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Thursday, June 18, 2009

Affliction M-1 Global’s “Trilogy” Loaded From Top To Bottom

-- Bob Trieger

F. Emelianenko-J. Barnett headline August 1 PPV Extravaganza in Anaheim

SEAL BEACH, California (June 18, 2009) – Affliction M-1Global’s star-studded “Trilogy” is stacking-up as one of the all-time best shows from top to bottom in professional mixed martial arts fighting history. The marquee performer is Russian combat fighting legend Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko, who defends his WAMMA heavyweight title against No. 1 contender Josh “The Babyfaced Assassin” Barnett, August 1 live on Pay-Per-View from Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

The Affliction M-1 Global “Trilogy” card, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and presented by Affliction and M-1 Global, in association with Donald J. Trump, has been separated into two live broadcasts on the same night. A one-hour special will air on HDNet starting at 7:30 PM/ET (4:30 PM/PT), followed by the sensational Pay-Per-View event, “Trilogy,” commencing at 9 PM/ET (6 PM/PT).

Fedor (30-1-0) is the undisputed “Baddest Man on the Planet,” the most lethal fighter on earth. The Russian fighting machine is 7-0 in fights against UFC® heavyweight champions – Andrei Arlovski (KO1 – overhand right), Tim Sylvia (SUB1 – naked choke), Mark Coleman twice (SUB2 – arm-bar, SUB1 – arm-bar), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira twice (DEC3 and DEC1) and Kevin Randleman (SUB1 – arm-bar) – to go along with victories against world-class MMA fighters such as Mirko Filipovic, Matt Lindland, Renato Sobral and Heath Herring.

Barnett (24-5-0), however is another former UFC® Heavyweight Champion, who is 2-1 versus UFC® heavyweight title-holders, by decision twice against Nogueira and defeating 3-time heavyweight champion Randy Couture by second-round TKO in 2002 to become the UFC®’s youngest Heavyweight Champion ever at 24. The popular Barnett has also defeated MMA monsters such as Jeff Monson and Dan Severn, as well as one Emelianenko—Fedor’s brother Aleksander—back in 2006 by second-round submission (key-lock).

The co-main event features former UFC® Light Heavyweight Champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral (32-8-0) against Armenian kick-boxing specialist, Gegard “The Dream Catcher” Mousasi, (25-2-1) making his American debut.

Also on the PPV card is Brazilian knockout specialist Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort (18-8-0), another former UFC® Light Heavyweight Champion, versus Sengoku middleweight title-holder Jorge Santiago (21-7-0); heavyweight Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello (27-10-0) against an opponent to be determined; ex-IFL® Welterweight Champion Jay “The Thoroughbred” Hieron (17-4-0) takes on former Cage Rage belt-holder, British brawler Paul “Semtex” Daley (21-8-2).

The undercard on HDNet features a pair of exciting, young lightweight prospects, Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki (12-1-0) vs. Dan “The Upgrade” Lauzon (12-2-0); former IFL® heavyweight titlist “Big” Ben Rothwell (30-6-0) vs. hot, unbeaten prospect Chase Gormley (6-0-0); former IFL® lightweight challenger Deividas Taurosevicius (10-3-0) and welterweight fan-favorite Brett Cooper (9-4-0) against opponents to be determined.

Fans in attendance will also be treated to two off-television matches between heavyweights Jessie Gibbs (7-2-0) and Rob Broughton (10-4-1), in addition to Brazilian light heavyweights Lucio Linhares (12-4-0) and Givanildo “The Arm Collector” Santana (12-1-0)

All fights and fighters are subject to change. For more information go online to www.aflictionclothing.com.

Tickets for Affliction M-1 “Trilogy,” ranging between $50.00 and $600.00, go on sale June 8 at Honda Center Box Office (1.714.704.2500) and also online at Ticketmaster.com and all Ticket Master outlets (1.714.740.2000).

Affliction

Already a mainstay for the most elite athletes, heaviest bands, A-listers and the fashion conscious, Affliction Clothing's ability to set the bar high in fashion is evident in its collection's indulgence of style and design, focus on quality, and its trademark series of divinely executed, dark and powerful themes. (www.afflictionclothing.com)

M-1 Global and M-1 Challenge

M-1 Global has been one of the leading Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organizations in the world for over a decade. International MMA stars who have fought under the M-1 banner have included Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Aleksander Emelianenko, Keith Jardine, Alistair Overeem, Yushin Okami, Ben Rothwell, Mike Pyle, Melvin Manhoef, Roman Zenstov, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Omar Suloev, and Chalid Arrab, to name a few. (www.m1mixfight.com)

The Trump Organization

The Trump Organization encompasses global real estate development and global licensing, sales and marketing, property management, golf course development, entertainment, entertainment and product licensing, brand development as well as restaurants and event planning. Donald J. Trump is the Chairman and President of the Trump Organization, a privately held company in New York. (www.Trump.com)

Golden Boy Promotions

Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions was established in 2002 by Oscar de la Hoya, the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional company. Golden Boy Promotions currently has over 60 fighters under contract, from future hall of famers Bernard Hopkins, Sugar Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez to current world champions Ricky Hatton, David Haye, Joel Casamayor, Israel Vazquez and Gerry Peñalosa. Also included on the company’s roster are top contenders Jeff Lacy, Juan Diaz, Daniel Ponce De Leon, Jhonny Gonzalez, Librado Andrade, Rocky Juarez and Rey Bautista; 2004 Olympians Abner Mares, Vicente Escobedo and Rock Allen; and highly regarded prospects Danny Garcia, Jermell Charlo, Hylon Williams and Carlos and Juan Velasquez. (www.goldenboypromotions.com)