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Bornagaincollector
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Buzz Up PrintCurrently without an opponent for the Jan. 24 “Affliction: Day of Reckoning” event, heavyweight Josh Barnett (23-5) could end up fighting undefeated EliteXC prospect Brett Rogers (8-0).
The potential bout was first reported by Sam Caplan of fiveouncesofpain.com, and a source close to Rogers today confirmed Affliction’s interest when contacted by MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
Although many EliteXC fighters are stuck in a state of limbo following the organization’s near-demise, Rogers is signed to a non-exclusive deal and would likely be granted permission to fight for Affliction.
“[Affliction] is in talks with Brett,” the source said.
“Affliction: Day of Reckoning” takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The preliminary card airs live on HDNet, and the main card, including Barnett’s bout, airs on Showtime PPV.
Barnett most recently competed in July at Affliction’s debut “Banned” event. The PRIDE and UFC veteran scored a second-round knockout and avenged a previous loss to Pedro Rizzo. It was his third consecutive victory, and it was also his eighth win in his past 10 fights since back-to-back losses to Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic in 2005.
With Fedor Emelianenko scratched from “Day of Reckoning” with a hand injury, Barnett had been scheduled to fight Andrei Arlovski when the event was originally scheduled for Oct. 11. However, when the show was rescheduled for January, Arlovski was instead scheduled to fight Emelianenko in the night’s main event. Barnett has been opponent-less since then.
Rogers, meanwhile, was one of EliteXC’s top prospects before the organization canceled its Nov. 8 event and informed the Nevada State Athletic Commission it was ceasing operations. Since then, though, the company claims it still intends to promote shows, though its eliminated most of its staff and angered many of its fighters who are now stuck in a state of limbo with their contracts.
Rogers, a Team Bison fighter, last competed in July in something of a historic fight; his 61-second knockout of Jon Murphy was the first-ever MMA bout to air live on major U.S. network television. The CBS-televised “Primetime” event took place in May in Newark, N.J.
For Rogers it was his eighth victory via stoppage in eight professional bouts. With a 3-0 mark in EliteXC, he was considered a likely opponent for Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson before his career was derailed by a 14-second TKO loss to Seth Petruzelli back in October.
The potential bout was first reported by Sam Caplan of fiveouncesofpain.com, and a source close to Rogers today confirmed Affliction’s interest when contacted by MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
Although many EliteXC fighters are stuck in a state of limbo following the organization’s near-demise, Rogers is signed to a non-exclusive deal and would likely be granted permission to fight for Affliction.
“[Affliction] is in talks with Brett,” the source said.
“Affliction: Day of Reckoning” takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The preliminary card airs live on HDNet, and the main card, including Barnett’s bout, airs on Showtime PPV.
Barnett most recently competed in July at Affliction’s debut “Banned” event. The PRIDE and UFC veteran scored a second-round knockout and avenged a previous loss to Pedro Rizzo. It was his third consecutive victory, and it was also his eighth win in his past 10 fights since back-to-back losses to Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic in 2005.
With Fedor Emelianenko scratched from “Day of Reckoning” with a hand injury, Barnett had been scheduled to fight Andrei Arlovski when the event was originally scheduled for Oct. 11. However, when the show was rescheduled for January, Arlovski was instead scheduled to fight Emelianenko in the night’s main event. Barnett has been opponent-less since then.
Rogers, meanwhile, was one of EliteXC’s top prospects before the organization canceled its Nov. 8 event and informed the Nevada State Athletic Commission it was ceasing operations. Since then, though, the company claims it still intends to promote shows, though its eliminated most of its staff and angered many of its fighters who are now stuck in a state of limbo with their contracts.
Rogers, a Team Bison fighter, last competed in July in something of a historic fight; his 61-second knockout of Jon Murphy was the first-ever MMA bout to air live on major U.S. network television. The CBS-televised “Primetime” event took place in May in Newark, N.J.
For Rogers it was his eighth victory via stoppage in eight professional bouts. With a 3-0 mark in EliteXC, he was considered a likely opponent for Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson before his career was derailed by a 14-second TKO loss to Seth Petruzelli back in October.
