UPDATED Report: Emelianenko-Barnett IS OFF
by Matt Bishop on Jul 22, 2009 8:24 AM EDT
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PrintSherdog.com is reporting the Affliction: Trilogy main event bout between Fedor Emelianenko and Josh Barnett is in jeopardy:
Multiple sources have told Sherdog.com that the California State Athletic Commission will not license Josh Barnett after a positive result on a pre-fight test. Calls to the California State Athletic Commission and Affliction Entertainment were not immediately returned.
Sherdog is indicating Vitor Belfort has agreed to "in principle" to face Emelianenko. Bobby Lashley's name also is being thrown about.
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.
[Note by Kelvin Hunt, 07/22/09 11:31 AM EDT ]
MMA Fanhouse spoke with Affliction VP Tom Atencio:
"He tested positive for a banned substance," Atencio told Michael David Smith. "The athletic commission will not reinstate his license." When asked if the August 1 MMA card was off, Atencio said only, "Him and Fedor is off." Asked whether Affliction Trilogy was still going on as planned, Atencio answered, "At this point, yes."
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I'm calling it right now...
This is the nail in Affliction’s coffin.
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i KNEW juicy barnett would find a way to weasel out of fighting his bestest fwiend for a 3rd time. i cannot stand barnett, i dont know how he got past the 1rst 2 pre-screenings. if there were actually pre-scrennings before.
What makes you think Barnett is ducking Fedor?
by The Bronzeville Bully on Jul 22, 2009 4:09 AM EDT up reply actions
BB
josh was supposed to fight fedor in pride way back when and pulled out due to injury and then fought cro-cop on the same card. he was offered the fedor fight in jan before arlovski, but declined, saying "the timing isn’t right and now, there are reports from the CSAC that the day,june 25th, the day he was tested for this upcoming fight with fedor, was the day HE HIMSELF chose to be tested. something about getting his california state liscensed renewed, since he had expired. this wasn’t a random test, this was a day that he chose to be tested, and then tested positve. you do the math. :-)
I wonder what the reported positive test was for. If true, and if it was steroids or someting, wouldn’t this be the second time Barnett has tested positive for something banned?
...some call me "el mexicutioner"...
Yep
It would be the 2nd time…first time was after the bout with Couture.
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by Kelvin Hunt on Jul 22, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
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