MMA Worldwide

The Afflicted Affliction

Posted by MMA Worldwide on the 23 July 2009 | View Comments

On Wednesday, July 22, the California State Athletic Commission officially came out with the statement that Josh Barnett would not be given a license on account of his failure to pass a urine test that was administered June 25. The heavyweight fighter was reported to have traces of 2a-methyl-5a-androstan-3a-ol-17-one in his system, which is contained in the anabolic steroid Drostanolone.

 

The drug is most commonly used by athletes who want to retain strength while loosing mass. This may seem as an odd choice as the heavyweight fighter doesn’t need to cut weight to make the 265-pound cut off for heavyweight. However, the drug is also used by individuals who want to add muscle density or hardness. Regardless for how the drug is used, being that this is Barnett’s second ban due to steroids it is certain that his legacy may be tarnished.

 

This comes as a blow to the Affliction organization as they are now struggling to replace Barnett for their upcoming fight card. The card was supposed to feature Barnett vs. Fedor Emelianenko. Fedor, being the number 1 heavyweight in the world, and Barnett, the respectable number 2, was a match up that hardcore MMA fans were waiting all summer to see. 

 

In the 24-hr tornado that has hit Affliction in the last day there seems to now be some hope. Fellow Affliction fighter Vitor Belfort has tentatively agreed to replace Barnett and fight Fedor. Sources claim that a new purse has been put together for the two fighters and that both Fedor and Vitor have agreed to the terms but have yet to officially sign the contract. Although Vitor fights in two weight classes lower then Fedor he claims to walk around at 210 lbs.  So with him coming in fresh with no weight cut will be in his favor, as Fedor is not a big heavyweight at only 230 lbs.  The two are also the same height at 6’0 so the match up should be exciting to watch as both are coming off of consecutive quick wins in their last two Affliction appearances.

 

This is a pretty bad situation; besides already loosing Tim Silvia from the card now it’s lost its main event, but salvaged it at the cost of loosing another great bout (as Vitor was going to fight Jorge Santiago on the same card).  However, this match up between Fedor and Vitor will probably be even more explosive then any of those could be, so things just might work out for Affliction after all.