predecessor. But as with all of the best dramatic
works, it was during act III that we were treated
to the most spectacular twists. At the end
MMA’S
of July, mere days removed from Affliction
“Trilogy”, Josh Barnett, who was set to fight
Fedor in the main event, was refused a licence
SOAP OPERA
by the California State Athletic Commission due
to an apparent positive result for an anabolic
July 22: leaps to the defense of the organisation and
steroid during a routine test. The decision is
The California State Athletic Commission puts the blame firmly on the shoulders of Josh
final: if Barnett wants to fight, he will have to
announced the results of Josh Barnett’s test Barnett : “If anyone deserves to be criticised
do so in Japan, where promoters are a little less
for controlled substances. Barnett, after tes- it’s him.!”
discerning concerning the medicinal habits
ting positive for anabolic steroids, is refused Vitor Belfort and Jay Hieron, let their anger
of their combatants. Meanwhile at Affliction
a combatant’s license. Affliction officially be known, explaining that they had to pay
HQ, it’s total panic. After vainly searching for
announces that Barnett will not be able to their trainers to prepare them for their fights at
a last-minute replacement (pay-per-view fight Fedor. Affliction Trilogy. In other words, they want to be
provider Showtime reportedly refused all the paid, whether the fights take place or not.
names proposed), Affliction Vice-president Tom
July 23:
Atencio threw in the towel, leaving behind him
Barnett says he is “embarrassed” by the July 25:
a fallen edifice and a sentiment of immense
situation. The fighter continues to proclaim While the fighters wonder about their
disappointment with the fans.
his innocence and requests that the results future and how they are going to be compen-
But one man’s crisis is another man’s
from the second test are made public.
boom, the Zuffa management jumped on the
opportunity, without any false pretention, and
How did we
end up here,
and who is
to be held
Fedor is brought up to date when he
alights from his flight from Russia and makes
responsible?
his disappointment known. He announces sated, Affliction saves whatever can be carried
that he is prepared to take on any replace- and announces that they are packing their
ment that Affliction can find. bags and returning to the UFC as a sponsor.
not only reopened negotiations with Fedor,
but also went fighter shopping in the depths
July 24: July 26:
of the still-born Affliction card. Tough luck for
Affliction’s promoters cancel the event, Discussions begin between Fedor and the
competition, but a great break for the fighters
explaining that American law does not allow UFC, Dana White and Vadim Finkelstein take
you might say. To continue, six days after the
any changes to an event card broadcast the matter in hand.
announcement, Dana White skipped back to
July 27:
Las Vegas with his trolley full: Vitor Belfort, Paul
Daley, Chase Gormley, Ben Rothwell and Dan
Lauzon were all headed in the direction of the
UFC, while L.C. Davis, Javier Vazquez and Mark
Hominick took the turn off for the WEC. Smart
businessman that he is, White took this oppor-
tunity to send a couple of shots over the bows
of Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia, both former
UFC champions, declaring that he has “no plans
CANCELLED
for either of them right now.”... We don’t know
if either of them envisioned a return to the
Octagon, but it would no doubt be pushing
the “Anti-Whiteism” a little too far to pretend
Mousasi announces that he has joined
otherwise. StrikeForce, where his fight with “Babalu” will
But everyone understood, the real prize in
(and therefore sold) on pay-per-view.
take place over five rounds for the light hea-
this story was to be found in Stary Oskol, deep
Faced with the fans anger, Ben Rothwell
vyweight belt
in the heart of Russia, the HQ of the
67
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