Affliction held a news conference on Wednesday in Los Angeles to promote its Jan. 24 card at the Honda Center in Anaheim. "Affliction Day of Reckoning" will feature an undercard televised on HDNet and then a six-fight main card on pay-per-view.
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| Arlovski would like to be the first to decisively beat Fedor. (Affliction) |
"He's a great fighter with great experience," Arlovski told CBSSports.com. "He's the champion right now. I respect him a lot today. But I will not respect him on Jan. 24. I will do everything I can to destroy him."
A large part of Emelianenko's strength comes from mental intimidation. He immediately attacks his opponents' weaknesses, gets them off of their games and moves to finish the fight. Arlovski knows he needs to be ready from the beginning of the fight, to avoid being steamrolled like former opponent Tim Sylvia.
"I have to be really prepared mentally," Arlovski says. "He is like the Mike Tyson of MMA. If you're not mentally ready for him it is very hard to win."
The fight is one that hardcore fans of the sport have dreamed about for years. Arlovski was UFC champion at the same time Fedor was Pride champion, and there was talk about who would win if they fought.
"When I was UFC champion I had conversations with the UFC about making the fight," Arlovski says. "I said, 'Let's do it.' But then I lost my title and became a contender like everyone else."
On Jan. 24, Arlovski will look to score the biggest win of his career by handing Emelianenko the first decisive loss of his long and storied career.
Also on the card, elite heavyweight Josh Barnett will face the controversial Gilbert Yvel. Barnett holds wins over the likes of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Randy Couture, and will look to score his fourth victory in a row against Yvel.
Yvel has gained an unsavory reputation as the sport's dirtiest fighter due to his often flagrant disregard for the rules. His most infamous incidents include a fight with Don Frye where he repeatedly gouged Frye in the eyes, and a fight where he attacked a referee with a high kick. Affliction promoter Tom Atencio said at the news conference that Yvel had been cleared to fight by the California State Athletic Commission, although Yvel has in the past been denied licensing by the state of Nevada.
Barnett is aware of Yvel's reputation, but isn't concerned if Yvel doesn't stick by his vow to play within the rules.
"I've been around for a while," Barnett notes. "The less rules the better, as far as I'm concerned. I've been in the sport 14 years. I'm used to the wild west."
Barnett will watch the main event with interest, as he has been viewed as a potential future opponent for both Emelianenko and Arlovski. As for the fight, Barnett predicts trouble for the "Pit Bull" Arlovski.
