MMA: Affliction Reveals First Card, Includes Arlovski-Rothwell and Barnett-Rizzo

According to several reliable sources, Affliction has confirmed many rumoured match-ups while adding several new ones to its inaugural event set for July 19 in Anaheim, Calif. 

The card features several of the world’s top heavyweights and established fighters from other divisions and promotions.

Affliction, a clothing-based company, sponsors many pro fighters but was recently banned from appearing at UFC and Elite XC events.

These organizations do not want to promote a rival organization by having their fighters wear Affliction clothing.

In an ironic twist, Affliction has decided to name their first event Affliction: Banned. The main card will be shown on pay-per-view, while the undercard may be shown on the premium broadcast channel HDNet.

Negotiations between the two companies over broadcasting rights continue. The event was originally scheduled to take place in Dallas. The venue was then moved to The Pond in Anaheim.

A fight between top 10 heavyweight and former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski and IFL superstar Ben Rothwell is expected to happen.

Rothwell is also currently signed with another promotion, Adrenaline MMA. He will miss Adrenaline’s first card on June 14 but is slated to fight for them in September.  

Arlovski is on a three-fight win streak, while Rothwell has won 13 in a row and remains undefeated in the IFL. Arlovski will be a huge test for Rothwell, as he looks to establish himself as one of the premier heavyweights in MMA.

Also on the card, top heavyweights Josh Barnett and Pedro Rizzo will be having their second fight against each other. The latter won their first meeting by knockout back in 2001. Middleweight contender Matt Lindland will be on the card as well.

Aleksander Emelianenko is scheduled to fight Paul Buentello in a bout that promises to be a slugfest, while light-heavyweights Renato “Babalu” Sobral and Mike Whitehead prepare to combat each other.

Affliction: Banned features as a main event the highly-anticipated match-up between Top Five heavyweights Fedor Emelianenko and Tim Sylvia.

Fedor wants to reassert his position as the No. 1 ranked heavyweight in the world, while Sylvia is looking to become the first man to legitimately defeat Fedor in MMA competition.

Affliction will be looking to make a splash with their first card as they enter the ever-competitive world of mixed martial arts. Here is the full card (subject to change): 

• Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tim Sylvia
• Josh Barnett vs. Pedro Rizzo
• Ben Rothwell vs. Andre Arlovski
• Aleksander Emelianenko vs. Paul Buentello
• Matt Lindland vs. Fabio Negao
• Renato Sobral vs. Mike Whitehead
• Savant Young vs. Mark Hominick
• Brett Cooper vs. Mike Pyle
• Ray Lamaza vs. Justin Levens
• JJ Ambrose vs. Patrick Speight

Sources for this article include: mmahq.com, cagepotato.com, siteground190.com