Adding to the speculation of Affliction's forthcoming "major announcement," it now appears WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko will be featured on the re-scheduled "Affliction: Day of Reckoning."
NBCSports.com reported the addition of Emelianenko to a new Jan. 17, 2009, date after speaking with Affliction Chief Operating Officer Michael Cohen.
Messages MMAjunkie.com (
www.mmajunkie.com) left with Cohen and Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio were not immediately returned.
Although Cohen told NBCSports.com that Emelianenko's services are secured, his potential opponent was not yet named.
"It is to be determined," Cohen was quoted as saying. "We are considering changing the combatants. We have not finalized that at this time. That is as a result of the issues to be revealed at the announcement."
Emelianenko was originally scheduled to face Andrei Arlovski at Affliction's Oct. 11 sophomore effort. A hand injury Emelianenko suffered in his 36-second July victory over former UFC-heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia forced him off the card, though, and top-ranked heavyweight Josh Barnett was tapped as a replacement.
The rescheduled event is rumored to be held at the site of the organization's debut -- the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. That event drew nearly 15,000 spectators for a live gate of $2.1 million. According to company officials, "Affliction: Banned" also did more than 100,000 pay-per-view buys.
Advertising for the Oct. 11 event, which was scheduled to air on pay per view with an HDNet-televised preliminary card, had already begun.
