Affliction: Day of Reckoning
Affliction: Day of Reckoning was a mixed martial arts event promoted by Affliction Entertainment on January 24, 2009, in Anaheim, California at the Honda Center. It was originally scheduled for October 11, 2008, at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada with a different fight card.
Background
The main event was former Pride World Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko against former UFC Heavyweight ChampionAndrei Arlovski.
Also on the card was Josh "Babyface Assassin" Barnett, who took on Gilbert Yvel. In a light-heavyweight match, former Strikeforce Champion Renato "Babalu" Sobral took on Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. Matt Lindland was reassigned from a 195-pound catchweight bout with Sobral to a middleweight matchup against former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Vitor Belfort.
Headlining the undercard, which was broadcast on HDNet Fights, was the last IFL Light-Heavyweight Champion Vladimir Matyushenko against PRIDE veteran Antônio Rogério Nogueira.
After the event, more than half of the fighters received medical suspensions by the CSAC.
Fighter salaries
The total payroll for the event that was disclosed to the California State Athletic Commission was $3,318,660. That total is based on the reported to the CSAC and do not reflect entire compensation packages for the event. It does not include deductions for insurance, licenses, and taxes; nor does it include money paid by sponsors or any other special bonuses the organization may have paid the fighters. Arlovski reportedly was paid well over a million dollars.Fedor Emelianenko def. Andrei Arlovski
Josh Barnett def. Gilbert Yvel
Vitor Belfort def. Matt Lindland
Renato "Babalu" Sobral def. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
Paul Buentello def. Kiril Sidelnikov
Dan Lauzon def. Bobby Green
Jay Hieron def. Jason High
Antônio Rogério Nogueira def. Vladimir Matyushenko
L.C. Davis def. Bao Quach
Albert Rios def. Antonio Duarte
Brett Cooper def. Patrick Speight
Yvel controversy
Gilbert Yvel was signed after Aleksander Emelianenko was unable to be licensed in time. A hearing by the CSAC was scheduled as to whether to permit Yvel to fight at the event. Yvel was not cleared to fight until he met privately with CSAC Assistant Executive Officer Bill Douglas and Chief Athletic Inspector Dean Lohuis to determine whether he will be licensed to compete. The CSAC cleared Yvel to fight and granted him a license to compete against Barnett three days before the event.Lineup changes
At one point, there were rumors that the event would be a co-promotion with renowned boxing promotion Golden Boy Promotions that would feature both boxing and MMA matches. Those plans were changed, however, according to Affliction vice-president Tom Atencio.Originally scheduled for October 11, 2008, the main event was to have been Andrei Arlovski against Fedor Emelianenko, but Fedor had to pull out due to a hand injury. Affliction then announced that the main event was to feature a bout between two former UFC heavyweight champions, Andrei Arlovski and Josh Barnett. When it was announced that the event would take place on its current date, January 24, 2009, it was also confirmed that the event would feature the original heavyweight match between Emelianenko and Arlovski.
Matt Lindland was scheduled to face former UFC light-heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort on the October 11 card, but a hand injury forced Belfort to withdraw from the fight. Renato Sobral was initially scheduled as Belfort's replacement, until Lindland's reassignment to again fight Belfort.
Bao Quach replaced Mark Hominick on the undercard. Hominick could not fight due to a case of pneumonia. Chris Horodecki did not receive medical clearance for this fight, and was removed from the card. Horodecki had a bulging disc in his neck, costing him about 80% of his strength in his right arm. Affliction replaced Horodecki with Bobby Green.