SPORTSSHERDOG
Sherdog.com Home
News Blog Videos Sherdog Radio Pictures MMA Statistics Sherdog Forums Sherdog Store
Fight Finder

  First Name
  Last Name
  Nick Name
News Quicklinks
» Tibau Preparing for Uno, Dreams of Fight with Penn
» Reljic: 'Doctors Said I'd Never Fight Again'
» Weekend Rundown: Injured Junie Folds at Wild Bill's
» UFC 109 Payouts: Couture Earns $250,000
» Yoshida’s Retirement Bout to Headline ‘Astra’ Event
» Serra-Longo an Exception to the Rule
» WEC Veteran Baker Signs with Bellator; Reis Returns
» Coleman ‘Probably’ Finished in UFC, White Says
» UFC 109 Bonuses: Sonnen Picks Up $60K Along with Title Shot
» Couture Chokes Out Coleman at UFC 109
Update: Fedor-Barnett Bout in Jeopardy
 Options: | Printer Friendly
Update: Fedor-Barnett Bout in Jeopardy
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
by Loretta Hunt (lhunt@sherdog.com)

Affliction Entertainment and M-1 Global are looking for a new opponent to face Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction “Trilogy” on Aug. 1 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Multiple sources have told Sherdog.com that the California State Athletic Commission will not license Josh Barnett after a positive test result. Calls to Affliction Entertainment were not immediately returned. The CSAC said a comprehensive statement would be issued Wednesday.

Barnett said he had not been notified of any issues with his eligibility as of Tuesday evening.

“I took my test three weeks ago. I would have thought I would have heard something by now,” Barnett told Sherdog.com.

However, the former UFC heavyweight champion said he had not checked his phone messages recently and later added, “No matter what happens with this, I can assure you I will clear my name. This will not be something that I am defined by.”

Vitor Belfort has agreed in principle to face the world’s No. 1 heavyweight on 11 days’ notice, according to two separate sources close to the negotiations. One source told Sherdog.com that Emelianenko will have the opportunity to choose between Belfort and Bobby Lashley. Lashley has denied knowing anything about replacing Barnett, though.

"I don't know if I would want it right now. Since the last fight, I haven't really been into training again," he said. "That fight is next week. That would be something I would really have to take a look at. To just jump in there probably wouldn't be the smartest thing for me right now. A lot of people would say that might be a money fight. They figure, 'If we give him enough money, will he do it?' That's what people tend to look at. I don't want to get into fighting for the money so much right now.”

Belfort, a former UFC light heavyweight champion, is scheduled to face American Top Team standout Jorge Santiago in a middleweight bout on the Aug. 1 card.

Greg Savage, T.J. De Santis and Jeff Sherwood contributed to this report, which was updated at 1:06 a.m. EST with additional information from Lashley.
 

RELATED NEWS:
Live UFC Fight Night Weigh-in Results
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Showtime Said to Want Bona Fide Heavyweight
Friday, July 24, 2009
Belfort’s 10-Day Plan
Friday, July 24, 2009
Update: Affliction Cancels ‘Trilogy’
Friday, July 24, 2009
Worth the Weight
Friday, July 24, 2009
Handicapping Affliction’s Void
Friday, July 24, 2009
RECENT JOSH BARNETT NEWS:
Barnett’s CSAC Appeal Postponed a Third Time
Monday, December 21, 2009
Barnett Granted Second Extension for CSAC Appeal
Monday, October 26, 2009
Barnett Granted Extension to CSAC Appeal
Monday, August 24, 2009
Barnett Likely for Nov. 7 Sengoku Event
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Second Sample Also Positive For Barnett
Friday, July 31, 2009
Barnett Questions Positive Test
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Search News Archive:   February 2010     January 2010     December 2009    
Sherdog.com, A property of CraveOnline, a division of AtomicOnline, LLC.
© 2009 CraveOnline Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | RSS | Mobile | Advertise
Not in any way associated with Crave Entertainment, Inc.