Barnett out of main event of Affliction

Josh Barnett is out of the main event of Afflilction on August 1st versus Fedor Emelianenko. After a positive test for steroids, Barnett is sidelined from competing against the Russian heavyweight, considered by many as the top heavyweight in the world and possibly the number one fighter on the planet.

This leaves Affliction in a predicament of who to put up against Fedor. I'd imagine there isn't a huge list of fighters who want to step into the cage with "The Last Emperor" on just over a week's notice. It'd be quite the task just to fight him with a full training camp, but on like 10 days notice, it takes somebody with some tremendous heart to do that.

I appears Vitor Belfort might just be that guy with enough courage to do just that. Rumors are swirling around that Mr. Belfort will step up to the plate and take on Fedor. This would be an interesting turn of events because Belfort was moving in the opposite direction in his career--he was going down from 205 to fight at 185, but this fight would be jumping up to heavyweight to take on the number one fighter in the division.

You've got to go with Fedor in this fight, but one thing for sure if you can never count Vitor Belfort out. He can often be mentally defeated in tough battles that are drawn out with top contenders, but at the same time, he is one of those fighters who when they are on they are incredibly dangerous. He is coming off a 37 second defeat of Matt Lindland, one of the top fighters at middleweight. The first round, and often the first minute of the fight is a very good one for Belfort. When he is completely mentally there and in the moment, his opponents often get hurt very badly and either end up unconscious or cut to the point where they are in dire need of dozens of stitches.

I personally was planning on attending the show and am disappointed Barnett won't be fighting, but will still be happy if Fedor gets to fight on the show.

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Barnett out of main event of Affliction

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