Fedor Vs. Arlovski

Fedor Emelianenko defeated Andrei "The Pit Bull" Arlovski last night at Affliction: Day Of Reckoning.  Fedor stunned the crowd with a quick right hand that nobody, especially not Arlovski, saw coming.  Arlovski appeared to be dominating the standup and frustrating Emelianko early in the first round.  When it seem Andrei was ready to move in for the kill, Fedor simply threw a right hand that was on target and undefended.  Arlovski crumpled to the mat.

Fedor tells reporters after the fight that he was never in any real danger, despite Arlovski having him against the ropes.  "I didn't really think that I was really in any danger in the fight," Emelinaneno said through an interpreter. "I like to feel that I felt -- not only usually, but particularly in this fight -- felt comfortable and OK with where I was during the fight. I just didn't feel that I was in any danger."

Fedor looked like he was staggering in the corner when Andrei came in with a flying knee.  Fedor cemented his legend one punch later and Arlovski laying face down in the mat.

Brett Cooper Defeats Patrick Speight via TKO (punches) -- Round 1, 4:10
Albert Rios Defeats Antonio Duarte via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
L.C. Davis Defeats Bao Quach via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Defeats Vladimir Matyushenko via TKO (strikes) -- Round 2, 4:26
Dan Lauzon Defeats Josh Green via submission -- Round 1, 4:55
Paul Buentello Defeats Kiril Sidelnikov via TKO (doctor's stoppage due to cuts) -- Round 3, 4:18
Renato "Babalu" Sobral Defeats Rameau Thierry Sookoudjou via submission (D'arce choke) -- Round 2, 2:36
Josh Barnett Defeats Gilbert Yvel via submission (strikes) -- Round 3, 3:05
Fedor Emelianenko Defeats Andrei Arlovski via KO (punch) -- Round 1, 3:34

Tito Ortiz

The "big announcement" at Affliction's press conference concerning Tito Ortiz was held today.  Although most assumed Ortiz would be siging a fight deal with Affliction, instead Ortiz will be siging on as a color commentator for the January 24th fight card, Affliction: Day of Reckoning.

Tito Ortiz is coming off back surgery and is expected to need about six more months to heal properly.  Ortiz is not ruling out a potential fight with Affliction.  Affliction plans on holding four events in 2009.

The headliner of Affliction: Day of Reckoning is a highly anticipated bout between Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski vs. Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko.  Both are coming off victories from their last bouts, Arlovski defeating Ben Rothwell, and Emelianenko defeating Tim Sylvia.

What a difference 24 hours can make!  A day ago Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson was set to matchup against "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock on CBS Saturday Night Fights in the main event.  A day later Kimbo is TKO'd by Seth Petruzelli in one of the most bizarre series of events in MMA history.

Shamrock was forced to pull out of the scheduled main event against Slice because of a cut he recieved over his eye while rolling on the mat with one of his trainers.  Apparantley the cut was bad enough to warrant six stitches over his eye.  The athletic commission deemed the injury to severe to let Shamrock fight.  EliteXC called on Seth Petruzelli, who was scheduled to fight in an undercard bout, to fight Slice in the nights main event.  Slice took the bout after deliberating with his camp.  Before the night, Kimbo Slice had never even heard of Seth Petruzelli.

Kimbo Slice went right after Petruzelli as soon as the fight began and was immediately knocked down by "Silverback" with a short right hand.  The referee stepped in with just fourteen seconds gone by with Petruzelli the victor.

In the nights other fights, EliteXC welterwieght champion Jake Shields defended his belt against a game opponent in British striker Paul Daley,  Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovsky defeated  Roy Nelson and Gina Carano reaffirmed her status as "the face of womens MMA" by taking care of Kelly Kobold.