Updates on Fedor/Barnett situation

July 23, 2009 | Tim | Comments 0

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The Josh Barnett positive drug test has really muddled an otherwise intriguing Affliction: Trilogy card for next Saturday. Barnett has been denied his license by the California State Athletic Commission, although there is a chance he can get the license if his “B” sample they are testing comes back clean. The steroid that Barnett tested positive for was Drostanolone, a steroid often used by bodybuilders. According to a few sources, the steroid is one that can be flushed from the system quickly, perhaps in as little as 10-14 days. Therefore, since Barnett was tested on June 25th, about five weeks before the fight, it’s certainly possible that Barnett was planning to get off the drug a few weeks before the fight, not expecting a pre-fight test. Barnett claims he doesn’t know how or why he tested positive.

In the meantime, Affliction is trying to find an opponent for Fedor Emelianenko. Vitor Belfort has reportedly already accepted the fight, but nothing has been announced by Affliction. MMAweekly reports that Affliction will make an announcement regarding Fedor’s opponent tomorrow. Other possibilities are Brett Rogers, the Strikeforce heavyweight who recently knocked out Andrei Arlovski, and Jeff Monson, the veteran heavyweight who is on a seven fight winning streak. Monson has been the most outspoken about wanting the fight:

I’m the guy to beat Fedor. He’s a great fighter. I’d definitely love to see me fight Fedor. It’s a perfect match-up. He’s the guy I’m destined to fight. I want to be the guy to beat him. I’d definitely love to be carried off afterward…. after I submit him. My goal is to be the best in the world, even if it’s for one fight.

Belfort seems like the most likely choice at the moment, but having Belfort fight Fedor brings about other problems. Besides Fedor/Barnett, the most hyped fight on the Affliction: Trilogy card was the middleweight showdown between Belfort and Jorge Santiago. Both are top 10 middleweights, and two of the best middleweights outside of the UFC. Taking Belfort out of that fight messes with two fights on the card. Not to mention that he’ll come into the fight with Fedor at about a 20 pound weight disadvantage.

Fedor says that he doesn’t care who he fights, but it seems as if he’d prefer the fight with Rogers instead of Belfort. Fedor’s manager, Vadim Finkelshtein, said as much today to Sherdog.com:

We personally entertain the idea of having Brett Rogers step in since he knocked Andrei Arlovski out. But if there is any problem with Rogers, then it’s pretty safe to say it’s going to be Belfort. However, we are well aware of the fact that fans don’t consider Vitor Belfort to be a suitable replacement, according to a recent Sherdog poll.

The poll he sites on the website asks, “Is Vitor Belfort a suitable replacement for Fedor.” Currently 73% of those who responded answered “NO.”