M-1 veteran Gilbert Yvel has advanced to a heavyweight bout vs. Paul Buentello at Affliction and M-1's "Trilogy" event on Aug. 1
Saturday’s heavyweight tilt between Gilbert Yvel and Pedro Rizzo at “Ultimate Chaos” this past Saturday had been promoted as an “eliminator” for a bout vs. Paul Buentello at Affliction and M’1′s “Trilogy” event. However, until Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio confirmed that Yvel would indeed fight at “Trilogy,” the potential bout was hardly official.
However, Atencio confirmed that Yvel and Buentello will indeed be facing each other Aug. 1 in Anaheim, Calif. while commenting during an exclusive interview with MMAWeekly.com that took place soon after Atencio’s second round TKO victory over Randy Hedderick.
“Yep, that’s the fight,” Atencio informed MMA Weekly after being asked if Yvel vs. Buentello was now official. “I feel bad for Pedro. I’d like to find out how Pedro is doing.”
Atencio was referring to Yvel’s dominating performance against Rizzo, which ended with Yvel being declare the victor at 2:10 of round 1 following a knockout. The outcome of the fight has come under much criticism, as several pundits felt the referee was late in stopping the bout. The excess punishment prompted Yvel to even apologize to Rizzo after the bout.
The win improved Yvel’s record to 36-13-1 and served as his eighth win in his last nine fights. It was also his first fight since a third round submission (punches) defeat against Josh Barnett this past January at Affliction and M-1 “Day of Reckoning.”
