I was just checking out the Affliction Banned card for July 19th at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and let me just say, this is the most exciting MMA card I have ever seen, especially in the heavyweight division.
Here is a list of the Heavyweight matchups and my predictions.
Tim Sylvia (24-4) vs. Fedor Emelianenko (27-1)
Fedor is the consensus number one heavyweight mma fighter in the world.
My biggest concern with Fedor is his that he not fought a big fight in a while. His last two opponents are Hong Man Choi, a fighter he did encounter some problems with early and Matt Lindland (who usually fights at 185). He has notable wins over Mark Coleman, Mirko Cro Cop, Mark Hunt, Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera, Renato Sobral and Ricardo Arona.
Tim Sylvia is one of those fighters, that although he is a unanimous top ten heavyweight I have never been thoroughly impressed with. Let’s face it when he did most of his damage, the UFC had a fairly weak heavyweight division. He has beaten Arlovski two times, but of late he has lost 2 out his last three fights, the losses coming to (Antonio Noguiera and Randy Couture)
Fedor will take the fight, winning via TKO, as I could just see the king of ground and pound lighting up Sylvia.
Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) vs. Paul Buentello (23-10)
Buentello is the man that I constantly hear about in feedback to every Kimbo Slice article I write. Buenetello has fought in the UFC (where he lost to Arlovski), Strikeforce and King of the Cage. Buentello does not have a win against a top tier opponent, he recently lost to Allstair Overeem.
Emelianenko is on a 4 fight winning streak since losing to Fabricio Werdum . His most notable win is against Sergei Kharitonov. He has lost to Josh Barnett and Cro Cop.
My Prediction is Emelianenko to win via decision in an all out war.
Josh Barnett (21-5) vs. Pedro Rizzo (16-7)
Pedro Rizzo is no slouch in the MMA business. He has beaten Barnett before albeit it was at UFC 30 back in 2001. What concerns me is his lack of fighting he has not fought since Sept. 1, 2007) and a noticeable decline in his performance. Since his win over Barnett, he has gone just 5-6 over his last 11 fights.
Josh Barnett is easily on most lists of Top 5 Heavyweights. He is the man who beats everyone except for Mirk CrCop, who he has lost to 3 times. He has notable wins over Randy Couture, Antonio Nogueira, Mark Hunt and Dan Severn. Barnett has also fought twice this year, both fights he won.
Interestingly both fighters both fought Jeff Monson in their last fights.
Barnett will win this fight via submission or decision, avenging one of his few MMA losses during the past 7 years.
Ben Rothwell (29-5) vs. Andrei Arlovski
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7 months ago
Gross can't get into a UFC event because he Leaked information concerning TUF. The open letter he wrote didn't help, but it's the info leak that did the damage.
The reason White Banned Affliction was because of the photo's taken of Couture and Fedor that Affliction made look like a fight poster.
7 months ago
more like the best heavyweight fight card ever
from 7 months ago
I agree. MMA fans gotta love this sort of top tier match-ups.
from 7 months ago
I agree. its more like the best heavyweight fight card ever.
7 months ago
I agree.....probably the best heavyweight card ever!!!!
I can't wait to see it!!!!
7 months ago
I can see Fedor winning via submission before I see him getting a TKO, but I do agree that if he gets a TKO it will be ground and pound! Fedor could get him down but I think Tim's length and intelligence will allow him to fend off a ground and pound attempt. I see Fedor grabbin one of Tim's mile-long arms and finishing him via arm-bar!
7 months ago
Arlovski is too quick and explosive for Rothwell!!!! Andrei will win via TKO!!!!
7 months ago
Emelianenko brothers will both clean up in the first round. Fedor by sub and Aleks by knockout. Barnett will take it by decision. Rothwell vs Arlovski is, I believe, the most up in the air. Arlovski is shown to get scared when hit and shrink back. I could see Rothwell getting beaten early and then landing a shot that will make Arlovski mentally quit.
7 months ago
Finally!!! Those of us who were big Pride fans were waiting for something like this. Also on this card Noguerra vs Vernon "Tigger" White... Vitor Belfort vs Terry Martin.... and several other fighters from the IFL ( Who is going bankrupt). I really hope they can keep this up they can surpass the UFC easy. This card is better than anything the UFC has done. Even though they did have a couple good cards this Affliction Card is way better.
from 7 months ago
whoa with all the hyperbole. we cant start pronoucing fight promotions better than the UFC before they have put on their first card! just because the card looks great on paper doesnt mean the broadcast will be amazing, what about lighting, the broadcast team, what if they have horrible booty shaking dancers, and take 35 min in between fights like Elite XC did?
It is a promising and exciting card, but lets reserve judgment until after we have seen the finished product at least!
7 months ago
Yeah, and I also think the calibur of all these fights as a whole is overrated. The one good thing is it looks like they set up a lot of exciting fights. For instance: the thing I like about Buantello is that he's never won a fight by decision.
from 7 months ago
Robert I totally disagree. Point me in the direction of a better heavyweight card? Please, I will be eagerly awaiting your response.
from 7 months ago
There isn't a better heavyweight card that comes to mind. I'm just saying I'm not sold on it being the best card of all time (it has potential to be... but several cards in the past few years have had that same potential). Can you blame me? Don't put words in my mouth! :P
Also it has a lot to live up to when compared to UFC 84, which was a card not even a month old. And if UFC 87 keeps adding good fights that could be a great card too.
7 months ago
i would watch just to see these eight fight eachother once, better yet, it'd be great if they brought back the tournament style of the Pride Grand Prix
7 months ago
I was a huge fan of Pride, I definitely enjoyed the production of it more than the UFC. The Pride Grand Prix is my all time favorite tournament.
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