Belfort added to Affliction card
Affliction Entertainment on Wednesday announced the full line-up for its July 19 "Affliction Banned" event, which will take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
The fight card is separated into two live shows produced for broadcast. The night's activities will kick off with a one-hour, free live telecast on FSN (Fox Sports Net) starting at 8 p.m. ET, dubbed "Affliction Live." Following that is "Affliction Banned," consisting of five fights on pay-per-view starting at 9 p.m. ET.
Kicking off the night with "Affliction Live" on FSN is the U.S. debut of Russian heavyweight Aleksander Emelianenko, brother of Fedor Emelianenko, against tough Texan brawler Paul Buentello, of Amarillo, and Brazilian Antonio Rogerio "Minotoro" Nogueira against veteran Vernon "Tiger" White, fighting out of Palo Alto, Calif.
Then, live on pay-per-view, "Affliction Banned" features the much-anticipated return of the former undisputed Pride heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko, who takes on former two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight titleholder Tim Sylvia, fighting out of Iowa by way of his native Maine, in the main event.
The co-feature of the night will match former UFC heavyweight titleholder Andrei Arlovski, fighting out of Chicago by way of Belarus, facing International Fight League veteran Ben Rothwell of Kenosha, Wisconsin.
The PPV continues with three more showdowns as Josh Barnett of Seattle, faces off stateside for the first time in two years in a grudge match against the only opponent to ever knock him out, Brazilian Pedro Rizzo; three-time All-American wrestler Mike Whitehead of Salt Lake City battles Brazilian sensation Renato "Babalu" Sobral of Costa Mesa, Calif.; and 2000 Olympic Wrestling Silver Medalist and Oregon House of Representatives candidate Matt Lindland meets Brazilian Fabio "Negao" Nascimento.
Finally, for those in attendance at the Honda Center, the off television swing bouts will feature light-heavyweights Terry Martin of Chicago vs. Vitor Belfort from Brazil, and Justin Levens of Laguna Niguel, Calif. vs. unbeaten San Diego prospect Patrick Speight; welterweight J.J. Ambrose of Lakewood, Calif. vs. Mike Pyle of Las Vegas; and lightweight Savant Young of Lakewood vs. Mark Hominick, representing Ontario, Canada.
