Update: Fedor-Barnett Bout in Jeopardy


Wednesday, July 22, 2009
by Loretta Hunt (lhunt@sherdog.com)

18663
Affliction Entertainment and M-1 Global are looking for a new opponent to face Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction “Trilogy” on Aug. 1 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Multiple sources have told Sherdog.com that the California State Athletic Commission will not license Josh Barnett after a positive test result. Calls to Affliction Entertainment were not immediately returned. The CSAC said a comprehensive statement would be issued Wednesday.

Barnett said he had not been notified of any issues with his eligibility as of Tuesday evening.

“I took my test three weeks ago. I would have thought I would have heard something by now,” Barnett told Sherdog.com.

However, the former UFC heavyweight champion said he had not checked his phone messages recently and later added, “No matter what happens with this, I can assure you I will clear my name. This will not be something that I am defined by.”

Vitor Belfort has agreed in principle to face the world’s No. 1 heavyweight on 11 days’ notice, according to two separate sources close to the negotiations. One source told Sherdog.com that Emelianenko will have the opportunity to choose between Belfort and Bobby Lashley. Lashley has denied knowing anything about replacing Barnett, though.

"I don't know if I would want it right now. Since the last fight, I haven't really been into training again," he said. "That fight is next week. That would be something I would really have to take a look at. To just jump in there probably wouldn't be the smartest thing for me right now. A lot of people would say that might be a money fight. They figure, 'If we give him enough money, will he do it?' That's what people tend to look at. I don't want to get into fighting for the money so much right now.”

Belfort, a former UFC light heavyweight champion, is scheduled to face American Top Team standout Jorge Santiago in a middleweight bout on the Aug. 1 card.

Greg Savage, T.J. De Santis and Jeff Sherwood contributed to this report, which was updated at 1:06 a.m. EST with additional information from Lashley.

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/update ... ardy-18663

So it seems like Barnett has tried to cheat against a friend. And if its true we will have to see Fedor face a bad opponent again, just like this could very possibly be the end of affliction.

"Affliction: Trilogy" Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett headliner could be scrapped

With just 10 days remaining until the long-awaited heavyweight matchup, the "Affliction: Trilogy" main event between Fedor Emelianenko (30-1) and Josh Barnett (24-5) is likely to be scrapped.

Barnett is unlikely to be licensed by the California State Athletic Commission after potentially failing a drug test, as first reported by Sherdog.

Barnett, who reportedly denied any usage, could be replaced by Vitor Belfort (18-8) at the event, which takes place Aug. 1 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

In an email to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), a representative from the California State Athletic Commission said the regulatory body would issue a statement today. Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday morning.

Although he's won four consecutive fights, Belfort has recently been competing as a middleweight and even reportedly turned down a "Trilogy" bout with light heavyweight Gegard Mousasi because he didn't want to move up a weight class. However, he'd move up two weight classes to fight Emelianenko, though the payday is likely to be much greater.

Belfort is currently scheduled to fight surging middleweight Jorge Santiago on the event's main card, so a Belfort-Emelianenko booking would spoil at least one main-card bout from the pay-per-view broadcast, barring a last-minute replacement.

The Emelianenko vs. Barnett matchup had long been promoted and was the featured attraction at an event that could determine Affliction's future in the fight business. The potential loss of a main event between arguably the No. 1 and No. 2 heavyweight fighters in the world would certainly be a blow to the event's marketability.

If it turns out Barnett did fail a drug test, it wouldn't be the first time. The 31-year-old defeated Randy Couture to win the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 36 in 2002, but he was stripped of the belt just months later after the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced that Barnett had tested positive for an anabolic steroid. He never fought in the UFC again.

MMAjunkie.com will have more on this story throughout the day.

In the meantime, for the latest on "Affliction: Trilogy," stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

http://mmajunkie.com/news/15590/afflict ... rapped.mma

Remains to see if its true but it would be a shame for the community if Barnett that was respected as a fair fighter had used steroids.

We´ll see...