Final Notes, Preview of Affliction's Day of Reckoning

MMA is a strange business these days with just as many people seemingly rallying against the reign of Dana White in UFC as there are predicting the end of Affliction's MMA hopes following tonight's Day of Reckoning show.

Can't we all just get along?

Let's put everything aside for a bit and look at the Saturday show, which is part of a huge weekend of combat sports events, set for 9 pm EST tonight on PPV/HDNet Fights.

- WAMMA Champion Fedor Emelianenko (28-1, 230 pounds) vs. Andrei Arlovski (14-5, 237 pounds): This will be a major test for Fedor who is facing a rejuvenated Arlovski, a winner of his last five fights. The former UFC Heavyweight Champion has knocked out his last two opponents (Ben Rothwell, Roy Nelson) and will be looking to test his boxing acumen against Fedor.

Emelianenko will have the usual pressure of being regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world and in Arlovski, actually has an opponent to be wary of. Fedor hasn't lost a fight since December 2000 and has won his last six by submission. A knockout artist against a submission master. Two big win streaks. Two champions. Sounds like a good fight to me. RRC predicts that Fedor will win via third round submission.

- Josh Barnett (23-5, 248) vs. Gilbert Yvel (35-12-1, 240): You can read my write-ups on Barnett and Yvel for more detailed information, but this is an interesting fight for a lot of reasons. Both men can put themselves in line for a title fight with Fedor with a win and both have significant back stories to make that interesting. RRC will begrudgingly take Yvel to win via second round knockout.

In other PPV action:

- Dan Lauzon (11-2, 155.5) vs. Bobby Green (7-1, 155.5): Green was a late injury sub for Chris Horodecki, which is always bad news for the new guy's opponent.

- Renato Sobral (31-7, 204) vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (5-3, 205): Sobral is coming off a big Strikeforce Light Heavy title win against Bobby Southworth and Sokoudjou needs a win to help re-establish himself after he was cut by UFC in November.

- Vitor Belfort (17-8, 184) vs. Matt Lindland (21-5, 186)

- Kiril Sidellnikov (5-2, 228) vs. Paul Buentello (26-10, 244)

In addition, HDNet will begin airing undercard fights starting at 7 p.m. Eastern. There is some good action here, especially the Hieorn and Nogueira fights:

• Brett Cooper (7-4, 169) vs. Patrick Speight (7-1, 169)
• Albert Rios (10-3, 145) vs. Antonio Duarte (11-1, 145)
• L.C. Davis (11-1, 143.75) vs. Bao Quach (15-8, 145.5)
• Jason High (6-0, 170) vs. Jay Hieron (16-4, 169.25)
• Vladimir Matyushenko (21-3, 204.5) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (15-3, 204.75)

You can find results here later on tonight and WEC Faber vs. Pulver II and WWE Royal Rumble previews Sunday!

Josh Nason - josh [at] ropesringandcage [dot com] - has published MMA, wrestling and boxing blog Ropes, Ring and Cage since 2007. If you are using any content or recapping from this site, please include a link to www.ropesringandcage.com. Thank you for your support!