Affliction: Day of Reckoning Preview

Affliction will put on their second fight card this Saturday night in association with Golden Boy Promotions. Affliction once again has put together a very solid fight and an excellent main event that will see the WAMMA heavyweight title on the line.

Main Card (Pay-Per-View)

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski - What really can be said for analysis regarding a Fedor fight? Fedor is better than Andrei Arlovski in every aspect of MMA. Fedor’s submission and grappling game are easily far superior to Arlovski’s. Fedor’s striking technique and hand speed are better than Arlovski’s.

I’m not really sure what more needs to be said. Defeating both Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski in a six month period should finally quiet the critics who cite Fedor’s lack of top-level opponents as a reason to dethrone him as the best fighter in the world.

As much as Andrei Arlvoski’s trainer Freddie Roach want’s you to believe that Fedor’s boxing is sloppy and Andrei’s is technically superior, it’s simply not true. And even if Roach was correct, none of that matters because this isn’t a boxing match, it’s an MMA title fight.

No one can predict how this fight will go down, other than Fedor that is. This fight ends when, where and how Fedor wants it to end.

Winner: Fedor Emelianenko

Josh Barnett vs. Gilbert Yvel - Josh Barnett looks to take the final step forward and earn a shot at Fedor’s heavyweight title with a victory over Gilbert Yvel. Barnett continues to be one of the top heavyweights in MMA today and should be able to handle a journeyman like Yvel without much issue.

Barnett’s strength will always be his wrestling game which is well suited for a fight against a striker like Yvel. Look for Barnett to work the fight on the ground and secure a submission sometime in the first or second round.

Winner: Josh Barnett

Vitor Belfort vs. Matt Lindland - Vitor Belfort has looked more and more like his “old self” in his past few fights and looks like he finally has his head back in the game which could be a dangerous thing for the rest of the light heavyweight division.

Matt Lindland is a seasoned fighter who uses his experience to his advantage more than most fighters. However, Lindland is slowing down and father time has been catching up with “The Law” lately, and I think Belfort will have too much firepower for him this fight.

Lindland will look to take the fight to the ground and work his ground-and-pound game for all three rounds. If Belfort can stuff the first few takedowns and work his standup game I think we could see this fight end early and avoid the judges scorecards.

Winner: Vitor Belfort

Renato Sobral vs. Thierry Sokoudjou - Of all the fights on the fight card, this matchup between Renato Sobral and Thierry Sokoudjou has me the most undecided. Both fighters are at a strange point in their careers and neither has looked that good recently.

Sokoudjou is coming off a loss to Luiz Cane and a terrible 1-2 record in the UFC. Sobral just won the Strikeforce light heavyweight belt in November, but only via a doctor stoppage due to a cut.

Sobral definitely should be able to win this fight easily if he takes it to the ground and works his strong submission game, but we haven’t seen “Babalu” so eager to do that recently. Sobral has been favoring a tendency to stand and strike and that might give Sokoudjou the setting he needs to get back into the win column.

Sokoudjou is an excellent judo player, but I can’t envision he wants to hit the ground with Sobral so we probably won’t see much clinch work or throws from “The African Assassin.”

If Sokoudjou can stay composed and work in some leg and body kicks with his striking he may have a shot. If Sobral fights smart and takes Sokoudjou down, this fight could, and should, be over quickly.

Winner: Renato Sobral

Chris Horodecki vs. Dan Lauzon - This fight has been dropped from the fight card because Chris Horodecki did not receive medical clearance from the California State Athletic Commission. Horodecki is suffering from a bulging disk in his neck that has reduced his arm strength to approximately 15 percent.

Winner:

Paul Buentello vs Kiril Sidelnikov - Kiril Sidelnikov is most known for being Fedor Emelianenko’s long-time training partner. Sidelnikov has spent his full professional MMA career fighting for M-1 Global and has not faced a fighter of Paul Buentello’s level yet in his career.

Buentello most recently fought on the first Affliction fight card last July where he defeated Gary Goodridge via decision. Buentello has only lost twice in his last 13 fights with those losses coming against two of the best in the game, Andrei Arlovski and Alistair Overeem.

Buentello should have the overall edge in standup and experience and should take this fight without issue.

Winner: Paul Buentello

Undercard (HDNet)

Antonio Nogueira vs. Vladimir Matyushenko - Winner: Vladimir Matyushenko
Jay Hieron vs. Jason High - Winner: Jay Hieron
Bao Quach vs. LC Davis - Winner: LC Davis
Albert Rios vs. Antonio Duarte - Winner: Antonio Duarte

Brett Cooper vs. Patrick Speight - Winner: Patrick Speight