Gilbert Yvel has inked a three-fight contract with Affliction Entertainment and will fight Josh Barnett on Jan. 24 at "Day of Reckoning" in Anaheim, California, M-1 Global announced today.
The announcement of Yvel's participation comes unexpectedly as Barnett was rumored to fight either Brett Rogers or Aleksander Emelianenko. On top of that Yvel's license to fight was denied last year when he applied to fight on the PRIDE 33 card in Las Vegas due to his unprofessional behavior. In 2004, Yvel knocked down and kicked a referee.
Yvel (33-12-1) has won his last seven fights, with his last loss in May 2006 at PRIDE Total Elimination Absolute. The 32-year-old from Holland holds a win over current UFC heavyweight Cheick Kongo from an "It's Showtime" event in May 2004.
Barnett (23-5), currently MMAFighting.com's number five heavyweight, is coming off an impressive knockout win over Pedro Rizzo at Affliction "Banned" in July.
Get the latest gear
