Aleks Denied License by CSAC

By: Chad Edward Posted On: July 18, 2008 at 6:30pm

Fighters.com’s ninth-ranked heavyweight Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) wasn’t allowed to weigh-in Friday in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, before his Saturday night fight in Affliction with “Headhunter” Paul Buentello (25-10).

A source in Buentello’s entourage cited “medical issues” as the excuse given to them by Affliction officials.

Spokesperson for Emelianenko, Ilona Kolesnichenko told Fighters.com, “Emelianenko did not meet CSAC licensing standards. There is nothing about medical issues!”

“We were all lined up [to weigh-in],” Buentello explained to Fighters.com. “He even waved to me.”

On stage just before Emelianenko was to take the scale, Affliction VP Tom Atencio was visably frustrated and talking hard-and-fast down the curtained walkway to the platform.

After several tense moments, Emelianenko and Buentello were simply skipped and no official announcement was made to the crowd or media.

“I was ready. The California State Athletic Commission said I couldn’t weigh-in because it would make the fight official,” Buentello said.

Even Emelianenko’s translator, who sat next to Fighters.com, seemed confused. When announcer Michael Buffer brought the weigh-ins to a close, she shouted to the stage, “What about Aleks?! What about Aleks!?”

Emelianenko was spotted by Fighters.com with his wife before the weigh-ins. The crowd cheered and Emelianenko smiled and waved to his fans briefly before returning to the lockeroom at the Honda Center.

Buentello told Fighters.com he wanted a replacement opponent. “I trained hard,” he confided.