Fedor vs. Barnett 'Not Finalized Yet'

The Russian version of the M-1 Global website announced today that Fedor Emelianenko and Josh Barnett will finally meet at Affliction 3 in early August.

However, when FanHouse contacted Affliction Entertainment VP, Tom Atencio, on Monday, he said that the organization's third event is not a done deal.

"I haven't finalized it yet," Atencio said. "You know me, I like to get everything finalized before making an announcement."

Atencio is currently in Biloxi, Miss., promoting the "Ultimate Chaos" mixed martial arts event headlined by Bob Sapp vs. Bobby Lashley. The 42-year-old Atencio (1-0) will be facing MMA rookie Randy Hedderick (0-0) on the card.

"I'm doing something Dana White won't do and that's fight," Atencio said at Monday's press conference. "He talks like a fighter, so why doesn't he fight? I'm stepping up to the plate and win, lose or draw I attempted it. I don't ever think he would fight."

Whether or not Emelianenko vs. Barnett is official, the fact that M-1 Global and Atencio are even acknowledging a third event has to be seen as a good sign for Affliction MMA fans. The promotion was once rumored to be on the verge of closing its doors earlier this year. And of course, where there's smoke, there's fire. M-1 Global, one of Affliction's partners, must have had a pretty good reason to post that news.

Obviously, things can change at any instance, but it seems pretty safe to say that Affliction 3 will happen later this summer. You can probably also bet that the heavyweight matchup featuring arguably the two best big men in the sport will headline the event. Atencio said that Emelianenko vs. Barnett is the fight he has wanted to make since January and is confident it will finally happen.

Stay tuned.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

5-04-2009 @ 7:43PM

Guitar God!!!!!! said...

Should be a pretty good fight, but the only way Barnett will win is by decision if he can use his wrestling to keep Fedor pinned and unable to pull of a submission from the bottom. Unfortunately that would make for a very boring fight. I say Fedor will win by knockout or armbar early in the second round.

5-04-2009 @ 11:36PM

kwilbur3 said...

Yeah I really can't see how barnett could win, because Fedor is Fedor. He didn't look like Fedor against Arlovski because of the Sambo thing and the acting thing, but still he finished Andrei even though he is known for a glass jaw. The only person who has a good chance against Fedor is mr andrei arlovski. sorry. but he was faster than Fedor and clearly taking it to him. After Fedor beats Barnett a rematch with Arlovski has to come.

5-05-2009 @ 7:05AM

Eric said...

Arlovski didn't hurt Fedor at all. And Arlovski ... well, he was face down and unconscious in the first round. I'm sorry, but a 1st round knockout is a first round knockout ... regardless of the tactics Fedor employed.

5-05-2009 @ 1:27PM

the one punch Fedor threw his head was down and eyes closed. I don't want to say it was lucky but he didn't look through the punch, with that said you are right a KO is a KO but Andrei does have a weak jaw like I said a rematch would be likely because Andrei was winning and he went for a stupid move and he got caught. Don't get me wrong Fedor is awesome but he would have lost IF that fight continued. But who knows. We ALL can agree that we can't see barnett winning this fight

5-05-2009 @ 2:14PM

Arlovski didn't even get out of the first round with Fedor. Who cares if he won the first 2 minutes of a fight that was scheduled for 25!

5-05-2009 @ 9:28PM

kwilbur10 said...

did you watch the fight? just a question

5-06-2009 @ 7:50AM

I should be asking you that ... ? I've seen it a few times.

5-06-2009 @ 1:44PM

so you are telling me that andrei didn't hurt fedor. he was backing up into a corner. no one has ever done that. fedor panicked and threw a punch with his eyes closed and head down as arlovski went for a flying knee lol. LUCK buddy plain and simple.

5-06-2009 @ 3:33PM

"fedor panicked and threw a punch with his eyes closed and head down as arlovski went for a flying knee lol"

OK ... now you are just being silly. One thing Fedor NEVER does is panic. Fedor was never knocked down, rocked, cut or anything. Arlovski is a talent striker, so if Fedor needed to back up or take time to figure out Arlovski there is nothing wrong with that. I don't know what fight you were watching, but the one I saw had Fedor knocking out Arlovski in the first round.

To you & moclox42069 who some how think that the only reason Arlovski lost was because he went for a flying knee ... your confused. The knockout punch wasn't the only hard right that Fedor threw. He tried it earlier, and was looking to land it the whole fight.

5-06-2009 @ 11:36PM

wow dude. its just nothing is getting threw to you. watch the fight again. Fedor was being backed up, and yes it was the only hard punch he threw in that span of 1 min and some change. dude i don't know if you are Fedors joc rider or what man but clearly Fedor punch=lucky. I just don't how you don't see my point I can sort of see yours a KO is a KO but you are saying that he was waiting the whole time funny. a different outcome next match I promise

5-07-2009 @ 7:55AM

"dude i don't know if you are Fedors joc rider or what man but clearly Fedor punch=lucky"

I was attempting to converse intelligently with you, but I can see that's not possible.

Fedor has fought 32 times & his only loss was due to a cut from an illegal strike ... guess he gets lucky alot, huh?

5-08-2009 @ 11:48PM

no you weren't you were clearly saying the same thing over and over again. 1st round KO is a 1st round KO. you kept saying that so don't even say you were trying to debate intelligently. and another thing i wasn't talking about his other fights just the most recent one. i haven't said anything about not being the best cause he is. its just that he was getting outclassed by arlovski and his one lucky punch saved him. name another fight where fedor looked as bad as he did that night?

5-05-2009 @ 11:24AM

richardbikle said...

Fedor wins this this. I like Barnett, and he is one of the best HW's, but i don't think he's in Fedor's league. I wouldn't be surprised if this fight ends in the first round.

5-05-2009 @ 11:44AM

retrojoke said...

Barnett Keylock Submission Fedor's brother.

5-05-2009 @ 12:54PM

norse7112 said...

Who cares?????? Aleksander isn't anywhere near his brother's level. Why would you bring up something irrelevant in this discussion?

5-05-2009 @ 2:18PM

Because its interesting, its his brother. Alot of people find footnotes and tidbits interesting. Whats your problem?

Another interesting thing is that Josh Barnett was KO'ed by an illegal Muay Thai Headbutt from Vanderlai Silva- and guess what? Nobody saw it. I bought the DVD to research it some more and turns out Barnett Recieve a vicious swipe headbutt from Silva that stunned him and eventually put him out in a flurry seconds later.

5-05-2009 @ 4:14PM

"Josh Barnett was KO'ed by an illegal Muay Thai Headbutt from Vanderlai Silva"

Retro - What fight are you talking about? Rizzo is the only man to KO Barnett ... although Cro-cop did force him to submit from strikes.

5-05-2009 @ 6:20PM

They are really only interesting to read if they actually mean something. Comparing a victory over Aleksander (albeit a good fight) to this fight with Fedor means nothing. And Eric brings up fact, next time you want to give little tidbits out make sure you actually do research before you post it.

5-05-2009 @ 4:21PM

If anyone has the ability to takedown Fedor and avoid the submission, it's Barnett. I don't think he will do very well on the feet against Fedor though, he needs to get the fight to the ground as quickly and as often as possible.

5-05-2009 @ 11:20PM

Eric, I only disagree on the submission, I think thats where Fedor wins this. Barnett seems to have good sense and i think he gets this fight off the feet as soon as possible. I think if Fedor doesnt get a reverse on the take down he'll switch Barnett pretty quick, pummel him some then sub him. I don't see Barnett getting away from Fedor once he's on top. I really don't think we have a HW anywhere in Fedor's league, The Inmortal League.
I think Barnett is lucky to get out of the first round.

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