far from the fight the masses are demanding. Remember how well Fedor did against Tim Sylvia, another fighter dropped by the UFC.

This makes sense......

Gegard Mousasi says he is training with Fedor and that Fedor will fight Josh Barnett in the January Affliction show.....story here at Bloodyelbow.com

The Art of the Backpeddle

If it is not clear to MMA fans now, it has been clear to me since day one that the Affliction people don't have a clue what they are doing. Their entire promotion is built around one person, Fedor, and now it seems that he is jumping ship to fight in Japan on New Years Eve. Their second show was set for Oct. 11th in Vegas, then it was bumped to January 17th so Fedor could be on the card, and now it appears the fight has been postponed to sometime in the first quarter of 2009. The promotion is quickly moving farther and farther away from being relevant in the sport of MMA, because it only has one belt(the Heavyweight WAMMA Belt) that it can call its' own, a roster of fighters that is suspect at best and it is quickly losing the one asset it did have, momentum coming off a strong opening show. Simple solution to getting back on track, a four man heavyweight tourney for the heavyweight title. Fedor vs. Arlovski and Barnett vs. Sylvia, the winners headline the second event of 2009. If they have any foresight they'll put this plan in motion immediately.

Aleksander Emelianenko meets Arlovski, Barnett, Fedor Inside 'Affliction Banned'

Affliction "Day of Reckoning" PromoVideo

Fedor Out for Affliction II Barnett In

Looks like the Baby Face Assassin will be taking on the Pitbull instead of Fedor. The culprit is a lingering hand injury, which explains the 180-day medical suspension he received from the CSAC after Affliction I.

Thanks to Fiveouncesofpain.com

MMA Weekly catches up with Josh Barnett

“Coming here I’m used to the other crowds,” Barnett said. “I’ve always felt that the UFC had kind of a negative crowd aspect. I was really blown away by the fans. There was a little booing here and there, and that can’t be helped, I know what they’re weaned on. Those last fights really exploded…it was like a hand grenade going off. I only can expect bigger and better things from not only the show, but from the crowd as well.”(Interview here)

I am a huge Josh Barnett fan and if there is a fighter out there that can beat Fedor it is definitely the Baby Face Assassin. As to the dislike of US crowds, all I can say is that some fans here don't have respect for the total package when it comes to fighting, but they do add a great deal of passion and excitement to the events. Yes, Japanese fans are quiet and respectful, but the matches in DREAM or Sengoku seem like libraries at times. If the US fans could so how rid themselves of that old guard blood sport mentality, the events would definitely be much more appreciated by some fighters, especially those not willing to leave Japan. Personally, I find it annoying when fans boo just because a fight stays on the ground for an extended period, because it shows a lack of respect for the fighters. Additionally, the referees could help things out by restarting the action more often, something which they do in Japan quite a bit more than in the states.