AFTER AFFLICTION, FEDOR TO FIGHT 2 MORE IN 2008

As the July 19 date for his showdown with Tim Sylvia at Affliction quickly approaches, Fedor Emelianenko already has two more fights planned for 2008, according to his manager Vadim Finkelstein.

"Two more fights are planned for Fedor in 2008,” said Finkelstein in an interview on the M-1 Mix Fight official website. “The first one in October in the context of the next Affliction show in conjunction with M-1 Global, and the second one at New Year’s Eve in Japan."

It is more than likely that his final fight on New Year’s Eve will be fought under an FEG sponsored show, which runs both DREAM and K-1.

No opponents were mentioned for either bout, although the Affliction bout is likely to pit him against one of the other top heavyweights that are also fighting on July 19. Josh Barnett clashes in a rematch with Pedro Rizzo and Andre Arlovski makes his first move outside of the UFC in the past eight years, when he faces former IFL star Ben Rothwell.

At the moment, the consensus top-ranked heavyweight is in final preparations for his fight against Tim Sylvia, which will be contested for the vacant WAMMA heavyweight championship, making the heavyweight super fight a five-round bout. It will take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

The main question Affliction is gonna have will be that with all their top talent fighting on their debut card, who is left in the wings to carry the promotion over the next few? With only a handful of fighters under contract, it could only mean that MMA is a step closer to cross promoting to match up with the best fighters. Of course that excludes the UFC.