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
In case anyone missed this fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Tim Sylvia, here it is again. The video is about five minutes long but the fight is only 36 seconds long as that is how long it takes for Fedor to completely dismantle former UFC champion Tim Sylvia.
This Saturday we have the sophomore presentation for Affliction. Affliction's second show may have a few problems selling pay-per-views as it is sandwiched right between two UFC Events.
Here is the full card for Affliction "Day Of Reckoning":
Main Card
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski
Josh Barnett vs. Gilbert Yvel
Vitor Belfort vs. Matt Lindland
Renato "Babalu" Sobral vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
Jay Hieron vs. Jason High
Paul Buentello vs. Kiril Sidelnikov
Preliminary Card
Vladamir Matyushenko vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
L.C. Davis vs. Bao Quach
Antonio Duarte vs. Albert Rios
Patrick Speight vs. Brett Cooper
Dan Lauzon vs. TBA
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.
Fedor Emelianenko is widely considered the best heavyweight MMA fighter in the world. He has beaten just about every top heavyweight on this planet. He completely annihilated Tim Sylvia with a 36 second 100% beat down. The only thing standing in his way from being the absolute greatest MMA heavyweight of all time is facing Randy Couture.
Randy Couture recently re-signed with the UFC after a super ugly contract battle after Randy left the organization because he felt he was being disrespected and because the UFC could not sign Emelianenko. Randy himself is a legend in the sport seeming to always come out on top when labeled the underdog. He's been champion in the UFC as a light heavyweight and as heavyweight. He is 45 years old and, if you look at his previous fights at heavyweight last year, would seem to be at his prime when most MMA fighters are wash-ups.
The entire MMA community is foaming at the mouth at the prospect of these two in a cage. A fight with Randy Couture vs. Fedor Emelianenko would very definately be the biggest fight in all of MMA history. They both want to fight each other. There is a ton of money on the table. There is huge demand. But the UFC and Fedor cannot come up with a deal.
Randy is signed up and ready. Fedor's representatives call the UFC's offer unacceptable. I say we just get these two in a cage. The UFC needs to do everything in their power to sign Emelianenko to a one fight deal and get him in the Octagon with Randy Couture. This should be the only match Joe Silva should be working on. The MMA world needs to know, once and for all, who the greatest MMA heavyweight is.
First off I want to say that Randy Couture is about as classy as a fighter can be. Most who have seen him fight, lose and win would say the same. So, regardless of how this post might come across, I am a huge Randy Couture fan.
With that said, I wish he would just finish his UFC contract already. I mean, honestly, regardless of what his beef with Dana White or the UFC might be, the dude signed his name to a piece of paper and promised to fight for a certain amount of time and that is exactly what he should do. Tito Ortiz finished it. Why can't Randy?
Ok. So the UFC screwed you with the some money stuff. And let's not forget the Emeliananko fight that never transpired. Those stipulations were not in your contract Randy! You agreed to fight a certain amount of fights. Period. Stick to your word, keep your mouth shut in the meantime and finish it!
I can't wait to see Randy "The Natural" Couture take on Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko. I have no doubt that the fight will live up to all the hype and that those two men will put on a MMA show for the ages. But I feel like the whole thing is sullied a bit with Randy breaking his word with the organization that put MMA on the map. Is the UFC perfect? No way, no how. But they do have a contract with Randy's sig on it. That is all the courts will need.
Just one thing to say: Fedor! Wow. That was a great first event for former T-Shirt company Affliction. The heavyweights lived up to the hype Saturday. Plenty of slugging and plenty of knockouts.
Andrei Arlovski was involved in one of these slugfests against Ben Rothwell. "The Pitbull" definately came ready for war against the highly acclaimed Rothwell and, I believe, had the fight of the night of any orginization Saturday.
Arlovski hammered away at Rothwell with great, brutal combinations and even flying knees mixed in there. Rothwell had a few flurries thrown in of his own and showed a very strong chin. At first it didn't seem Andrei would be able to finish him. Rothwell took some big shots in the second round and still came strong. Then Arlovski rocked him in the third round and the ref stepped in for the save.
Fedor Emelianenko proved all the critics wrong Saturday night with a violent win over Tim Sylvia. Fedor needed only 36 seconds to submit Sylvia with a deep rear naked choke. It seemed Sylvia was tapping one second after "The Last Emperor" had the choke sunk in. It was Fedor's first win over a big name opponent in over three years and may have put him back in the top 10 pound-for-pound rank again.
I had doubts about watching MMA in a ring instead of cage but all in all it wasn't bad. I enjoyed the event more than the UFC event and will look forward to the next Affliction event!
