Tom says the Fedor-Arlovski winner will fight the Barnett-Yvel winner, thus opening the door for a potential Fedor-Yvel match-up. I don’t know about you, but I have no interest in that fight whatsoever. Of course, that assumes Yvel will actually beat Barnett and Affliction will survive past Jan. 24, so there’s probably nothing to worry about.
CR: Fighthype.com via Bloody Elbow
Interviews with Chris Horodecki, Sokoudjou, and Babalu after the jump.
Ed Note: This is a guest post from Robert at Betwwx.com.
It has been a busy week for oddsmakers at 5Dimes and Bookmaker with both releasing half a dozen new betting lines for several major fight cards in January.
5Dimes were the first book to post betting lines for one the most anticipated fight of 2009, Georges St. Pierre vs BJ Penn. It was Penn who was the small favorite when the two met last time. Two years later and it’s the Canadian who is favored. The line makers at Bookmaker and 5Dimes have installed GSP at -200. It has been years since Penn last entered a bout with the underdog tag never the less he is listed at generous +170. Great value if you think Penn can take it to GSP.
Betting odds have also been released for another long awaited showdown in the light heavyweight division. The undefeated Lyoto Machida and Thiago Silva will meet at UFC 94 after injury postponed their first meeting in England. Lyoto Machida will enter as the commanding -300 betting favorite, despite being 13-0 in his career. Silva is the +240 underdog at Bookmaker.
The oddsmakers at 5Dimes were also the first to post betting odds for the main event at Affliction “Day of Reckoning”. As expected Fedor Emelianenko is the heavy favorite going to the bout with former UFC champion Andrei “The Pit Bull” Arlovski. Here is the 5Dimes betting line as it stands at the time of posting.
Andrei Arlovski +325
Fedor Emelianenko -475
Josh Barnett has an opponent now for the upcoming Affliction card, but it isn’t Brett Rogers or Aleksander Emelianenko as previously rumored. It’s Gilbert Yvel, someone who probably has an even smaller chance of getting licensed in California than Aleks does. In terms of “meaningful fights,” this one isn’t, so I’m not going to lie and say I’m not disappointed in the match-up. Either of the rumored opponents would have much better in my opinion, but I suppose they just didn’t work out for whatever reason. If you really hate this fight, check out Zach Arnold’s thoughts on it. He hates it too.
The press release also mentions that one of the Discovery Channel’s “Fight Quest’ co-hosts, Jimmy Smith, will be calling the action. Apparently, he and this other guy, Sean Wheelock have been the broadcast team for the M-1 Challenge, thus how they got the job. I’ve watched a little bit of the M-1 Challenge, but admittedly haven’t paid any attention whatsoever to the announcing, so I couldn’t tell you one way or the other if this is a good thing, although they couldn’t be any worse than Glazer and Trigg. Five Oz. has more on them if you’re interested.
Anyways, here’s the press release.
M-1 Global is pleased to announce that Gilbert Yvel, one of its top heavyweight competitors, has agreed to terms on a three-fight contract with Affliction Entertainment.
No Comments | Filed under: Affliction II: Day of Reckoning, Gilbert Yvel, Jimmy Smith, Josh Barnett, Sean Wheelock
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