Former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort (16-8) is the latest addition to the star-studded Affliction MMA promotion debut, taking on Terry Martin in a middleweight bout at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., on July 19.
“The Phenom” earned the 205-pound strap with a 49-second technical knockout (cut) of Randy Couture at UFC 46: “Supernatural” back in 2004. There was an immediate rematch and Belfort survived Couture’s onslaught for three rounds until the ringside doctor called a halt to the action in the final frame at UFC 49: “Unfinished Business.”
He went on to lose his next bout to Tito Ortiz via split decision at UFC 51: “Super Saturday” and eventually worked his way overseas to compete under the Pride FC banner. He dropped two of three bouts, including a unanimous decision loss to Dan Henderson at PRIDE 32: “The Real Deal.”
In the wake of the defeat, Belfort tested positive for banned anabolic steroid known 4-hydroxytestosterone (he claimed it was an over the counter supplement) and the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) suspended him for nine months and levied a $10,000 fine.
The Brazilian competed six months later in a Cage Rage event, which is a big no-no when it comes to licensure here in the United States – he was supposed to honor that ruling. Therefore, it is interesting that he has been announced for the California card.
Meanwhile, Martin is out to prove that he is among the best 185-pound fighters despite back-to-back losses inside the Octagon. He will look to rebound this weekend against Daiju Takase on the first-ever Adrenaline MMA card set for the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., on June 14.
He has also kept busy on the boxing circuit, knocking out Ricardo Upchurch in his professional debut in a cruiserweight bout back in April.
Martin will certainly have his hands full with Belfort, who is making his debut at 185 pounds. But he possesses knockout power in both fists, which can come into play at anytime.
Affliction MMA features the showdown between Fedor Emilianenko and Tim Sylvia, as well as other heavyweight clashes between Josh Barnett and Pedro Rizzo and Andrei Arklovski and Ben Rothwell.
The card is absolutely loaded … check it out on pay-per-view (PPV) on Saturday, July 19.
68 Comments »
I saw this on sherdog last night, and wasn’t sure if it was true. this card keeps getting better and better. They shouldn’t put all their eggs in one basket. Like I said before, I’m very excited about this card, but they will either go belly up, or the round robin matches they have will get tiresome!
Yes, rock on! This card is awesome. I just hope Vitor brings the pain of old. It’s kind of dissapointing to see this on the prelim card, but nonetheless there’s a good chance of them showing it regardless.
kevin: Affliction has been signing fighter “left and right” in the past 2 months..I doubt they intend to stop signing fighters after this card, and just use the same fighters over, and over..
They will most likely keep signing every top fighter they can get their hands on..Plus they are willing to cross-promote, and let other fighters from other orgs come and fight…
And on top of all of that?, They have Donald Trump backing them..
After Fedor snaps Tim’s arm off’ Affliction plans to have Fedor retire Randy. So they are good for at least 2 cards for now…but imo with an opening Card like that? Affliction is here to stay
Stager Lee: I agree! Affliction is here to stay!
I dont understand why Kevin seems to think that they wont keep signing fighters. Tito will get signed soon, thats for sure! Also Couture’s legal mess should be over in October. Do u guys really think its just a coincidance that the 2nd Affliction shop is schedlued for october or November?
Affliction will not recycle its fighters from card to card. THey are not even close to being done signing fighters. Tito is on his way, couture will follow. They are already talking to Dennis Kang. Every time a UFC’s contract expires, Affliction will be right there to out bid the UFC…. Affliction is just getting started baby!
John, I hope your right. It’s just too much money going out, and I don’t see where the money is going to come in from. What does donald trump have to do with it? Name, he has, but he’s not going to boost ppv bus by buying them himself. I’m just sauing it’s a possibility of failure. How many (bodog, which had fedor,ifl) have failed!! Fedor isn’t a U.S. commodity. We love him, but joe blow average mma guy needs guys like tito or chuck!
me too! actually at this point its hard for me to imagine them failing. they do need to start w/ a blitzkrieg of radio and tv ads and start making it known to the genreal public. is ther any socal mania fans out there who know if tickey sells are doing well and if thev’e already started to advertise heavy out there, radio,tv, billboards? its only about a month away. w/ A.A. added and now this fight this is the best card of the summer and ppv sales i think will be better than expected. ufc 87 is gonna be awesome, but this is a dream fightcard
ticket,genral, typos etc.
John, I think the main problem with this first Affiliction card is that it is 2 weeks after Forrest/Rampage. All the TUF fans will buy that for sure, so who is left to pay for this PPV. Between the 2 that adds $100 to your cable bill. I make a good living and that is still tough to swallow. The economy sucks right now and the cost of living is up. People are pinching pennys everywhere. I too hope they succeed, but that is reality. BTW, has the event tickets sold out yet?
If that’s the case, watch UFC at the bar and order Affliction and you only get charged ? How much is the Affliction event going to be? How about start time?
Can you imagine if the UFC just used fighters from their very first event and still had them fighting each other? If that was the case, we’d soon be seeing Ken Shamrock vs Gerard Gordeau 86. The UFC signed more fighters. Of course Affliction will do so as well, at least I hope At this rate, they will have too many fighers and we will be complaining that fighters we like are part of the prelims, like this fight for example. That will only be a good thing for us mma fans!!!
I think the concern is spending too much on the fighter’s salary for instance Fedor is getting 1 million for one fight. The UFC is smart in this regard becuase it pays the fighter’s well but not that well… and in the long run it has been the only org that has true staying power. I’m not pro UFC but they know what they are doing. The only fighter’s that complain about money are the fighter’s that are on losing streaks or Randy who thinks he is God’s gift to MMA. I love MMA and this card is sickkkkk!!!!!! and I hope Affliction is here to stay. Belfort fighting again wow!!!!!
Kevin: How can you even compare this fight card with Bodog’s?
with trump on board they will get alot of press and how are they putting all there eggs in one basket they still have so many match ups that i would love to see and thats just with the h.w. that they have they have.they have a ton of great shows they could put on with just the fighters tha they have gotten so far with alot more to come i am sure.and to the people that say there spending too much if they do half of what the ufc does and pay the fighters half of the gross they are still making money.the ufc pays what less than 10 percent of what they pull in on a show goes to the fighters.
I’m comparing to number of orgs that have had a go at it. I’ll buy it, but agree it’s a lot in one month to spend for some people. I thought fedor was making more considering tim is getting 800000/200000. ppv ’s will only be bought by hardcore fans is my point
You can not compare Affliction to the other organizations that “had a go at it” because none of the other orgs. Have ever assembled a card like this with actual fights rellevant in the top 10 of their divisions.
No “other” organization has ever come close to putting out a card like this one…therefore compairing it to the other ones that failed is not accurate in my oppinion.
Keep in mind that NO MMA organization has ever profited from there 1st shows. If we all know that, I am sure the head honchos of Affliction are aware of this and probably expect to loose money at 1st. With names like Arlovski, Sylvia and Vitor, this card has a chance of being a success. Then Tito and Randy will carry the next card. By then everyone will have gotten a chance to see the other top fighters and look for them to compete on Future cards. The only thing that worries me is that WE dont know what they would consider a success.
Of Course if they expect to make a HUGE profit in their first show, they will fail. But I think they are smarter then that.
Another fighter that will help Affliction sell the card is Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Aftyer all he looks just like Current UFC heavyweight champion and trhere names are close to being identical.
Also, I wouldnt be surprised if we see guys like Nick Diaz, Jake Sheilds, or Gilbert compete on an Affliction card.
Not having exclusive contracts gives them as well as its fighters many options for future shows! I really think that they will be alright!
You make a good point. The good thing is most of their talent is in HW or LHW, so there are more match-ups to be had. If they had 10 to 12 great fighters spread out between 5 or 6 divisions, they’d be screwed.
Denis Kang has confirmed that he will compete at DREAM.5 on Monday, July 21 at the Osaka Castle Hall in Osaka, Japan. At this time, DREAM has not releases who Kang will be fighting at DREAM.5
Kang this week will be flying back to Montreal to start a intense one month training camp with UFC welterweight champion, Georges St. Pierre, Nate Marquardt, Patrick Cote and Rashad Evans and a few others.
The bout will complete Kang’s current contract with the Dream promotion, which was transferred from K-1 Hero’s in 2007.
When asked if he will still fight for DREAM or head to another MMA organization, here is what he said.
I’ve talked to organizations, like Affliction and the UFC, in the past few months, but this visa thing is what’s holding things up,” Kang said. “It’s tough. If can’t fight in the U.S, how am I going to fight for them
Article from DREAMFIGHTERS
Terry Martin is fighting June 14th, so if he gets KO’d badly or gets a bone snapped or broke, he will not be able to compete at the Affliction event.
Yeah, luckily Daju Takase is a submission fighter. Martin may loose but he wont get beat up in the process.
I just relaized that this will be Vitor’s debut at 185 lbs, which means the fastest Vitor ever! Vitor is a head case, I am a fan but you can never tell which Version of Vitor will show up. if he enters this fight, strong mentally and fights aggresive, then he willk tear a whole in Martins Face just like he did to eastman!
Belfort will kill em
I believe it all when i see it. Next thing you know they’ll be signing a bout between Thor and The Incredible Hulk. Every week its a new super fight that they sign.
Terry Martin and super fight have never been in the same sentence before. LOL
I should say super fighter huh (in Belfort) my bad LoL
Could be interesting. I really hope Affliction pulls it off. Would be great to see them sign some good talent, get a deal with NBC and compete with UFC. BOYCOTT ELITEXC!!
BOYCOTT ELITEXC!!
Watch Nick Diaz fight FOR FREE if you already have Showtime. If you don’t have Showtime, GET IT!!!!
You get 1 or 2 Elite events a month, boxing, and the new season of WEEDS starts this Monday coming up. Two days after the Noons/Edwards event. This is the PERFECT time to sign up for Showtime if you don’t have it.
meh. weeds hasn’t been good since season one. season 2 was ok for the first couple episodes, then went downhill quickly.
dexter is one of the only shows that i look forward to seeing on showtime.
Inever watched weeds. is it any good?
Dexter is the shit, but I cancelled my Showtime. BOYCOTT Elite XC!
Personally, I don’t like that show Dexter. I tried watching the first episode, but couldnt get into it.
If you smoke, then you will love the show Weeds. So in other words John, you’ll love it just like me!
Yes, BOYCOTT EliteXC my young Padawans!
Go EliteXC!!I love Gina Carano!!
the event is getting more and more stacked by the minute! it is going to be a huge event ! i wonder how many of the fights will be shown on the air?
Cage or ring?
it is in a ring!
Terry Martin = Douchebag!
I think its a cage. And this must make dana pretty
angry. Affliction is definately something for him to worry about in the future.
It’s a ring
I wanna see the old vitor back and Knock this guy out in 10 seconds!
Putting him up against Terry Martin is a good start!
Who thaf*ck is Terry Martin anyway? He ain’t fit to do battle with The Phenom!!
While the card is truely amazingly stacked, the ring thing really puts me off. Can’t stand rings for MMA, there’s no purpose for a ring in an MMA bout imho. Having to stop the fight and order the fighters back to the middle of the ring is nothing less than ridiculous and should be a thing of the past.
With that said, bring on Affliction!
100% agree
I love the ring! LOL, but I can see where you guys are coming from, since you’re most used to watching in a cage and all. you’ll come around
Too Many awesome fights for their first card, why not save some for the second card? They are not going to be able to show all the cards on the main card? I thank Affilication for putting on a stellar card full of names. But at the same time why so many on one card? When all fights will not be aired on PPV.
This is not directed at you Gameface, but for some people on this site, if it’s not one thing it’s another. Some cards have no big names, then people complain that the cards are weak. Then a card like this comes around, and people complain that they are putting all their eggs in one basket. I have no problem with a heavily stacked card. I can watch this Affliction card with some freakin awesome fights, then if Affliction can’t keep bringin it, they fold, then another organization picks up the fighters( possibly the UFC or Dream, etc) and we can watch them fight other people. None of us, that I know of, have anything invested in Affliction, so if they fold, so what, mma will continue and the great fighters will move to other orgs for greta fights. Its a perfect circle really. Some upstart has a mega card, we watch some great fights, then the company folds, fighters sign with another org etc.
*clap*….*clap*….*clap*…*clap*clap*clap*clap*!!
thanx dude,i agree 100%. im sick of hearin ppl bitch about how GOOD this card is… mabey they should watch EliteXC Sat Night Fights instead…..
punishment: I guess its not old news huh LoL
Terry Martin is going to defeat Vitor.
i could see that happening, i hope belfort show up to fight though.
Me too. But ever since his sister’s incident. Vitor has turned into a C level fighter.
The question with Vitor is actuially SIMPLE!
Will he be agressive and let the hands Fly? That is the question. When he is agressive he usually KO’s people. When he is gun shy, he looses.
Vitor is kind of like Arlovski in that if they let their hands fly, they are 2 of the most dangerous people in the world. When they dont, they are boring!
Terry Martin will defeat Vitor? Yeah right, if it’s the “washed-up” Vitor. But I’m sure the “Old” Vitor will show up!!
thats the problem you never know witch one is going to show up.
exactly its hard to bet and count on a guy who can show up and be a top 10 overall fighter in the world, or a guy who can’t even beat Charles McCarthy in a pissing contest. So thats why Terry Martin will KO him.
Man this is awesome news. Vitor is one of my favorite all time fighters. His KO’s of Wandy & Tank Abbot are classic. Affliction is definetely looking like they could become the main competition to the UFC, especially if they cross promote effectively. Hopefully Dana’s “big announcement” is that he will be taking a cue from these guys and beging cross promoting the UFC – Highly unlikely though.
They should change the card name from banned to NWO. I have not see a card like this with another organizations old timers since the WCW Raided the WWE. If you think this card is great now, just think how great it would have been three years ago when these fighters were at the top of there game.
Belfort by knockout.
Is Belfort even allowed to fight I thought he was still suspended.
Where does Affliction go after this card? And who do they have signed? everybody says there signing fighters, who? And having a mini concert in MMA in my opinion is stupid, let the fighters do the entertaining.
It depends how often they have a card. If they plan on just 1 every 3 months, then they can have a few match ups between some of the winners in this card. I would love to see a heavyweight grand prix with all of the great hw’s they have, but I am not holding my breath.
Belfort with ease.
Bloody hell, they could easily split this card into three events by now.
To be honest I’d pay whatever they charge for this event, wish I could attend it in the arena thou, it must be crazy with so many high-profile fighters around.
this dont have nothing to do with the above but the ppv shit has to stop put that shit on tv. talking about the forest title fight coming up i’m going bellie up on the ufc because of all the ppv thank god for wec.
Unbelievable card. Vitor at 185! He looked big at 205. He must have lost a lot of muscle. In that case, I’ll take Terry Martin via TKO in the 1st round. I hope I’m wrong, but if Vitor is that much smaller, I doubt it’s from doing a lot of cardio. More than likely, he stopped training for awhile and lifting. And this event being in a ring stinks! For those of you opposed to change, you’ll like it. For the rest of us, once you’ve seen it in a cage and you don’t have to stop the fight a couple of times each round and move them back in the center…
The Prelims will be aired on FSN….thats Fox Sports Net…..I just don’t know what time…AND when is the event? Any1 know?