MMA News and Fight Videos

Affliction: “Day of Reckoning” tickets are set to go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, November 19 at 10 a.m. PT for the blockbuster pay-per-view (PPV) show scheduled for the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., on January 24, 2009.

The promotion recently made the official announcement, as well as confirmed several more previously rumored match ups for the fight card.

Of course, “Day of Reckoning,” which was originally slated to go down on October 11, 2008, before being postponed, will feature one of the most anticipated fights in the history of the sport between WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko and former UFC title holder Andrei Arlovski.

Another former UFC heavyweight champion, Josh Barnett, was also confirmed for the card. His opponent is unknown at this time.

Eleven total bouts are expected to eventually round out the card, including a light heavyweight showdown between Renato “Babalu” Sobral and Matt Lindland. Vitor Belfort is also expected return against a soon to be announced opponent.

Prior to the PPV broadcast, which will be produced and distributed by Showtime Networks Inc. in conjunction with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, several fights will be televised on the HDNet channel.

In fact, a light heavyweight tilt between Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Vladimir Matyushenko will headline the televised HDNet preliminary card that will serve as a lead in to the PPV event.

To check out the latest Affliction: “Day of Reckoning” fight card and rumors click here. For additional ticket information and sales, which range in price from $50-$450, click here.

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“Todd Beard was not and has never been an officer, director or shareholder of Affliction Entertainment. The dispute between Mr. Beard and the Coutures stemmed from a long-standing relationship with the clothing line Xtreme Couture. In no way, shape or form does this relationship have any effect on Mr. Trump or the Affliction Entertainment Company. Donald J. Trump and Affliction Entertainment intend on continuing its pursuit to become the premier mixed martial arts league and look forward to the next event scheduled for January 2009.”

– – In light of the recent events surrounding Todd Beard, who resigned from his post at Affliction last week because of a restraining order put in place on him by Kim Couture, Michael Cohen, Chief Operating Officer of Affliction Entertainment and as Special Counsel to Donald J. Trump has issued the statement above to clarify his role — or lack there of — in mixed martial arts side of the company. Beard has since issued and apology and entered into a treatment facility to address his substance abuse and anger issues. For more background click here.

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Even though it appears that Elite XC is dead, it doesn’t mean that Showtime has lost interesting in airing mixed martial arts events.

Affliction: “Day of Reckoning,” which will be broadcast on pay-per-view (PPV) January 24, will now be produced and distributed by Showtime Networks Inc. in conjunction with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, according to SI.com.

The event will feature one of the most anticipated heavyweight fights of all time between WAMMA champion Fedor Emelianenko and former UFC title holder Andrei Arlovski.

For the past two years the premium cable channel has aired 14 Elite XC shows, including nine Sho XC Challenger Series cards and five other major events for the promotion.

When the organization recently closed its doors, Showtime claimed that Pro Elite had defaulted on a number of high dollar loans and that the network would auction off any remaining assets in an attempt to recover the money owed from those loans.

Several high profile MMA agents and managers have joined forces in an attempt to block the auction, which will include any remaining fighter contracts left over from the failed promotion. The auction has since been postponed.

For more on the Allfiction: “Day of Reckoning” event click here.

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The featured bout of the HDNet portion of Affliction: “Day of Reckoning,” which will serve as a lead-in to the pay-per-view (PPV) telecast on January 24, will be a light heavyweight rematch between Vladimir Matyushenko (21-3) and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (15-3).

The two first met at a Universal Fighting-Arts Organization show in August of 2002 with Matyushenko earning the win by unanimous decision.

Matyushenko is coming off an impressive run through the International Fight League’s (IFL) 205-pound division over the last couple of years. In fact, he defeated Alex Schoenauer last November to become the first ever IFL light heavyweight champion. He successfully defended the belt five months later with a second round technical knockout over Jamal Patterson.

When the promotion went under earlier this year, Matyushenko left as the only division champion in the two-year history of the organization.

The Russian is also a five-fight UFC veteran, posting a record of (3-2) during his time in the Octagon. He was granted a shot at Tito Ortiz’s 205-pound belt at UFC 33, but came up just shy in the decision loss.

Nogueira has won all three of his fights since a loss to Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at Pride 33 nearly two years ago. He defeated Moise Rimbon by unanimous decision two weeks ago at Sengoku: “Sixth Battle.” Before that he took out Edwin Dewees at Affliction’s first event back in July, and also stopped Todd Gouwenberg back in February at a Hardcore Championship Fighting event.

A heavyweight bout between Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello and Kiril Sidelnikov has also been confirmed for the HDNet telecast. HDNet will air the undercard of Affliction: “Day of Reckoning” live on January 24 before the PPV, which will be headlined by WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko defending his title for the first time against former UFC champ Andrei Arlovski.

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In wake of the restraining order filed by Kim Couture against Todd Beard — one of the original founders of the Affliction clothing brand — earlier this week, the t-shirt manufacturer/mixed martial arts promotion today announced that Beard would be resign from his post with the company.

Beard has a history of violence against women, including allegations of punching his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach in 1996, as well as several other cases of domestic abuse. He also served 30 months in a federal prison for three felony counts of conspiracy, wire fraud and mail fraud.

In short, Beard is not the straightest arrow in the quiver.

As a result of his latest actions, he issued a public apology regarding the Couture situation along with his resignation.

Here’s a snip:

“I would like to apologize for my comments that may have offended Kim and Randy Couture and Mr. Spira. I had a long-standing relationship with the Coutures and I was deeply and emotionally hurt by some of their recent business decisions. I have only the best of intentions for the success of the Affliction and Xtreme Couture clothing brands and understand that there are personal issues I must address.”

Beard also addressed the fact that he has an alcohol abuse problem to go along with his anger management issues. He’ll be seeking professional help for both problems.

All of this comes a little more than two months before Affliction MMA’s second ever event, “Day of Reckoning,” which is set for the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., on January 24. The highly anticipated heavyweight showdown between WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko and former UFC champ Andrei Arlovski is scheduled as the featured bout of the night.

For what it’s worth, it’s important to note that Tom Atencio, not Beard, is the one who runs the MMA promotional side of the business. Therefore, from an inhouse logistics perspective, his departure should not have much –if any — impact on them running live events.

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Heavyweights Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello (26-10) and Russian Sambo specialist Kiril Sidelnikov (4-2) have been signed to compete on the under card of Affliction: “Day of Reckoning,” which is set for the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., on January 24, according to SI.com.

“The Headhunter” also competed on Affliction’s first card back in July, outscoring last minute replacement Gary Goodridge on the judges scorecards to earn a unanimous decision victory. He was originally scheduled to face Aleksander Emelianenko, but the Russian was forced out of action after having trouble getting cleared by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).

Over his past 13 fights Buentello has only dropped two contests — one was for a shot at Andrei Arlovski’s UFC heavyweight title back at UFC 55 and the other was at the hands of Alistair Overeem last November on a Strikeforce card.

The 20-year-old Sidelnikov — who is sometimes referred to as “Baby Fedor” because of his nationality and skill set — is nowhere near the experience level of a guy like Buentello, but certainly has the talent to prevail in this fight.

All six of his professional fights have been under the M-1 banner. He dropped a decision loss to Jarno Nurminen (4-1) back in June, and had previously lost by doctor stoppage to Antonio Mendes (15-3) last July.

Neither of these guys are shy about trading punches, meaning this one shouldn’t disappoint. This should be a solid addition to another stacked Affliction card.

Along with the light heavyweight showdown between Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Vladimir Matyushenko, this fight will be aired on the HDNet portion of the event’s under card telecast.

The main card for Affliction: “Day of Reckoning” will air live on pay-per-view (PPV), beginning at 10 p.m. ET on fight night. For more on that fight card click here.

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Kim Couture — wife of UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture — today had her request for a restraining order against Affliction CEO Todd Beard granted because of threats to her personal safety.

Affliction manufactures and sells Randy’s clothing line, Xtreme Couture, which is operated by Kim. Apparently, Couture’s decision to return to the UFC to defend his belt against Brock Lesnar at UFC 91: “Couture vs. Lesnar” this weekend did not sit well with Beard.

That’s more than likely because Couture fled the organization to pursue a fight with Fedor Emelianenko — Affliction’s crown jewel — in late 2007. It never materialized, however, because of a long and protracted legal dispute that appeared to have no immediate end.

To add more fuel to the fire, a possibly inebriated Beard recently bashed Randy on Scott Ferrall’s Sirius Satellite Radio show, claiming he was getting set up to lose by the UFC. He also wasn’t shy about saying how he wanted the fight to go either.

Here’s a snip:

“Randy if you’re listening right now, I hope Lesnar (expletive) kills you.”

Apparently, Beard’s vendetta reached the point to where he was threatening Kim to the point where she felt she needed to take legal action. MMAmania.com contacted Kim, asking her about the situation, but she didn’t have much to say about it.

“Yeah, whatever is out there is accurate,” she said. “I don’t want to — and really can’t — comment on that right now.”

Couture (0-1) will face Lina Kvokov (0-1) at the HP Pavillion in San Jose, California on November 21 as part of the Strikeforce: “Destruction” event, and Randy will make his return to the UFC to defend his world heavyweight crown against the highly decorated collegiate wrestler and former WWE powerhouse Brock Lesnar this Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada in the main event of UFC 91.

Beard will be legally prohibited from being in attendance at both events.

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Here’s the latest update from the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy,” which seems to change anyway the wind blows:

(Thanks to BloodyElbow.com for the assist.)

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Mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran and Olympic silver medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling (2000), Matt Lindland, came up short in his bid to defeat Suzanne VanOrman in the political race to capture the Oregon House of Representatives in District 52.

Lindland earned 42 percent of the vote compared to VanOrman’s 58 percent — effectively surrendering the seat previously held by retiring Rep. Patti Smith, R-Corbett.

“The Law” is no stranger to state politics. He played an integral role in the effort to legalize mixed martial arts in Oregon after becoming the state’s first licensed promoter. His addition to the Republican House would have provided a major boost to a sport that is continually trying to break into new markets.

Perhaps now Lindland can get back to his full-time duties as a mixed martial artist. He’s set to face Renato “Babalu” Sobral in a 195-pound catchweight bout during Affliction MMA’s encore offering at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., on January 24,

Lindland recently scored a unanimous decision win over Fabio Negao during the July Affliction show. It was self-admittedly a rather disappointing fight, which eventually turned into a wrestling match.

Despite the win, he blamed his political responsibilities and other factors for the poor performance and assured fans that he would be back to his normal form his next time out.

He doesn’t have much choice going against a dangerous opponent such as Babalu.

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Props: AfflictionClothing.com

(Note that we pieced the above poster together to illustrate the stacked encore show the promotion has in the works. More on Affliction later today.)

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