Japanese combat fighting superstar Takanori “The Fireball Kid” Gomi has been added to the Affliction M-1 Global’s locked-and-loaded “Trilogy” card against upset-minded Rafaello “Tractor” Oliveira, completing the five-fight Pay-Per-View event, live August 1 from Honda Center in Anaheim.
The premier heavyweight mixed martial arts fighter in the universe, Russian icon Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko (30-1-0), defends his WAMMA heavyweight title against No. 1 contender, Josh “The Babyfaced Assassin” Barnett (24-5-0), in the special main event.
GoDaddy.com presents Affliction M-1 Global’s “Trilogy,” featuring Fedor vs. Barnett in association with Golden Boy Promotions and Donald J Trump. The show is separated into two live broadcasts on the same night—a one-hour special will air on HDNet starting at 7:30 PM/ET (4:30 PM/PT), followed by the sensational Pay-Per-View event, “Trilogy,” commencing at 9PM/ET (6 PM/PT).
Gomi (30-5-0), 4-time All-Japan Combat Wrestling Champion, is a former Shooto welterweight and PRIDE lightweight title-holder. His strong wrestling background and ambidextrous striking ability make him a dual threat to contend with. The Japanese warrior will be fighting in the United States for only the second time in his pro career. Among his many victims is former UFC® champion, Jens Pulver. The once-beaten Oliveira (8-1-0), fighting out of Knoxville, has won three in a row in 2009, since suffering his only loss by doctor stoppage last October.
Also appearing is Strikeforce® Light Heavyweight Champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral (32-8-0), who takes on Armenian kick-boxing artist Gegard “The Dreamcatcher” Mousasi (25-2-1), making his American debut in an intriguing co-main event.
Also on the PPV card is former UFC® Light Heavyweight Champion Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort (18-8-0) against Sengoku middleweight title-holder Jorge Santiago (21-7-0), while knockout specialist Gilbert “The Hurricane” Yvel (36-13-1), fresh off of his devastating first-round knockout of 3-time UFC® heavyweight title challenger Pedro “The Rock” Rizzo, squares-off with former UFC® heavyweight title challenger, Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello,.
The stacked undercard on HDNet features ex-IFL® Welterweight Champion Jay “The Thoroughbred” Hieron (17-4-0) versus former Cage Rage belt-holder Paul “Semtex” Daley (21-8-2), young lightweight prospects Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki (12-1-0) and Dan “The Upgrade” Lauzon (12-2-0), and former IFL heavyweight titlist “Big” Ben Rothwell (30-6-0) tangles with hot, unbeaten prospect Chase Gormley (6-0-0).
Two other HDNet fights include featherweight L.C. Davis (13-2-0) meeting former KOTC and Gladiator Challenge champion Javier “Showtime” Vasquez (13-2-0), and former IFL® lightweight challenger Deividas Taurosevicius (10-3-0) facing Mark “The Machine” Hominick (16-8-0). Two off-television matches are also on tap between heavyweights Jessie Gibbs (7-2-0) and Rob Broughton (10-4-1), as well as Brazilian light heavyweight Lucio Linhares (12-4-0) and Mikhail Zayats (8-3-0).
All fights and fighters are subject to change. For more information go online to www.afflictionclothing.com.
Tickets for Affliction M-1’s “Trilogy” range between $50.00 and $600.00, are on sale at Honda Center Box Office (1.714.704.2500) and also online at Ticketmaster.com and all Ticket Master outlets (1.714.740.2000).
