Affliction Clothing co-founder Todd Beard resigned from that company Friday after a restraining order was issued Wednesday keeping him away from Kim Couture, wife of Fighters.com's fourth-ranked heavyweight and UFC Champion "Natural" Randy Couture (16-8) and Vice-President of Xtreme Couture. In a press release issued Friday, Beard stated, "I would like to apologize for my comments that may have offended Kim and Randy Couture and Mr. Spira.  I had a long-standing relationship with the Coutures and I was deeply and emotionally hurt by some of their recent business decisions.  I have only the best of intentions for the success of the Affliction and Xtreme Couture clothing brands and understand that there are personal issues I must address."  Affliction Clothing markets the Xtreme Couture brand of logo apparrel. Kim Couture has not responded to Fighters.com's request for comment. ...

Affliction lightweight "Polish Hammer" Chris Horodecki (12-1) will match-up versus Hiroki Shishido (0-0) in the first round of S-Cup 2008, Shootboxing's eight-man, one night tournament in Saitama, north of Tokyo, 24 November. Shootboxing is like MMA without the ground game.  Strikes, throws, and standing submissions are permitted, but fighters don't fight on the mat. Horodecki is scheduled to fight "The Upgrade" Dan Lauzon (10-2) at Affliction's Day of Reckoning in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, 24 January. Lauzon will also fight "Sledge" Justin Hammerstrom (7-7) at World Championship Fighting before he and Horodecki stand across the ring from each other in Anaheim. ...

MMA promotion Affliction's co-founder Todd Beard has claimed, "[The UFC is] not just threatening [Affliction's business model], they threaten us personally, which is hysterical.  Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta, they are tough guys, old school mafia guys, or wanna-be old school mafia guys." Beard made the comment on The Scott Ferrall Show aired on Sirius Satellite Radio. UFC President Dana White has frequently referred to Beard and Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio as "the T-shirt guys", goofing on Affliction's primary business enterprise designing and marketing apparel. Beard threatened, "Dana White, by the way, the T-shirt guy is gonna fuck your ass up." The UFC has not commented publicly on Beard's claim or threat. ...

Dan Lauzon (10-2) will face “Sledge” Justin Hammerstrom (5-6) at Boston-based World Championship Fighting 14 November, the WCF announced Friday. Lauzon is also scheduled to fight former IFL lightweight champion Chris Horodecki (12-1) at Affliction 24 January. About his decision to take on a fight two months before a major pay-per-view event, Lauzon said, "I really wanted to stay sharp and keep my momentum. I've fought for them [WCF] three times now and they take great care of me, and I love fighting for them in front of their fans and my friends and family. These (Boston) fans really are the best sports fans in the world." Lauzon is currently on a six-fight win streak, most recently defeating Brendan Hoxie (3-5) with a second-round TKO in June. Hammerstrom snapped a four-fight losing streak in September, submitting Matt Johnson (1-5) with a guillotine choke at 1:08 of the first round. ...

Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion and WAMMA Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) and third-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-5) will headline Affliction: Day of Reckoning, which will take place 24 January at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA, the organization confirmed on their official website. Emelianenko versus Arlovski had been reported previously, as well as the date of the event, but Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio last week would confirm neither the main event, the date, nor the venue for their second show. Other fighters on the card are sixth-ranked heavyweight “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (23-5), “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (14-3), “Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (21-3), “Babalu” Renato Sobral (30-7), “Phenom” Vitor Belfort (17-8), “The Law” Matt Lindland (21-5), and the IFL’s Jay Hieron (16-4) and Chris Horodecki (12-1). The match-ups have not yet been announced. ...

Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio announced Thursday in New York City that both Fighters.com's third-ranked heavyweight "Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski (14-5) and sixth-ranked "Babyface Assassin" Josh Barnett (23-5) are being considered as opponents for Heavyweight Champion "Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) at Affliction's yet to be re-scheduled second event. However, Atencio had already confirmed Arlovski as Emelianenko's opponent to MMA Rated 10 October, according to that website. Additionally, Barnett has announced that he won't fight Emelianenko, according to MMA Weekly. "It’s just not a fight that’s going to happen in January.  And I think that the feeling is actually mutual," Barnett told that website 2 October. Atencio also wouldn't commit on a date or location of Affliction's second event, originally scheduled for Las Vegas 11 October. Atencio said Affliction: Day of Reckoning would "take place in the first quarter of ‘09." ...

Chris Horodecki (12-1) will face Dan Lauzon (10-2) at Affliction’s January event, and will not fight “Punk” Josh Thomson (16-2) at Strikeforce next month, according to MMA Weekly Saturday. Horodecki’s management team confirmed the lightweight bout with Lauzon, who was his original opponent for Day of Reckoning on 11 October before the event was postponed. Strikeforce executive Mike Afromowitz confirmed that Horodecki will not be on the Destruction card on 21 November. Horodecki said, “I’d like to fight Thomson, but now I’m thinking about November and Affliction.” Horodecki is also considering a November fight in Japan’s Shoot Boxing organization. ...

Affliction Entertainment, in collaboration with M-1 Global and Donald Trump, will produce the reality television show Fighting Fedor, the organization announced Thursday. Fighting Fedor will feature sixteen heavyweights from around the world competing tournament-style for the chance to fight WAMMA Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) on a future Affliction card. The fighters will live and train at the Red Devil Sports Club in St. Petersburg, Russia. Filming is expected to begin in April 2009.  No broadcast partner has been determined yet. Plans for the series had been in the works for several months, but details about the show had been scant. Emelianenko, Fighters.com's Heavyweight Champion, is next expected to fight “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski at Affliction’s next event, although no official announcement has been made. ...

Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) will face fourth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-5) at Affliction: Day of Reckoning in January, Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio confirmed to MMA Rated Friday. A match between Emelianenko and Arlovski was planned for Affliction’s second event, originally scheduled for 11 October in Las Vegas, but Emelianenko was forced to withdraw with a hand injury.  Third-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (23-5) was announced as Arlovski’s opponent instead. No date or location has been officially announced, but Emelianenko told Russian television station HTB this week that he would be fighting 24 January for Affliction. Emelianenko most recently fought in July, submitting seventh-ranked heavyweight and former UFC champion “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-5) with a rear naked choke in 36 seconds. Arlovski last fought last weekend at EliteXC: Heat, knocking out “Big Country” Roy Nelson (13-3) in the second round. ...

Affliction: Day of Reckoning, the promotion’s January event, “is going to be an all-MMA card,” Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio told Sherdog Thursday. Atencio had announced that Affliction would partner with Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions for the January show, originally scheduled for 11 October. A mixed MMA/boxing event is still something they are planning for the first quarter of 2009, but “it’s just not something we could work out (by January),” Atencio said. Details of the upcoming Day of Reckoning, including the fight card, date, and venue, are expected to be announced next week. ...

"Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Tito Ortiz (15-6-1) endured a three-hour surgery in Las Vegas Monday, 6 October to relieve pain in his lower back. "My doctor was impressed with my quick recovery; and, an hour after surgery, I was on my feet and walking to the car," Ortiz said today. The surgery was similar to the procedure "Rock" Nathan Quarry (10-2) received in June 2006.  Quarry recovered from his surgery and returned to fight in 15 months, going 2-0 since his return. Ortiz is focused on a quick recovery. ...

Fighters.com’s third-ranked heavyweight “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (23-5) will not face Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) as expected at Affliction’s January event, MMA Weekly reported Thursday. Barnett met with Emelianenko on a recent trip to Japan where the possibility of a fight between them was discussed, but he decided then that he would turn it down. Barnett said, “I’m not trying to make anybody look bad or talk about the details of it, but it’s just not a fight that’s going to happen in January.  And I think that the feeling is actually mutual.” He added, “It would be (logical) for the fans, but the fans don’t understand contracts or the way things have been put down on the back end in terms of the business aspect of it.  Or the details between both of the fighters.  So, it’s not really that we want to rob the fans of something, it’s just that I don’t think it’s possible.” After defeating "Rock" Pedro Rizzo (16-8) in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, 19 July, Barnett whetted fans' appetites by describing a potential match-up versus Emelianenko as "the kind of fight that nobody will forget.  It'll be the one that you write books about." Barnett was originally scheduled to headline the Affliction event in October against fourth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5) before it was postponed to January. Arlovski has since been rescheduled to fight Roy Nelson (13-2) 4 October on EliteXC’s CBS card. ...

DREAM Middleweight GP Champion Gegard Mousasi (24-2-1) expects to face “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort (17-8) at Affliction’s January event, according to Fighters Only. Mousasi also revealed a possible match-up between his Red Devil teammate, Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1), and third-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (23-5) at the same event. “I’m going to train with Fedor in preparation for Affliction in January.  I think it is Fedor against Josh Barnett and they want me to fight Vitor Belfort,” Mousasi said. No fights have been officially announced yet by Affliction. Mousasi was crowned 23 September after he KO’d “Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (10-2) at 1:27 of the first round in the GP final. Belfort last fought in July at Affliction’s debut event, KO’ing Terry Martin (18-5) in round two. Emelianenko submitted seventh-ranked heavyweight “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-5) in 36 seconds at the same event. Barnett KO’d “The Rock” Pedro Rizzo (16-8) in round two, also in July. ...

M-1 Global officially announced a closer partnership with Affliction Saturday. "M-1 Global and Affliction keep strengthening the ties in MMA," a post at M-1's website read.  "Officially from now on all the M-1 Challenge events will be organized in association with Affliction." Affliction's debut, Banned in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, 19 July, was in association with M-1 Global, which allowed Fighters.com's Heavyweight Champion "Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) to appear. Affliction's day job is designing, marketing, and manufacturing apparel.  A shirt has been created to promote the closer partnership. ...

Fighters.com's third-ranked heavyweight "Babyface Assassin" Josh Barnett (23-5) said Wednesday, "I never declined to [fight Andrei Arlovski on CBS].  I was never told that I would have any part of my pay reduced since working with Affliction." Barnett was responding to an apparently erroneous rumor reported elsewhere that he had turned down a fight versus fourth-ranked Arlovski (13-5) because he was asked to take a paycut. Arlovski has signed to fight IFL Champion “Big Country” Roy Nelson (13-2) in Sunrise, north of Miami, 4 October to be aired in the States on CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights. Barnett reiterated his denial of another widely reported rumor that Affliction had asked fighters to take 50% pay cuts when matched versus "easier" opponents. "To my knowledge, no one has been asked to take a pay cut that fights for Affliction," said Barnett. ...

Fighters.com's fourth-ranked heavyweight "Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski (13-5) and IFL Champion "Big Country" Roy Nelson (13-2) have agreed to fight in Sunrise, north of Miami, 4 October. Arlovski was originally scheduled to leather up versus Fighters.com's Heavyweight Champion "Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) 11 October in Las Vegas. Affliction rescheduled that event for 17 January in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles. Arlovski TKO'd former IFL titlist "Big" Ben Rothwell (29-6) in Anaheim 19 July. ...

Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) will fight at Affliction’s recently rescheduled show in January, Affliction COO Michael Cohen told NBC Sports Wednesday. No opponent has been named; but, Cohen said, “We are considering changing the combatants.  We have not finalized that at this time.” Cohen also stated that the company would be making a major announcement in the near future that would “change the dynamics of mixed martial arts.  Not just nationally, but globally.” He added, “Unlike others who call for a press conference for groundbreaking MMA news, the Affliction announcement will truly change the sport, and not through a toy deal.” Fighters.com speculates that the announcement will be the Affliction/Golden Boy Promotions partnership reported last night at Fighters.com. ...

Fighters.com confirmed Wednesday that Affliction's Day of Reckoning event scheduled at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas 11 October has been cancelled. The event will be rescheduled to a yet-to-be-determined date in January at the Honda Center in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles. The event in January will be co-promoted with Golden Boy Promotions, headed by Olympic and world champion boxer Oscar De La Hoya. The main event in Las Vegas 11 October would've pitted Fighters.com's third-ranked heavyweight "Babyface Assassin" Josh Barnett (23-5) versus fourth-ranked "Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski (13-5). ...

HDNet Fights announced Wednesday that they will broadcast the welterweight match between Jason High (6-0) and “Quicksand” Mike Pyle (17-5-1) and the heavyweight match between “Headhunter” Paul Buentello (26-10) and Roy Nelson (13-2), happening 11 October at Affliction’s sophomore event. The Day of Reckoning broadcast will mark the beginning of a new deal between HDNet Fights and Affliction Entertainment. ...

Elusive Russian Sergei Kharitonov (15-3) breached Fighters.com's Heavyweight Top Ten in September without having fought for a year. Kharitonov TKO'd "Demolition Man" Alistair Overeem (28-11) in Yokohama in September 2007; but, has been more active on the rumor mill than in the ring since. He was floated as "Cro Cop" Mirko Filipovic's (23-6-2) opponent at DREAM.4 in June and lately was mentioned as a challenger for the EliteXC Heavyweight Championship versus "Bigfoot" Antonio Silva (11-1). Kharitonov found his way into neither fight and may have a short stint as a top ten big boy as fighters beneath him line-up legit matches. A spot opened for Kharitonov when "Texas Crazy Horse" Heath Herring (28-14) was mauled by physical phenom Brock Lesnar (2-1) in Minneapolis 9 August, shoveling Herring out of the eighth rank. ...

Affliction finalized IFL Welterweight Champion Jay Hieron (15-4)’s one-year, three-fight contract on Friday, reported Sherdog Monday. The Xtreme Couture fighter told MMA Weekly last week that he was entertaining offers from EliteXC and the UFC as well, but Affliction offered what he believed he was worth. Hieron fought five times in 2007 in the IFL, and once this year when he defended his crown with a first-round TKO win over Mark Miller (8-3) in April. He is expected to compete at Affliction’s 11 October event in Las Vegas, although no opponent has been named. ...

Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio confirmed Thursday on MMA Weekly Radio that “Phenom” Vitor Belfort (17-8) has pulled out of his upcoming middleweight match with “The Law” Matt Lindland (21-5) due to a hand injury. “Vitor is out, I spoke with him I think yesterday and he told me,” Atencio said. “Actually, it was on Tuesday we had a conversation for aboutan hour or so, and yeah, I guess he broke his hand in two places is what he told me and he had been having 2, 3 and 4 opinions on it. He finally got the opinion that he wanted I guess and they told him to step out for a while.” Atencio is currently looking for new opponent for Lindland, and hopes to finalize the card by the end of next week. ...

“Big” Ben Rothwell (33-6) confirmed Wednesday to CagePotato that he has signed to face “Rock” Pedro Rizzo (16-8) at Affliction’s second show 11 October in Las Vegas, but not before some changes of plan were made. “[Agent] Monte [Cox] turned down their original offer for this fight, so that’s why he said none of his guys would be fighting on the show. Then they came back with another offer that was better, so we agreed to it,” Rothwell said. Both heavyweights were part of Afflction’s debut event in July; both fighters lost their fights. Rothwell was knocked out in round three by Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked heavyweight “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5). Rizzo was knocked out in round two by third-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (23-5). ...

Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Bobby Southworth (9-5) will defend his title from "Babalu" Renato Sobral (30-7) in Beverly Hills, north of Los Angeles, 20 September. After defending his title from "El Toro" Anthony Ruiz (21-11) in a five-round unanimous decision in San Jose 27 June, the 38-year old champion told a post-fight press conference, "I'm getting on in years.  I'd like to fight some bigger names." Southworth then indicated his desire to fight "Babalu". "Babalu" won a three-round unanimous decision over Mike Whitehead (21-6) in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, 19 July and called out "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Tito Ortiz (15-6-1) after the "W". "That is my dream fight," Sobral told the post-fight press conference about a match-up with Ortiz. Affliction, one of Sobral's promoters, has yet to announced a rumoured deal with Ortiz. Of Southworth and hist belt, Sobral said, "He is the protector and I am the hunter.  I want to be the new Strikeforce world champion." ...

The World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts announced Thursday that on 11 October Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked heavyweight “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5) and third-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (23-5) will be vying for the right to fight champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) for the heavyweight belt. WAMMA CEO Dave Szady stated, “We couldn’t be more excited to see Andrei Arlovski and Josh Barnett face off for the right to take on Fedor for the WAMMA world heavyweight championship.” It would be Fedor’s first title defense. Emelianenko was previously matched with Arlovski for Affliction’s second event, but he is reportedly sidelined with a hand injury. ...

“Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (14-3) versus “Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (21-3) is another bout officially announced by Affliction Wednesday.  The light heavyweights will fight 11 October in Las Vegas. IFL champion Matyushenko met Nogueira in the ring before, earning a unanimous decision win over “Minotoro” in August 2002 and handing him his first professional loss. Matyushenko is coming off eight consecutive wins; he has not lost since Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked heavyweight “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5) knocked him out in September 2003. Nogueira previously confirmed his participation at Day of Reckoning. ...

Affliction on Wednesday confirmed a middleweight bout between “The Law” Matt Lindland (21-5) and “Phenom” Vitor Belfort (17-8) and announced a heavyweight match between “Headhunter” Paul Buentello (26-10) and Roy Nelson (13-2), and to take place in Las Vegas 11 October. Belfort must first be cleared to fight by a doctor.  He is currently serving a 180-day medical suspension. Buentello won a unanimous decision over “Big Daddy” Gary Goodridge (23-18-1) at Affliction: Banned in July. Nelson, the IFL Heavyweight Champion, most recently won via first-round TKO over “Hillbilly Heartthrob” Brad Imes (11-5) in May. The Buentello-Nelson match is part of the preliminary card which will air on HDNet before switching to the main card on pay-per-view, according to MMA Junkie. Affliction also announced that IFL lightweight Chris Horodecki (12-1) has signed a three-fight deal with them and will make his Affliction debut at the October event. No opponent has yet been named for Horodecki. Not participating in the event is Fighters.com's tenth-ranked heavyweight Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3), who is still dealing with licensing issues. He was denied a license by the California State Athletic Commission for his scheduled fight in July. ...

“Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5) versus “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (23-5) will headline Affliction’s second event Day of Reckoning 11 October at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, to air on pay-per-view. The official announcement was made Monday. “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) was expected to feature on the card but according to some reports, a hand injury will prevent him from competing. Arlovski knocked out “Big” Ben Rothwell (33-6) in round three at Affliction: Banned in July. Barnett knocked out “Rock” Pedro Rizzo (16-8) in round one at the same event. ...

“The Phenom” Vitor Belfort (17-8) and “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (14-3) both told Tatame recently that they would fight on Affliction’s 11 October card. Belfort will face middleweight “The Law” Matt Lindland (21-5), but no opponent was named for light heavyweight Nogueira. “I’ll fight in October 11th, but it’s not certain yet against who. They’re speculating a lot of opponents, but they didn’t say anything yet”, Nogueira said. All three fighters won their matches at the last Affliction show 19 July. Belfort KO’d Terry Martin (17-5) in the second round, Lindland earned a unanimous decision over “Negao” Fabio Nascimento (8-4), and Nogueira pounded out a first-round TKO of “Babyface” Edwin Dewees (35-13). ...

From Russia with gloves, "Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko(28-1) stamped his heavyweight dominance on "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia's (24-5) head in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, 19 July. His dismantling of "Big" Tim in 36 seconds earned him the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship, jumping from sixth and dumping Sylvia from third to seventh. The "W" strips naked UFC President Dana White's proclamation that all other promotions are the minor leagues, at least at north of 205-pounds. In fact, Emelianenko's victory makes clear that the Octagon hasn't been the proving grounds for the world's top heavyweights for quite some time. The UFC Champ, second-ranked "Minotauro" Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1), took a thrashing from Sylvia in February before tapping the two-time UFC titlist in a guillotine. Nogueira loses his Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship, falling into the top contender spot, but a top contender whose register already records two UD losses to the new champ four years ago. Nog' is set to clash with un-ranked former UFC Champ Frank Mir (11-3) after Mir tapped rook' Brock Lesnar (1-1), which tells you all you need to know about the UFC heavyweight class. But, Emelianenko's new promoter, Affliction, is playing the name game too. ...