Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett Video: Best MMA Fight of the Summer?
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7/09/2009 1:48 PM ET By Michael David Smith
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- Michael David Smith
- Michael David Smith is FanHouse's Lead Blogger
Remember those rumors that were circulating a couple months ago about Affliction possibly staging its third MMA event on July 11, so it could go head-to-head with UFC 100? Obviously, that was a ridiculous idea that was rightly scrapped. But Affliction is doing a little bit of counter-programming this week, releasing the above video to hype its August 1 Trilogy card, featuring Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett in the main event.
And the clear message Affliction wants you to get is that Fedor vs. Barnett is the single best fight of the summer, better than anything the UFC, WEC, Dream or anyone else is offering.
I think there's a compelling case to be made that that's true: Fedor is the best fighter in the world, and Barnett is one of the best challengers he's ever faced. Most knowledgeable MMA observers will consider the winner of Fedor vs. Barnett -- and not the winner of Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir -- to be the true heavyweight champion of MMA.
Affliction won't draw anywhere near the kind of attention or pay-per-view revenue that UFC events get, and I don't think Affliction Trilogy card is as good a show top to bottom as UFC 100, UFC 101 or UFC 102. But you can make a very good case that the single best fight in MMA this summer is taking place August 1 in Anaheim.
Read More: Affliction MMA Videos Affliction+Trilogy, AfflictionTrilogy, Fedor+Emelianenko, FedorEmelianenko, Josh+Barnett, JoshBarnett
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Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Barnett has dominated his last couple opponents, this is no walk in the park for Fedor. I think i would pick Barnett over Mir or Lesnar.
Stand up and working from guard/bottom, Fedor is better. Fedor has better submissions, imo. On top they're about equal.
I see Fedor winning this by KO. If Barnett does go for the takedown i think Fedor still KO's him.
The Fedor/Barnett fight is IMO the biggest fight of not only this summer but the year so far. I'm also looking forward to Gina/Cyborg and Couture/Nogueira, but that's me.
I also disagree that this Affliction card isn't as good as UFC 100. This UFC 100 card is so over hyped and overrated it's unbelievable. It's not only NOT the best card of this year it's not even close to the best card in UFC history. Are you going to tell me it's better than UFC 40, 47, 57, 68, 84 for example. That's just more Zuffa hype to get people to buy in and order it. Which they will because most people are suckers.
Completely agreed. This is not the best fight card in UFC history, and it doesn't even have the best fight this summer, which is Fedor vs Barnett. The Affliction Trilogy show can absolutely compete with any BIG UFC show this year. From Top to Bottom, I actually give the advantage to Affliction Trilogy, and even the August Strikeforce card coming up is a pretty damn good card.
Another thing to mention is that you can watch the ENTIRE Affliction event by just ordering the PPV and having HDNet. Big fights on the HDNet undercard as well. Should be a hell of a show, from top to bottom.
Well guys I think UFC 100 is a stacked card with a mix of excellent to intriguing matchup's. GSP vs Alves is the fight I'm looking to the most on this card with Lesnar vs Mir next.
Having said that, there is nothing even remotely close to Fedor vs Barnett anywhere in the world today. I know the UFC nuthuggers like to think these guys are nobodies, but anyone who doesn't cheer based on brands, but who the fighters are will be pumped for this.
Barnett is going to be Fedor's toughest fight yet. Barnett is a large highly skilled fighter who can fight anywhere. There's very few fighters in the UFC or anywhere else that would have much of a chance against him. Everyone likes to forget that Barnett ko'd Couture last time he fought in the UFC to take the UFC HW title, but that doesn't mean anything to some, I know.
However Fedor is Fedor and even someone as big and polished as Barnett is going to go down in a heap eventually.
I think Barnett will start strong and possibly give Fedor a bit of a beat down on the ground, but once Fedor gets into it, it'll be over quick.
JOS BARNETT ESTA MUERTO, NO TIENE POSIBILIDAD REAL DE VENCER AL INVENCIBLE FEDOR.
I don't think people forget that Barnett KO'd Couture, it's more that he was on steroids when it happened and was stripped of the title.
Also, with such a stacked card, this video does quite a poor job of promoting anything else besides Fedor/Barnett. They briefly mention Mousasi/Babalu but that's it.
The end of the vid with the voiceover is laughable "Fedor looks to defend his WAMMA Heavyweight Belt against former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett. Plus, see a stacked undercard".
They would do well to hype up some of the other great fights on the card.
JT agreed that there should have been more on the under card fights as there are some beauties as mentioned Mousassi and Babalu.
Now to your point on the Barnett on steroids issue that is a very tough one. Barnett supposedly tested positive for roids after winning the UFC title. Apparently there were issues about the protocol of how the samples were taken and when Barnett took an independent test he tested negative.
This is an interesting point you bring up as it actually ties into my previous post on Lesnar and Mazagatti.
There are allegations that Barnett and the Fertitta's were in a major dispute over cash before he won the title, and then he tests positive for roids by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in a disputed test.
It makes one think doesn't it? barnett was tied up fighting for his name and that's what opened the door for him to make his move to Japan with Pancrase and Pride.
I'm one of those skeptics when it comes to the UFC upper brass. I'll give Barnett the benefit of doubt that he didn't do roids as he certainly never had a physique that looked like he did. With that he left at the top and is still one of the best in the world.
I wasn't aware of all the shady business behind the Barnett steroid test. I can't say that i'm all that surprised if it's true though. The UFC (especially in the earlier days) had many contract disputes, and the Fertittas come from a shady family. If you haven't read Total MMA by Jonathan Snowden I highly recommend it. It chronicles the Fertitta family chain from how they started their business in the first place.
Josh Barnett is very good on the ground.
Fedor ain't exactly chopped liver on the ground either. I think a lot of people forget that. Fedor is a good ground fighter, good stand-up fighter.
It's Fedor's transitional game that's so hard to beat. He's better than any other out there at it!
Josh Barnett has the best chance to win out of all od Fedor's opponents. Fedor is at a point in his career where people have read his tapes enough and have his style cornered and just waiting to outclass him.
Andrei Arlovski, in case everyone forgot, did amazing against Fedor and was technically superior to Fedor. AA's weakness has always been bad timing and a terrible overcommitment to strikes at the worst times, otherwise he could have continued to disassemble Fedor.
did arlovski even land a punch? i dont remember seeing any cuts or blood on Fedor.
i guess to a casual viewer like yourself it may seem arlovski was being effective, but anyone with some understanding realizes one punch that ends the fight is effectice while 40 punches that dont land are not effective.
Retrojoke - The problem with your observation is that just when an opponent thinks he has figured Fedor out; the opponent winds up knocked out or submitted. You can watch all the video on Fedor but with his Sambo and striking skills you will never figure him out.
Great job by "Affliction!" Fedor vs. Barnett; the two best Heavy Wheights in the world. Advatage Fedor; enough said!
"Heavyweights!" My spelling sucks! LOL...
To fans who didnt analyze the fight or use the copybox numbers and were not actually at the event(i was in row 4) it might seem like Arlovski didnt land a single blow but he actually pounded Fedor's face in early with 1-2 combinations and leg kicks(the kind that sound like snapping stick). Fedor took 3-4 right hands right before he knocked out AA.
Your talking to a practioner and a guy who goes to almost every single event live. I know my MMA and AA's was destroying Fedor. I guess youd have to know about boxing to really understand whats going on, otherwise your just blind.
when you're in vegas lets hook up practioner retro... we can have some fun.
Retrojoke - I am sure a number of us who post comments are as you meant to say Practitioners, not "Practioners" of Martial Artsas well as boxing. Your spelling is as bad as mine LOL... No need to compare resumes! However, my guess is you can probably see the punches and kicks just as clear if not more so from the screen which includes replays. To say Arlovski was "destroying" Fedor is a gross over-statement. I do agree Arlovski landed some nice shots but the bottom line is Fedor closed the show rather quickly. Fedor can beat you in so many ways unlike Arlovski.
There are none so blind as those who will not see. Will you for gods sake get a grip guys. Except for Fedor and a handful of other fighters (and Barnett is not among them no matter how many conspiracy theories you float to excuse his roid abuse)Affliction, Strikeforce and the rest of the also rans have nothing but has beens, wannabes and neverwas's to fill out their fight cards. Granted the other franchises have about six or seven fighters among them that can lay claim to being best in a weight class but who cares? Even the best of them like Fedor or Faber will in time either fade away or join the UFC.