Affliction Puts Pieces in Place for 'Reckoning'

World Association of Mixed Martial Arts heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko will defend his title against former UFC titleholder Andrei Arlovski at Affliction “Day of Reckoning” on Jan. 24 at the Honda Center in Anaheim Calif. The bout, which pairs two of the world’s top three heavyweights, will headline the pay-per-view event.

Other pieces to the anticipated show have also begun falling into place and include a catchweight fight between 2000 Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland and reigning Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Renato "Babalu" Sobral.

Sobral (31-7) -- who made waves with his dismissal from the UFC in August 2007 after he refused to relinquish a choke on David Heath -- stopped Bobby Southworth on a first-round cut to capture the Strikeforce light heavyweight crown on Friday in San Jose, Calif.

The 33-year-old Gracie Barra representative outpointed Xtreme Couture’s Mike Whitehead at Affliction “Banned” in July. He has rattled off four straight wins.

Another UFC castoff, Lindland (21-5) also fought at Affliction’s debut last summer, as he earned a unanimous decision against Fabio Nascimento. Once viewed as one of the world’s best 185-pound competitors, Lindland has become a vagabond of sorts, bouncing between the middleweight and heavyweight divisions. He has won 10 of his last 12 bouts, losing only to Emelianenko and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

Meanwhile, former International Fight League light heavyweight kingpin Vladimir Matyushenko will collide with Pride Fighting Championships veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in a 205-pound rematch.

Matyushenko (21-3) defeated Nogueira by unanimous decision at a Universal Fighting-Arts Organization event in Japan back in 2002. Having dominated competition inside the IFL, Matyushenko will carry an eight-fight winning streak into the match. The soon-to-be 38-year-old Belarusian has not competed since he stopped Jamal Patterson on strikes in April. He has been finished only once -- by Arlovski at UFC 44 -- in his career and holds other notable victories against Yuki Kondo, Pedro Rizzo and Travis Wiuff.

Nogueira (15-3) -- the twin brother of interim UFC heavyweight titleholder Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira -- has won back-to-back bouts since his stunning knockout loss to Team Quest’s Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at Pride 33 in February 2007. The 32-year-old Brazilian counts wins over two-time Olympian Dan Henderson, Japanese legend Kazushi Sakuraba and reigning Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem among his conquests. He last competed at Sengoku “Sixth Battle” on Nov. 1, when he cruised to a unanimous decision against Moise Rimbon.

Other bouts will pit one-time IFL poster boy Chris Horodecki against Dan Lauzon, former IFL welterweight kingpin Jay Hieron against Jason High and heavyweight veteran Paul Buentello against Kiril Sidelnikov.

Former UFC champions Josh Barnett and Vitor Belfort are also booked to compete at “Day of Reckoning,” though opponents have not yet been announced.

Affliction: Day of Reckoning
Saturday, Jan. 24
Honda Center
Anaheim, Calif.

WAMMA Heavyweight Championship
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski

Matt Lindland vs. Renato Sobral
Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Kiril Sidelnikov vs. Paul Buentello
Chris Horodecki vs. Dan Lauzon
Jay Hieron vs. Jason High
Mark Hominick vs. LC Davis
Antonio Duarte vs. Albert Rios
Josh Barnett vs. TBA
Vitor Belfort vs. TBA
Brett Cooper vs. TBA