We wait and we wait to see who will Fedor fight. What gigantic mutant man will step into the ring and battle Russia’s Last Emperor?


The mma community sits poised on baited breath awaiting the next move of the World’s most well known martial artist and what does the World get? A strange and confusing match-up between a diminutive grappler who battles as a lightweight and well, Fedor.


Sure Fedor Emelianenko vs. Shinya Aoki sounds wild and strange but….But what?


This makes no sense. Fedor is being challenged by every heavyweight available be it Frank Mir, Couture or even Lesnar and M-1 decides to pit him against the man known for flying armbars and multi-colored tights. If Fedor wins this special match who really cares and if he loses…? If he loses what do we say, he got out pointed?


Here’s a small portion of the press release surrounding this madness:


“Complete rules of the Fedor vs. Aoki sparring exhibition are still being negotiated, but it will be presented as a special attraction during a 19-bout event scheduled to feature head-to-head M-1 Challenge matchups between host country Japan vs. England, Team USA West vs. South Korea, and Spain vs. France.“

In what might possibly be the dumbest idea since Tito Ortiz and Jenna Jameson decided to pro-create, fiveouncesofpain.com  first reported that Affliction intends on going head to head with UFC 100 on July 11.  Their edge?  The event is free and will feature the phenomenal talent of Fedor Emelianenko and Josh Barnett, a very anticipated fight since the explosive knockout of Andrei Arlovski cemented Fedor as the most feared fighter in mixed martial arts.  Affliction and their CEO’s, who should stick to making shirts, are attempting a last ditch effort to save their fighting franchise.  Unfortunately, the steam behind the UFC will make it a tough challenge for Affliction to make it past the first round.  Sam Caplan at 5 Ounces says that Affliction is in preliminary discussions to hold an event on July 11 and broadcast it for free on TV.  According to the article they want to “go out with a bang”. They also want to get their fighters to agree to reduced salaries for the final show because it will not be on PPV.  A business move which will no doubt be the nail in the coffin for the ill fated t-shirt company’s MMA lifespan.  At least it will be great advertising time on network television. Get as many eyes on the brand as possible before the whole thing disappears altogether.

Was Oscar De La Hoya paid to attend his own partnered event at the Honda Center? Skeptics are saying that Mr. De La Hoya was paid around $5 million to attend the Affliction event instead of the cross town boxing match between Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley. Rumors are flying from all over about the likely hood of Oscar De La Hoya being at the mma event when it would seem his heart and history are tied to boxing. Here’s the response that Golden Boy Promotion’s Chief Marketing Officer Bruce Binkow had for sherdog when they started to address the rumors:
“It’s ridiculous [to say] that there was a $5 million dollar fee paid [for de La Hoya’s attendance]. There’s a financial commitment obviously that Affliction made, and Oscar felt an obligation through his partners at Affliction [to attend]. I don’t know how more simple it can be and why it’s any more complicated than that. The [Affliction] pay-per-view date was set long before the boxing event, and Oscar didn’t feel right about offending his commitment to our partners in Affliction. I think it was a great night for both sports. There was packed houses at the Staples Center and the Honda Center, so we were thrilled with both events.”
Who do you believe? It makes sense to us that Oscar would want to watch Fedor battle it out here in California. When you get a new product or company we’re sure you’d want to see the investment in action.

Looks like each and every fighter participating on Saturday’s Affliction: Day of Reckoning fight card have made weight and are ready for intense mma combat. The fighters were primed to make weight and didn’t seem to be suffering any ill effects from last night’s pre-party that took place at the very chic Hollywood club, Ritual. The main event fighters Andrei Arlovski and Fedor Emelianenko both easily made the 265lb limit for a heavyweight bout each weighing in under 240lbs with Arlovski being the heavier fighter. Expect fireworks and the roar of cannons when Affliction: Day of Reckoning kicks open it’s live gate and the fights commence! Once again the fights are available on pay-per-view and tickets are still available at the Honda Center.
Affliction: Day of Reckoning Weigh-In Results
MAIN CARD (PPV)

• * 265: Fedor Emelianenko (230) vs. Andrei Arlovski (237)
  WAMMA Heavyweight Championship
  * 265: Josh Barnett (248) vs. Gilbert Yvel (240)
  * 185: Vitor Belfort (184) vs. Matt Lindland (186)
  * 205: Renato “Babalu” Sobral (204) vs. Rameau Sokoudjou (205.25)
  * 265: Paul Buentello (244) vs. Kiril Sidelnikov (225)
  * 155: Dan Lauzon (155.5) vs. Bobby Green (155.5)
• PRELIMINARY CARD (HDNet)
• * 205: Vladamir Matyushenko (204.5) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (204.75)
  * 170: Jay Hieron (169.25) vs. Jason High (170)
  * 145: L.C. Davis (143.75) vs. Bao Quach (145.5)
  * 145: Antonio Duarte (145) vs. Albert Rios (145)
  * 170: Patrick Speight (169) vs. Brett Cooper (169)

There’s something about fights that brings out fighters and there’s something about fighters that brings out women and there’s something about women that start fights. Is this going the right direction? Yes, hear me out, this is my only outlet. Women hate seeing men fight yet women love fighters. Men enjoy good athletic competition be it: Football, baseball, water polo or fighting. By fighting we mean mma combat that is fully sanctioned and with a Ref, agreed. Ok, so if you fight which by nature turns women off due to it’s terrifying way of solving problems, beefs, drama, and or family rivalry then why are the clubs, bars and events that feature said fighting filling up with more women then ever? Let’s look at the new obesity levels creating stretch marks across the nation, perhaps it’s this out of shape majority that is driving women towards the new ripped physiques of today’s fighter. With fewer men acting like men and instead reaching for the video game console and double cheeseburger snack women have been turning quickly to the scarred and thick necks of the modern fighter. Look no further then half the bars and club nights featured throughout Southern California: They are all ripe with featured fight nights and fighter promo packages. Oh, and women are flocking to these events like geese to warmer climates. If you don’t fight, no big deal there’s plenty of clothing options that will make you appear to be deeper in the sport then you are and will only heighten the visual allure these young vixens are looking for. If you do fight, please be humble and work to establish an understanding between athlete and spectator that evolves the sport of mma rather then add to it’s naysayers ideas of who fighters are. This topic could skyrocket forever but the point is right on the surface: Men need physical tests, women like winners, but they also like people who try. Work your job like its a battle, take care of your body like it’s all you got and treat people with respect and you to will be as cool as a cucumber in Jenna Jameson’s carry on bag. It’s about life and challenges and facing fears and anyone is attracted to those who attempt to face those odds head on. Speaking of attracted to fighters our girl in the pic was once described as a “wallet and belt chaser.” Ouch, groupies ain’t just for Bon Jovi and Motley Crue anymore.
Belt Chaser versus Wallet Humper= One in the same, except the Belt Chaser can get both at once.
Fighters vs. Groupies= One group fights way dirtier to get what it wants.
Obesity and fighters physiques= More women watching the UFC and mma.
More Women= Well, can you really hate that statistic?
Affliction and it’s growing fan base= Fedor, Arlovski, Babalu and some very sexy ring girls did it.
Long winded rants by a skinny writer= Hey, I’m almost to my fighting weight!
This writer vs. Eddie “The Dangerous” Jones= He needs to make weight and I need to train!!

Bobby Green, a young hardworking fighter out of the Inland Empire, will be making his big screen debut when he takes on Dan Lauzon(pic) on the Affliction: Day of Reckoning fight card this Saturday. The match-up was originally set to be Chris Horodecki, an IFL stand-out, versus the hard hitting Dan Lauzon. Due to medical injury, a bulging disc in the neck, Chris Horodecki was forced to withdraw from the fight by the California State Athletic Commission. It now falls on this same commission to quickly process Green and have him officially cleared to fight by this Saturday if we are still hoping for a Dan Lauzon fight to make the main card or to even make the card at all. If and when Green passes all his paperwork he will be facing a very stiff challenge with Lauzon who has used his never die attitude to rack up an impressive record of 11-2 with a 7 wins to 1 loss streak stretching out as we speak. Hopefully Bobby will be cleared and ready to battle it out come this Saturday, not just for his own big career moment but because we want this stacked fight card to remain heavily stacked!

The war of words begins it seems even before the fighters take to the ring/cage/octagon. Tim Sylvia, who isn’t even fighting this week or next week or well….never mind, Sylvia is calling out Andrei Arlovski as “bad for the sport” and says that The Pitbull is really “a douchebag.” One of or favorite mma news websites cagepotato has been digging through the dirt and promises us more proof to the Arlovski/Sylvia bad blood situation. It may just be some major lip-smacking and gum bumping but we’re thinking that Tim Sylvia is hoping to aid in Fedor’s victory over Arlovski simply so someone else will be featured in the nonstop Affliction ads that show Sylvia being destroyed in 36 seconds. Maybe Sylvia believes that if Arlovski is beaten as handily as he was by Fedor then the ads will diminish and disappear. Wrong. Sylvia can never get back that beating or it’s millions of views and loops all over the television and internet. Even if Andrei Arlovski is beaten and broken and sent packing, Sylvia will still be the 36 second poster boy….Forever. At Stardum we enjoy all the fighters and don’t believe for an instance that a great athlete like Andrei Arlovski, who has shown class in victory and defeat, is in any way bad for the sport. Plus, we’ve met the guy on numerous occasions and besides wearing a fanny pack from time to time the guy appears far from a douchebag. Me thinks Tim Sylvia is still stinging a little from being the other guy on the end of the televised beat down. Affliction: Day of Reckoning will be here in less then two days and we can’t f**ing wait! Check back frequently to see how this drama plays out in the world of mma competition.

It was not a good day for road rage as some of the world’s premier mixed martial artists took to the freeways and interstates in a massive mma convergence on the House of Blues Sunset Strip. Affliction, Golden Boy Promotions, and M-1 Global all took up residence for about 3 hours this afternoon to announce and recognize this Saturday’s epic event- Affliction: Day of Reckoning. The press conference included nearly every fighter featured on the fight card. It was interesting to see the very recognizable faces of the under-card to the insane name dropping of the main event line-up all doing their part to promote the event. In attendance for today’s announcements were headlining fighters Fedor Emelianenko and Andrei Arlovski. Both fighters have enormous followings here in the States as well as aboard. With the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) Heavyweight belt on the line the heavyweight match-up between Fedor and Arlovksi has continued to grow in significance and factor within the mma world. Affliction V.P. Tom Atencio and Mr. Golden Boy Promotions himself, Oscar De La Hoya both made certain that one thing we were taking away from today’s conference was the importance of this heavyweight fight. Words needed not be said from either man as the mere presence of both Arlovski and Fedor surrounded by other great mma fighters spoke very clearly to the audience that this was to be a fight card and event to remember. Some fighters expressed delight in their match-ups, a jovial Josh Barnett couldn’t help but joke about his desire to remain off of Gilbert Yvel’s list of KO’d opponents which is apparently tattooed down Yvel’s arm. Yvel, when given his chance to speak, expressed gratitude to the Athletic Commission for allowing him to fight and promised a good battle. Fedor, who probably garnered the most press coverage during the event, spoke humbly of his match-up against Arlovski and had few words outside of looking forward to fighting and continuing to train very hard. In one interview they asked Fedor, “What do you think about as you’re walking down into the ring? What goes through your mind?” After a few seconds with the interpreter Fedor responds, “I think about going home to my family and going to church.” That is why Fedor is known as the cyborg. He is incredibly cool under pressure. Think about it for a second, “The Pitbull versus The Last Emperor!” The esoteric, humble sports man versus the brash European model dating wild Belarusian! The event continued on with more introductions of fighters. Babalu, Vitor Belfort and Chris Horodecki were all showcased and introduced. The vibe throughout the House of Blues was one of laid back organization. The Affliction event ran smoothly with excellent production quality and timing. It was in a sense the perfect calm before the storm that will surely touch down this Saturday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA, January 24th 2009! Affliction: Day of Reckoning is a stacked, stacked card. After observing today’s press conference Stardum can only speculate on the outcome of Saturday’s fights. All the fighters seem relaxed, at ease, prepared and hungry for victory. Check-out Photo’s from today’s Affliction: Day of Reckoning press conference here at strdum.com and on our myspace page.
Thanks again to: Affliction, Tom Atencio, Golden Boy Promotions, and M-1 Global.