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Fedor vs. Barnett closed to being finalized for Affliction III
May 5 2009
Rumors have been rampant on the Internet the past 24 hours regarding a potential bout between former PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko and former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett having been signed to take place during Affliction and M-1's yet-to-be announced third event.
While the bout has not been finalized, M-1 Global President Vadim Finkelchtein confirmed to M-1Global.com that formal talks are indeed taking place regarding a Fedor vs. Barnett matchup and that bout agreements could be signed within the next ten days, barring any setbacks.
Official word regarding a date and a venue are not yet available, but early-August is believed to being targeted for Affliction/M-1 III with the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. anticipated as the venue for the event.
If signed, the Fedor vs. Barnett matchup will be the culmination of a bout between the two friends that has been anticipated during the PRIDE era in which the two fighters seemingly fought ever top heavyweight in the organization, except each other. Attempts by PRIDE officials to sign the matchup were thrwarted due to injuries sustained by Barnett.
Emelianenko, 30-1, is currently recognized as the undisputed WAMMA heavyweight champion of the world. He has not competed in an official bout since a first round knockout victory over former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski during Affliction and M-1's "Day of Reckoning" event on January 24.
The victory over Arlovski came amid public criticisms by UFC President Dana White that Emelianenko had not fought top competition in recent years. However, it marked the fifth time Emelianenko had defeated a former UFC heavyweight champion. If a fight vs. Barnett becomes official, the Stary Oskol native will look to add a sixth former UFC heavyweight champion to his list of victims.
Barnett is currently ranked as the number one contender to Fedor's undisputed heavyweight title, according to WAMMA. The 31-year old holds a lifetime record of 24-5 and has won his last four fights. His most recent victory took place at "Day of Reckoning" following a third round submission due to repeated punches against Gilbert Yvel.
Barnett holds notable wins in his career over former PRIDE and interim UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mark Hunt, Aleksander Emelianenko, former UFC heavyweight title challengers Pedro Rizzo and Jeff Monson, UFC Hall of Famer Dan Severn, and former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Randy Couture.
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