More problems for Affliction 2

TFK · Aug 7, 2008

First they lose Fedor, now....

Lindland vs. Belfort likely to be scratched

http://mmajunkie.com/news/4992/jay-...ffliction-lindland-vs-belfort-in-jeopardy.mma

MMAjunkie.com has also learned that a rumored Oct. 11 Affliction bout between Matt Lindland and Vitor Belfort -- both of whom were winners at Affliction's first show back in July -- could be scratched.

A source close to Belfort said that the middleweight fighter has been slowed by a lingering hand injury.

As we previously reported, the California State Athletic Commission suspended Belfort 180 days after his July victory over Terry Martin for undisclosed medical reasons (though a hand injury is believed to be the reason why).

Belfort can be cleared early by a doctor, but any signs of a hand injury would make an October return unlikely.

MMAjunkie.com coudln't immediately reach Belfort or Lindland for comment, but we'll have more on this story later in the week.
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Alexander Emelienko out....

http://mmajunkie.com/news/4996/alek...-chris-horodecki-in-for-oct-11-affliction.mma

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However, Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) -- a heavyweight fighter who was pulled from Affliction's debut event just seconds before he was set to weigh in for his fight with Paul Buentello -- will not be part of the October event.

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Meanwhile, Atencio confirmed that Emelianenko -- a former PRIDE fighter and the younger brother of Affliction fighter Fedor Emelianenko -- will not be part of the Oct. 11 show, as was first planned.

Just as he was about to hit the scale for Affliction's event last month, Emelianenko was unexpectedly pulled from the fight card. (Gary Goodridge was quickly announced as a replacement.) The California State Athletic Commission stated that the 27-year-old fighter failed to meet licensing requirements, though officials could not divulge the reason why due to privacy regulations. Although it was widely reported that Emelianenko had tested positive for Hepatitis B, his camp has repeatedly denied the claims.

Emelianenko was visibly distraught after the decision and said the situation came as a complete surprise. And although he was optimistic the fighter could be cleared for the second event, Atencio said Emelianenko still faces licensing problems and that the organization had to move on without him being a part of the Oct. 11 event.
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Tito Ortiz no shows Afflcition press conference, signing just a rumor...

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/no-show-ortiz-let-the-games-begin-13937

Tito Ortiz (Pictures) knows itâ€™s all about the timing.

Which is why most of the fight community tuned in to a news conference Wednesday in Las Vegas for the Oct. 11 Affliction 2 "Day of Reckoning" only to hear that the fighter would not only not be attending, but also that he has not yet been signed by the promotion.

SI.com reported Tuesday that the boisterous light heavyweight had become a free agent on Monday and was hours away from announcing a deal with Affliction, though the report was later updated to describe Ortizâ€™s signing as a possibility.

Legal counsel for Affliction Entertainment said Wednesday that Ortizâ€™s signing was only a â€œrumor,â€ and that when he was released from his contractual obligations, the promotion would be interested in signing him.

â€œDon Trump Jr., myself and Tito engaged in a conversation,â€ said Michael Cohen, executive vice president of The Trump Organization and special counsel to Donald Trump, who started a business relationship with the promotion in June. â€œThere is nothing substantive that was discussed other than the fact we are interested in sitting down with him, which we're planning on doing in the very near future.â€

Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio would not address Ortiz's claims to SI.com that the potential deal would be a â€œground-breaking record contractâ€ that included duties outside the ring as well. Atencio said he has not yet spoken with Ortiz.

Ortiz, 33, recently satisfied a multi-fight contract with the UFC. He has served as one of the promotionâ€™s top three draws for the last 11 years. It is believed Ortiz has recently completed a â€œmatching periodâ€ that is standard within the promotionâ€™s contracts in which Zuffa can match any rival offers made for the fighterâ€™s services.

Disillusionment between UFC President Dana White and the polarizing Ortiz has been well documented, and the fighter has publicly commented that he would not re-sign with the UFC on numerous occasions.

Ortiz has been here before, however. In 2005, the fighter strongly hinted he would be signing with the now-defunct World Fighting Alliance, only to come to terms with Zuffaâ€™s majority owner, Lorenzo Fertitta, in the negotiationâ€™s eleventh hour.

The December 2006 rematch between Ortiz and Chuck Liddell (Pictures) remains the highest grossing MMA pay-per-view in the sportâ€™s history, reportedly netting more than 1 million buys.

Ortiz (15-6-1) dropped a unanimous decision to Lyoto Machida (Pictures) (13-0) at UFC 84 â€œIll Willâ€ on May 24 in Las Vegas, marking Ortizâ€™s second loss in three fights.
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More problems for Affliction 2

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