All rumors have been trumped as of late, when “sources” were able to confirm premature negotiations were in place for the Strikeforce heavyweight champion, who moonlights as a K-1 contender, to face an Emelianenko–just not the one everyone was anticipating.

Aleksander Emelianenko was rumored to be facing the Dutch striker, according to an Polish MMA organization dubbed “Strefa Walk”. The stars seemed to aligned for the two former Pride stars to meet, when Bas Boon–Alistair Overeem’s manager heading the Golden Glory team–had said that the fight was in talks and negotiations were going well, Overeem decided to take matter’s into his own hands and set the record straight.

“For the record: I will fight in the K-1 and not against Aleksander (Emelianenko). I read something on the web and I’m not fighting him”, said the heavyweight juggernaut on his official twitter account.

So that put’s to rest that rumor, but will someone please tell Strefa Walk that the fight isn’t happening. They haven’t seemed to quite get the point yet.

So, are you otherwise disappointed that this fight isn’t happening? While I admit that a fight with Aleksander, who is arguably on better grounds than his estranged brother Fedor who lost for the first time in his professional mixed martial arts career (definitively), would be appealing–wouldn’t we all still prefer to see Overeem against the more infamous of the two Russian’s?

While Fedor has lost some of his luster that made up his seemingly indestructible aura, a fight with the former Pride and WAMMA champion still means a great deal to the Strikeforce brand.

“I saw a halo over his head,” Voronov told Russia Today about his first meeting with Emelianenko 20 years ago.   “He was the chosen one.”  About Emelianenko’s work ethic, Voronov said,  ”Overcoming laziness and tiredness, that is his way.”

Russia Today profiled the martial arts school run by Voronov and Nikolay Belousov where Emelianenko began his martial arts training, showing training dummies designed by Emelianenko only to be split open by “The Last Emperor”, stuffing hanging out as a new generation of martial arts students trained with them.

Aleksander Emelianenko (12-3), Fedor’s brother, also appeared and claimed, “I’m in the world’s top ten.”  Emelianenko made a successful boxing debut in October, but said, “I’ll keep competing in combat sambo and mix fights, and competing in boxing on the side.”

Aleks claimed he and Fedor were so poor as children that they only ate potatoes and told a story about killing a bear with a knife “for fun”, then eating it.

When confronted by the interviewer that his tattoos are prison-related, Aleks Emelianenko responded, “I think it’s just your delusion,” and later claimed, “I spend half of my earnings on children’s homes.”

“There is already an agreement that on the show organized by Affliction and M-1 Global 24 January, I will have a rematch with former UFC Champion Josh Barnett,” Emelianenko said.

However, Fighters.com has learned Barnett’s most likely opponent for Day of Reckoning, and it’s not Aleks.  Fighters.com thinks it’s Aleks’s wishful thinking.

Emelianenko was scheduled to fight at Affliction’s debut event in July but was denied a license by the California State Athletic Commission at the last minute.

M-1 told Fighters.com that Yvel will not rematch Red Devil heavyweight Roman Zentsov (17-12), who knocked Yvel out in a 2006 PRIDE fight.

The event will be lead by the return of Fighters.com’s tenth-ranked heavyweight Aleksander Emelianenko (12-3) after the commission debacle before Affliction’s debut in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, 19 July.  Emelianenko will fight Korean Sang Soo Lee (9-4).

The event will also feature a team format with bouts between Russia’s Red Devil team versus Korea and Russia’s Legion team versus Holland.

The Red Devil versus Korea match-ups will be lead by a light heavyweight bout between Red Devil’s Mikhail Zayats (7-1) and Korea’s Eun Soo Lee (9-0).

Zayats made John Cornett (5-4) verbally submit at M-1 Challenge 7 in Nottingham 27 September.

Lee won a unanimous decision over Daijiro Matsui (10-18-4) at DEEP Gladiator Okayama 16 August and will make his M-1 debut in St. Petersburg.

The Legion versus Holland match-ups will be highlighted by a middleweight fight between “Russian Warrior” Ansar Chalangov (8-3) versus Jason Jones (5-2).

Chalangov tapped Eulogio Fernandez (0-1) in a toe hold at M-1 Challenge 4 in St. Petersburg 27 June.

Jones lost a UD to Riki Fukuda (10-3) DEEP 38 in Tokyo last Thursday.

The rest of the card includes:

Yuri Ivlev (1-0) v Bogdan Cristea (4-2-1)
Islam Karimov (2-3) v Romano Delos (0-0)
Besike Gerinava (5-0) v Kamil Uygun (6-3)
Akhmed Sultanov (1-1) v TBD

Mikhail Malutin (7-5) v Soo Yong Kim  (1-0)
Erik Oganov (8-7) v Do Hyung Kim (9-5)
Dmitry Samoilov (5-4) v Min Suk Heo (1-2)
Kiril Sidelnikov (3-1) v Jang Yong Kim (1-1)

The match-up is Emelianenko’s first since being denied a license to fight “Headhunter” Paul Buentello (26-10) by the California State Athletic Commission in July.

Emelianenko publicly denied rumors that he was denied a license because of a positive test for Hepatitis.

Emelianenko rolled through Silvao Santos (1-1) in St. Petersburg 3 April.

Lee tapped Emelianenko’s Red Devil teammate Roman Zentsov (17-3) in a triangle choke in Seoul 29 August.

The fight will feature as one of two Super Fights at M-1 Challenge 9.

Minonzio forced a doctor stoppage “W” over Buck in Nottingham in July, handing Buck his first MMA loss.

Buck is a retired boxer hailing from Nottingham and looking for revenge.  He ended his career in the ring in 2000 at 10-4-1, winning his final five fights.

Saturday afternoon before the fights, Red Devil fighter and coach Fighters.com’s ninth-ranked heavyweight Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) will hold a seminar featuring DREAM Middleweight GP Champion Gegard Mousasi (24-2-1), UFC welterweight “Outlaw” Dan Hardy (19-6), and “The Machine” Ian Freeman (19-7-1).

Just a week after winning a split decision over Brandon Thatch (3-1) in Beverly Hills, north of Los Angeles, Brandon Magana (6-1) will fight Red Devil’s Erik Oganov (7-7) in Nottingham.

Called the protégé of Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1), Kiril Sidelnikov (3-2) will try to do something for the second time that Emelianenko has only had to do once: come back from a loss.

Sidelnikov draws American James Jack (3-2-1), who comes in off of a TKO of RJ Wishard (0-1) in August.

After having his 12-fight win streak snapped in a UD loss to Daisuke Nakamura (17-9) in August, Belgian welterweight “Moreno” Wim Deputter (18-3) will try to kickstart a new streak versus Mysail Khamanaev (0-0).

Other fights include:

Mikhail Malutin (5-6) v Beau King (2-3)
Dmitry Samoilov (4-2-1) v Bryan Harper (5-1)
Mikhail Zayats (5-1) v John Cornett (5-3)
“Judo” Jim Wallhead (14-5) v Igor Araujo (11-6)
Sergey Verdesh (1-0) v Jason Ponet (0-1)
Sergey Kornev (0-0) v Rosen Dimitrov (1-0)
Gadzhimurad Omarov (0-0) v Nills van Noord (0-0)
Akhmed Sultanov (3-1) v Sylwester Oleksy (0-0)
Christian Smith (4-5) v Clifford Hall (6-3)

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.

Eighth-ranked “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3) and ninth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) each moved up a spot respectively on Herring’s loss.

“Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) retained the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship during a slow month that saw no changes in the top seven spots.

Emelianenko pulled out of Affliction’s second event in Las Vegas 11 October in which he was matched versus fourth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5) with a hand injury sustained in his 36-second destruction of seventh-ranked “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-5).

Emelianenko was replaced by third-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (22-5) in the main event.

Top contender “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira‘s (31-4-1) title challenge versus Frank Mir (11-3) got slightly more interesting when Lesnar, who got tapped by Mir in February, dominated Herring…but only slightly.

The UFC’s top heavyweight contender, fifth-ranked “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1) will probably draw either Lesnar or Cheick Kongo (12-4-1) in his next fight.

Sixth-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8) is rumored to be considering a return to the UFC; but, Fighters.com has not confirmed that.

Sylvia (24-5) licks his wounds and awaits a match-up at Affliction’s return.

September Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1)

Emelianenko took his right-left combo and used it to erase “doubt” from Fighters.com’s rankings when he dismantled Sylvia.  The depth of his recent opposition remains shallow; but, taking Sylvia apart quicker than anyone else earns him the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship.

2. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1)

It ain’t pretty! Nogueira has turned “blocking punches with your face” into a winning strategy versus top teners Sylvia, Barnett, and Werdum in the last two years, earning him the Fighters.com’s top contender spot.

3. “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (23-5)

“Babyface Assassin” is on a tear with a KO of Pedro Rizzo, UD over Jeff Monson, and submission of Hidehiko Yoshida, but no recent work at the top of the division.  Arlovski will be his toughest fight since losing a decisiong to Nog’in 2006.

4. “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5)

“Pitbull” got his bite back versus Ben Rothwell, adding the KO to a UD over Werdum and a pair or wins over lesser competition.  Arlovski will need all the bite he has versus Barnett in October.

5. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1)

“Vai Cavalo” spanked Gonzaga like a bad monkey in January, then played a samba on Brandon Vera‘s head in June.  Werdum is streaking into a rematch with Noguiera for the UFC and maybe Fighters.com title.

6. “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8)

The best strategist in a weight class of brutes returned to solve the 6’8″ riddle of Sylvia over five grueling rounds to reclaim UFC’s title, then forced Cro Cop-slayer Gonzaga to wish MMA had timeouts in a bloody three-round TKO.  Does he have a winning strategy to return to MMA?

7. “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-5)

The oft maligned “Maine-iac” has meshed his stature with world-class striking, championship cardio, and a Jeff Monson-tested ground game. His losses are only to legends Emelianenko, Nogueira, and Couture.

8. “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3)

After mauling Mirko Filipovic in Manchester, “Napao” risks becoming a footnote in MMA history with consecutive stoppage losses to Couture and Werdum.  The big man has the tools to remain top ten for years to come, but does he have the heart?

9. Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3)

Fedor’s li’l bro’ isn’t lost in the shadow of “The Last Emporer”. In the last two years, the man with the coldest stare down in MMA has outclassed his brother in competition, losing only to top ten heavies while TKOing fellow Russian Kharitonov.

10. Sergei Kharitonov (15-3)

Kharitonov followed a TKO loss to Aleksander Emelianenko with consecutive first-round stoppages of Michael Russow and Alistair Overeem; but, has been laid up in Russia for the last year. His return would give a the division a needed dose of excitement.

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.

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.

Emelianenko will fight fourth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5) in October after Arlovski knocked out up-and-comer “Big” Ben Rothwell (29-6) on the same Affliction debut card.

Fighters.com considers “The Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett(23-5) Affliction’s top contender after MMA’s otoko viciously knocked “Rock” Pedro Rizzo(16-8) cold and leap-frogged Arlovski to place third in August’s rankings.

Rizzo may not be the fighter of UFC highlight reels; but, Barnett stood with the still-dangerous striker to earn the KO.

But, Affliction opted for the highly recognizable and heavily hirsute mug of Arlovski over Barnett, whom, though legendary across the Pacific, is only just re-acquainting his babyface with the mainstream North American audience.

Fighters.com considers fifth-ranked “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1) the top contender to the UFC title; but, the Brazilian lingers as Nogueira v Mir remains an unscheduled inevitability.

Sixth-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8) drops four spots in August due to inactivity.

Fighters.com quizzed sources at Xtreme Couture about why the originally intended October Emelianenko v Couture match-up was so quickly brushed aside by Affliction and got responses reflecting the increasingly pessimistic outlook from Couture’s camp, “There is no sense waiting for something that’s not guaranteed to ever happen.”

Eighth-ranked “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-13) fights Brock Lesnar (1-1) next weekend in Minneapolis in the face of odds-makers’ slights.

“Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3) found a bit of his old mojo last month with gimme’ “W” over Justin McCully (8-4-2), propelling him into the ninth ranking.

Tenth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) failed to meet California State Athletic Commission Standards to fight “Headhunter” Paul Buentello (26-10) in Anaheim 19 July, but no one is confirming why.

Fighters.com heard the Hepatitis rumor the day after Affliction’s premier, but hasn’t reported it because no one will confirm it.

August Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1)

Emelianenko took his right-left combo and used it to erase “doubt” from Fighters.com’s rankings when he dismantled Sylvia.  The depth of his recent opposition remains shallow; but, taking Sylvia apart quicker than anyone else earns him the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship to defend from Arlovski in October.

2. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1)

It ain’t pretty! Nogueira has turned “blocking punches with your face” into a winning strategy versus top teners Sylvia, Herring, Barnett, and Werdum in the last two years, earning him the Fighters.com’s top contender spot.

3. “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (23-5)

“Babyface Assassin” is on a tear with a KO of Pedro Rizzo, UD over Jeff Monson, and submission of Hidehiko Yoshida, but no recent work at the top of the division.  Arlovski got the October nod versus Emelianenko, but Barnett should get a top ten test too.

4. “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5)

“Pitbull” got his bite back versus Ben Rothwell, adding the KO to a UD over Werdum and a pair or wins over lesser competition.  Arlovski will need all the bite he has left versus Emelianenko in October.

5. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1)

“Vai Cavalo” spanked Gonzaga like a bad monkey in January, then played a samba on Brandon Vera‘s head in June.  Werdum is streaking into a rematch with Noguiera for the UFC and probably Fighters.com title.

6. “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8)

The best strategist in a weight class of brutes returned to solve the 6’8″ riddle of Sylvia over five grueling rounds to reclaim UFC’s title, then forced Cro Cop-slayer Gonzaga to wish MMA had timeouts in a bloody three-round TKO.

7. “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-5)

The oft maligned “Maine-iac” has meshed his stature with world-class striking, championship cardio, and a Jeff Monson-tested ground game. His losses are only to legends Emelianenko, Nogueira, and Couture.

8. “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-13)

Herring’s bungle versus Nogueira was beefed-up with a strong decision over Cheick Kongo in March.   Three losses to Nogueira stop-gaps a potential UFC title challenge, but the “Texas Crazy Horse” will fight an even bigger name in Brock Lesnar.

9. “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3)

After mauling Mirko Filipovic in Manchester, “Napao” risks becoming a footnote in MMA history with consecutive stoppage losses to Couture and Werdum.  The big man has the tools to remain top ten for years to come, but does he have the heart?

10. Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3)

Fedor’s li’l bro’ isn’t lost in the shadow of “The Last Emporer”. In the last two years, the man with the coldest stare down in MMA has outclassed his brother in competition, losing only to top ten heavies while TKOing fellow Russian Sergei Kharitonov.

Emelianenko insisted that everything is in order with his health, and that the reason for his absence was his failure to meet the California State Athletic Commission’s deadlines.

“From a medical point of view everything is fully in order. I got through the medical board successfully and received my license to fight without any problems,” he said.

“But the fact is that in California the commission is very strict about allowing you to fight. One of the main conditions… is that you must pass all the tests on time. I should have been in America on the thirteenth [of July]. They gave me my visa only on the fourteenth, and our tickets were purchased only on the fifteenth of July. I was just late.”

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.

Check back!  Fighters.com will post video of the weigh-ins later today

There were a couple of shakers this month, but no movers.

In London 7 June, seventh-ranked “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1) played a samba on “The Truth” Brandon Vera‘s (8-2) noggin for a first round TKO.

Werdum remains the top contender to “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira‘s (31-4-1) UFC Heavyweight Championship.

Of course, Big Nog’ is pitted versus struggling, but dangerous former UFC Champion Frank Mir (11-3) in a made-for-TUF match-up in October.

Werdum will probably draw the winner of 9 August’s eighth-ranked “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-13) versus Brock Lesnar (1-1) fight, maybe on the same October UFC card to build the follow-up versus the winners.

Also in action this rankings period, tenth-ranked “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3) blew through confidence-booster Justin McCully (8-4-2) in Las Vegas 5 July to break a two-fight losing streak for the man who sentenced “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic (23-6-2) down a spiral the Croatian has yet to ascend from.

This weekend in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, Affliction will twist the heavyweight Rubik’s cube and a lot of colorful riddles will turn black-and-white.

With bated breath, the MMA world awaits the answer to biggest mystery in the division:  How good is sixth-ranked “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (27-1)?

Many rank the Russian tops, but even his minions struggle like “Techno Goliath” Hong Man Choi (1-1) in an armbar to defend Emelianenko’s two-year dearth of top competition.

Will third-ranked “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-4) shake his history of choking in the face of the big challenges?  Sylvia has always fought tougher as an underdog…

On the same card, fourth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (12-5) and “Big” Ben Rothwell (29-5) have heavyweight questions to face-up to.

Can Arlovski regain his pre-Sylvia KO tenacity that earned him the nickname “Pitbull”; or, is he comfortable fighting “Dragon” Lyoto Machida (13-0) for the title of “MMA’s Most Elusive”?

Is Rothwell “Big” enough for the top ten?

Also, fifth-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (21-5) will try to avenge a vicious 2001 knockout to “Rock” Pedro Rizzo (16-7) and earn a fight versus the winner of Sylvia/Emelianenko.

Finally, ninth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) will slug it out with “Headhunter” Paul Buentello (25-10) on the undercard’s main event, possibly the most exciting fight of the night.

Fighters.com will be live in Anaheim Saturday for the biggest heavyweight MMA card in history.  Get the true scoop as it happens right here.

The odd man out is legally-challenged top contender “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8), who could lose his top contender status this weekend if Emelianenko beats Sylvia by stoppage.

July Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1)

It ain’t pretty! Nogueira has turned “blocking punches with your face” into a winning strategy versus top teners Sylvia, Herring, Barnett, and Werdum in the last two years, earning him the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship.

2. “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8)

The best strategist in a weight class of brutes returned to solve the 6’8″ riddle of Sylvia over five grueling rounds to reclaim UFC’s title, then forced Cro Cop-slayer Gonzaga to wish MMA had timeouts in a bloody three-round TKO.

3. “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-4)

The oft maligned “Maine-iac” has meshed his stature with world-class striking, championship cardio, and a Jeff Monson-tested ground game. His losses are to legends Nogueira and Couture, but he’s failed to lay out ripe KO candidates Arlovski and Monson.

4. “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (12-5)

“Pitbull” has fought like a poodle since getting neutered by Sylvia in an ‘06 KO loss, but was able to steal a decision from Werdum in the most disappointing fight of ’07.  Perhaps free agency will reignite the once explosive fighter’s fire.

5. “The Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (21-5)

“The Babyface Assassin” returned to tap Hidehiko Yoshida and UD Jeff Monson and is the last man to beat Noguiera. He also holds a submission of hard-headed Mark Hunt in the last two years.

6. “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (27-1)

Rankings reflect what has happened in fights with a predilection towards the most recent and Emelianenko hasn’t fought another top ten heavyweight in 33 months.   He’ll take sixth and like it or take first by defeating Sylvia in July.

7. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1)

“Vai Cavalo” spanked Gonzaga like a bad monkey in January, then played a samba on Brandon Vera‘s head in June.  Werdum is streaking into a rematch with Noguiera for the UFC and probably Fighters.com title.

8. “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-13)

Herring’s bungle versus Nogueira was beefed-up with a strong decision over Cheick Kongoin March.   Three losses to Nogueira stop-gaps a potential UFC title challenge, but the “Texas Crazy Horse” will fight an even bigger name in Brock Lesnar.

9. Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3)

Fedor’s li’l bro’ isn’t lost in the shadow of “The Last Emporer”. In the last two years, the man with the coldest stare down in MMA has outclassed his brother in competition, losing only to top ten heavies while TKOing fellow Russian Sergei Kharitonov.

10. “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3)

After mauling Mirko Filipovic in Manchester, “Napao” risks becoming a footnote in MMA history with consecutive stoppage losses to Couture and Werdum.  The big man has the tools to remain top ten for years to come, but does he have the heart?

He assured that the fans are going to see two heavyweight slugging it out.

Fighters.com’s ninth-ranked heavyweight Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) versus “The Head Hunter” Paul Buentello (25-10) will headline Affliction: Live, the one-hour telecast of Affliction: Banned’s undercard.

Also announced was the light heavyweight match-up between “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort (16-8) and Terry Martin (17-4).

Belfort versus Martin replaces the originally-scheduled bout between “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (13-3) and “Tiger” Vernon White (26-32-2) on the FSN card.  White has since been replaced by “Babyface” Edwin Dewees (35-12; 1 NC).

Through no fault of his own of course, Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) won’t meet either threshold when he defends his UFC title versus Frank Mir (11-3).

So, what’s Fighters.com to do?  Second-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8) admitted this week to Canada’s Globe and Mail, “I’m also OK with the idea that [I may not fight again].  I may get a bad [court] ruling and I can’t really see myself at this point going back and fighting two more times for the UFC if that’s what the state says I have to do.”

Should 19 July’s more competitive match-up between third-ranked “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-4) and sixth-ranked “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) be for Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Championship?

Both Sylvia and fourth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (12-5) climbed two spots on fifth-ranked “The Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett‘s (22-5) inability to put away “The Snowman” Jeff Monson in Tokyo last month coupled with Barnett’s submission of ninth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) falling off his two-year record.

Of course, Arlovski officially announced today that he’ll fight top heavyweight prospect Ben Rothwell (29-5) 19 July.  Rothwell steps-in well-hyped from the IFL and Arlovski looks to shake out of his funk.

Barnett returns on the same undercard to seek revenge from a 2001 KO loss versus now largely irrelevant “The Rock” Pedro Rizzo (16-7) and Aleksander Emelianenko fights “The Headhunter” Paul Buentello (25-10) in my pick for fight of the night in Anaheim, outside of Los Angeles.

This weekend in London, seventh-ranked “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1) and returning prospect “The Truth” Brandon Vera (8-1) will battle for the UFC’s top contender spot.

Eighth-ranked “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-13) will fill-in for injured “Hammer” Mark Coleman (15-9) versus the UFC’s version of market-friendly “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-0), former pro-wrestler Brock Lesnar (1-1), in a fight that shouldn’t even be sanctioned, but only a big lug like Herring could find a way to lose.

In July, tenth-ranked “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3) has a lot to prove versus Justin McCully (8-3-2); and, McCully might be thinking the same thing.

June Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1)

It ain’t pretty! Nogueira has turned “blocking punches with your face” into a winning strategy versus top teners Sylvia, Herring, Barnett, and Werdum in the last two years, earning him the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship.

2. “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8)

The best strategist in a weight class of brutes returned to solve the 6’8″ riddle of Sylvia over five grueling rounds to reclaim UFC’s title, then forced Cro Cop-slayer Gonzaga to wish MMA had timeouts in a bloody three-round TKO.

3. “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-4)

The oft maligned “Maine-iac” has meshed his stature with world-class striking, championship cardio, and a Jeff Monson-tested ground game. His losses are to legends Nogueira and Couture, but he’s failed to lay out ripe KO candidates Arlovski and Monson.

4. “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (12-5)

“Pitbull” has fought like a poodle since getting neutered by Sylvia in an ‘06 KO loss, but was able to steal a decision from Werdum in the most disappointing fight of ’07.  Perhaps free agency will reignite the once explosive fighter’s fire.

5. “The Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (22-5)

“The Babyface Assassin” returned to tap Hidehiko Yoshida and UD Jeff Monson and is the last man to beat Noguiera. He also holds a submission of hard-headed Mark Hunt in the last two years.

6. “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (27-1)

Rankings reflect what has happened in fights with a predilection towards the most recent and Emelianenko hasn’t fought another top ten heavyweight in 33 months.   He’ll take sixth and like it or take first by defeating Sylvia in July.

7. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1)

“Vai Cavalo” spanked Gonzaga like a bad monkey in January, his fourth consecutive top ten matchup, going 2-2 with two stoppage wins.  He’s matched versus fellow UFC title contender Brandon Vera 7 June.

8. “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-13)

Herring’s bungle versus Nogueira was beefed-up with a strong decision over Cheick Kongo in March.   Three losses to Nogueira stop-gaps a potential UFC title challenge, but the “Texas Crazy Horse” will fight an even bigger name in Brock Lesnar.

9. Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3)

Fedor’s li’l bro’ isn’t lost in the shadow of “The Last Emperor”. In the last two years, the man with the coldest stare down in MMA has outclassed his brother in competition, losing only to top ten heavies while TKOing fellow Russian Sergei Kharitonov.

10. “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3)

After mauling Mirko Filipovic in Manchester, “Napao” risks becoming a footnote in MMA history with consecutive stoppage losses to Couture and Werdum.  The big man has the tools to remain top ten for years to come, but does he have the heart?

HCF’s demise was foreshadowed by Fighters.com last month when Crawford released a statement postponing a scheduled 10 May card in Calgary.

“Due to the fact that the due diligence process has been extended on our impending re-structuring we are officially postponing our May 10 fight card,” Crawford said then.

In response to a Fighters.com request for details Friday morning, Crawford replied, “I cannot comment on these things.”

The promotion’s last event was held 29 March in Gatineau and featured Quebecois middleweight “The Crow” David Loiseau (16-8) in the main event.

HCF debuted in July 2007 and held four events in Canada featuring fighters such as Fighters.com’s tenth-ranked heavyweight Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3), Gegard Mousasi (21-2-1), “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (13-3), and “Diesel” Joe Riggs (27-10).

Last November, HCF signed former UFC light heavyweight title contender “Babalu” Renato Sobral (29-7) to a contract, though the grappler never fought in an event.

HCF joins a list of MMA start-ups that couldn’t turn recognizable names into sustaining revenue.

The only April action was a first round TKO of Silvao Santos (1-1) by tenth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3).  It might as well have been a Monday morning sparring session.

So, why did “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-4) and “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) sink a spot respectively?  Sylvia’s stoppage of “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (12-5) in 2006 fell off their two-year records, which is the time span Fighters.com considers when ranking fighters.

The division’s future is just as bleak as the recent past.

Adrenaline MMA still insists Emelianenko’s claim of an official fight with Sylvia in June is false.  To boot, the promotion that promotes Sylvia and rising heavyweight Ben Rothwell (29-5) claims Emelianenko’s delinquent repayment of a $500,000 signing bonus left over from the M-1 Global era is also holding up a fight for Rothwell on the same card.  Though Rothwell insists it ain’t happenin’, he’s been rumored to have been matched versus Arlovski.

All four fighters and the entire division need those two fights.

Unfortunately, third-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett‘s (21-5) rise will be short-lived because his submission of tenth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) will fall off his two-year record next month.  He’s scheduled to grapple with always competitive “The Snowman” Jeff Monson (24-7) at Sengoku this month; but, even the expected “W” can’t replace the submission of Emelianenko.

The UFC has scheduled a contender match-up between seventh-ranked “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1) and “The Truth” Brandon Vera (8-1) for London in June.  A win for Vera will launch him into the division’s top ten; a win for “Vai Cavalo” will prove that he belongs.

First-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) is rumored to be mauling a UFC title defense against Frank Mir (11-3).  For the love of God!  Mir is a gentleman, a technician on the mat, and a fine fighter.  He is not the top heavyweight contender in the UFC.

So goes a division where “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (2-0) and Brock Lesnar (1-1) make bank at the box office.

May Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1)

It ain’t pretty! Nogueira has turned “blocking punches with your face” into a winning strategy versus top teners Sylvia, Herring, Barnett, and Werdum in the last two years, earning him Fighters.com’s first ranking at heavyweight.

2. “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8)

The best strategist in a weight class of brutes returned to solve the 6’8″ riddle of Sylvia over five grueling rounds to reclaim UFC’s title, then forced Cro Cop-slayer Gonzaga to wish MMA had timeouts in a bloody three-round TKO.

3. “The Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (21-5)

“The Babyface Assassin” returned to tap Hidehiko Yoshida and is the last man to beat Noguiera. Even with an involuntary 14-month layoff, he holds submissions over tenth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko and hard-headed Mark Hunt in the last two years.

4. “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-4)

The oft maligned “Maine-iac” has meshed his stature with world-class striking, championship cardio, and a Jeff Monson-tested ground game. His losses are to legends Nogueira and Couture, but he’s failed to lay out ripe KO candidates Arlovski and Monson.

5. “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (12-5)

“Pitbull” has fought like a poodle since getting neutered by Sylvia in an ‘06 KO loss, but was able to steal a decision from Werdum in the most disappointing fight of ’07.  Perhaps free agency will reignite the once explosive fighter’s fire.

6. “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (27-1)

Rankings reflect what has happened in fights with a predilection towards the most recent and Emelianenko hasn’t fought another top ten heavyweight in 32 months.   He’ll take sixth and like it, or take first in a real fight.  It’s his decision.

7. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1)

“Vai Cavalo” spanked Gonzaga like a bad monkey in January, his fourth consecutive top ten matchup, going 2-2 with two stoppage wins.  He’s likely Nogueira’s first UFC title challenge in a rematch that ended in a close decision for Nogueira in PRIDE.

8. “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-13)

Herring’s bungle versus Nogueira was beefed-up with a strong decision over Cheick Kongo in March.   Three losses to Nogueira stop-gaps a potential UFC title challenge, but the “Texas Crazy Horse” will valiantly defend the gate to the UFC’s gold.

9. “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3)

After mauling Mirko Filipovic in Manchester, “Napao” risks becoming a footnote in MMA history with consecutive stoppage losses to Couture and Werdum.  The big man has the tools to remain top ten for years to come, but does he have the heart?

10. Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3)

Fedor’s li’l bro’ isn’t lost in the shadow of “The Last Emporer”. In the last two years, the man with the coldest stare down in MMA has outclassed his brother in competition, losing only to top ten heavies while TKOing fellow Russian Sergei Kharitonov.

“Due to the fact that the due diligence process has been extended on our impending re-structuring we are officially postponing our May 10 fight card.  We hope our exclusive fighters will understand.  We are confidant this new corporate structure will be in every athlete’s best interest.”

Fighters.com’s 10th-ranked heavyweight Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) had disclosed his negotiations to fight on the 10 May HCF card in Calgary.

With the delay (and lack of due dilligence in proofreading official communications), one has to wonder how confident “exclusive fighters” should be…

Last October, Emelianenko submitted Dan Bobish (17-9) in a guillotine choke in Hardcore Championship Fighting in Calgary.

An e-mail to HCF CEO Keith Crawford to confirm Emelianenko would return to Calgary on HCF’s 10 May card hasn’t been responded to.

Emelianenko said, “I don’t know an opponent yet.”

Last weekend, unfortunate Brazilian Silvao Santos (1-1) was sacrificed to Emelianenko in a first-round TKO in M-1 Challenge.

Emelianenko said of the poor matchmaking, “Everyone refused to fight with me; [Santos] was the one who’d agreed.  He is not weak; he’s a good fighter; he had a lot of fights.  It’s just that I’m strong and train a lot.”

Emelianenko also fired across the UFC bow.

“The UFC, for example, won’t take me; because, if they let me in there, I would beat everybody and take the belt to Russia.  They don’t want that.  They want their own American champions.  We already beat everyone in Japan, even though no one bet on us.”

Half of the current UFC heavyweight title is held by Fighter.com’s first-ranked heavyweight “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1), a Brazilian.

It’s speculated Emelianenko has never fought in the United States due to visa complications stemming from his stint in a Russian prison.

Emelianenko’s teammates Amar Suloev (24-7) and Roman Zentsov (17-12) also scored wins for the home team, while Japanese fighters “Andre” Yuta Watanabe (8-1-3) and Ken Hamamura (14-4-4) picked-up victories on foreign soil.

In the same kind of Finkelsteinian matchmaking that has kept “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) from meaningful MMA for over two-and-a-half years, li’l brother Aleks was paired with Santos whose only other professional MMA appearance ended in a split decision victory over that notorious gatekeeper to top ten contention, Edson Conterraneo (3-1).

Note my sarcasm.

The big Brazilian circled Russia’s finest before a shot stuffed and swept by Aleks into a textbook uchi mata makikomi toss landing Emelianenko in Santos’s half-guard.

Strong Santos stood out of Emelianenko’s half-mount, but into a near standing guillotine the Russian wrenched like a neck crank.

Emelianenko muscled Santos into a corner, released the choke, and hopped into a flying knee that effectively ended the fight.

Santos shot forward for a desperate single-leg lunge, but Emelianenko sprawled and pummeled the Brazilian with a series of rights as the referee dove to Santos’s rescue.

Emelianenko’s middleweight Red Devil Sport Club stablemate, Suloev, bounced back from a second round TKO to Chael Sonnen (20-9-1) last July to TKO Jacek Buczko (11-4), who hadn’t fought in two-and-a-half years, in the first round.

Heavyweight Zentsov also rebounded from an ’07 stoppage loss to deal undersized Daniel Tabera (9-1-2) of Spain his first “L” in a two-round decision.

DEEP middleweight vet Watanabe dealt Ansar Chalangov (7-4) his fourth consecutive defeat in a first-round rear naked choke.  It was Watanabe’s first fight out of country.

Welterweight Hamamura also ventured out of the “Land of the Rising Sun” for the first time to TKO Russia’s Islam Karimov (5-4-1) in the second round.

The event also saw Akhmet Sultanov (2-0) submit multi-promotion veteran Katsuhisa Fuji (8-14-1) in a first-round armbar.

Besiki Gerenava (5-0) won a decision over Pancrase vet Yuji Sakuragi (9-10-1).

U-File Camp’s Daisuke Nakamura (13-9) decisioned Juri Ivlev (4-3).

Victor Nemkov (1-0) debuted with a triangle choke submission of fellow rookie Christian Bombay (0-1).

Team Scandinavia’s Jarno Nurminen (2-1) forced Ji Hoon Kim’s (1-6) corner to throw in the towel in the first round.

Heavyweight Fin Toni Valtonen (15-7) submitted South Korean Seung Hyun Choi (0-2) in a rear naked choke in the first round.

Hyun Gyu Lim (2-1-1) knocked out Brazil’s Lucio Linhares (7-3) in the first round.

Lightweight Janne Tulirinta (7-2) TKO’d Doo Won Seo (1-2) in round two.

Finally, lightweight Niko Puhakka (11-6) of Finland submitted Jong Man Kim (3-5-2) in a triangle choke in round one.

1. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1)

It ain’t pretty! Nogueira has turned “blocking punches with your face” into a winning strategy versus top teners Sylvia, Herring, Barnett, and Werdum in the last two years, earning him Fighters.com’s first ranking at heavyweight.

2. “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8)

The best strategist in a weight class of brutes returned to solve the 6’8″ riddle of Sylvia over five grueling rounds to reclaim UFC’s title, then forced Cro Cop-slayer Gonzaga to wish MMA had timeouts in a bloody three-round TKO.

3. “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-4)

The oft maligned “Maine-iac” has meshed his stature with world-class striking, championship cardio, and a Jeff Monson-tested ground game. His losses are to legends Nogueira and Couture, but he’s failed to lay out ripe KO candidates Arlovski and Monson.

4. “The Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (21-5)

“The Babyface Assassin” returned to tap Hidehiko Yoshida and is the last man to beat Noguiera. Even with an involuntary 14-month layoff, he holds submissions over tenth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko and hard-headed Mark Hunt in the last two years.

5. “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (27-1)

Rankings reflect what has happened in fights with a predilection towards the most recent and Emelianenko hasn’t fought another top ten heavyweight in 32 months. He’ll take fifth and like it, or take first in a real fight. It’s his decision.

6. “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (12-5)

“Pitbull” has fought like a poodle since getting neutered by Sylvia in an ‘06 KO loss, but was able to steal a decision from Werdum in the most disappointing fight of ’07. Perhaps free agency will reignite the once explosive fighter’s fire.

7. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1)

“Vai Cavalo” spanked Gonzaga like a bad monkey in January, his fourth consecutive top ten matchup, going 2-2 with two stoppage wins. He’s likely Nogueira’s first UFC title challenge in a rematch that ended in a close decision for Nogueira in PRIDE.

8. “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-13)

Herring’s bungle versus Nogueira was beefed-up with a strong decision over Cheick Kongo in March. Three losses to Nogueira stop-gaps a potential UFC title challenge, but the “Texas Crazy Horse” will valiantly defend the gate to the UFC’s gold.

9. “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3)

After mauling Mirko Filipovic in Manchester, “Napao” risks becoming a footnote in MMA history with consecutive stoppage losses to Couture and Werdum. The big man has the tools to remain top ten for years to come, but does he have the heart?

10. Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3)

Fedor’s li’l bro’ isn’t lost in the shadow of “The Last Emporer”. In the last two years, the man with the coldest stare down in MMA has outclassed his brother in competition, losing only to top ten heavies while TKOing fellow Russian Sergei Kharitonov.