R.I.P. Affliction – Where Will Their Fighters Go Now?

Posted by JMusk on Aug 3, 2009 in Fight News | 1 comment

The inevitable finally happened. Affliction closed their doors for good. They have agreed to no longer produce their own events in exchange for the UFC to allow them to sponsor fighters again. While people will claim Josh Barnett killed them the same as Seth Petruzelli killed EXC, Affliction had a flawed business model and has been looking for a way out for almost 10 months now. They finally found it. 

UFC, WEC, Strikeforce, regional events, and Japan. With the destruction of Affliction, their unemployed fighters need to find jobs. These other organizations will prosper. Here is where fighters have either already signed (signified by a *) or were we think they may end up.

Josh Barnett – World Victory Road’s Sengoku* 
Fedor Emelianenko – Strikeforce
Vitor Belfort – UFC* (will face Rich Franklin at UFC103)
Renato “Babalu” Sobral – Strikeforce* (fighting on 8/15 defending his LHW title) 
Gegard Mousasi – Strikeforce* (fighting on 8/15 for the LHW title) 
Jorge Santiago – World Victory Road’s Sengoku 
Ben Rothwell – UFC* (will fight on UFC104) 
Chase Gormley – UFC* (will fight on UFC104)
Jay Heiron – Strikeforce* (will face Nick Diaz on 8/15 for WW title) 
Mark Hominick – WEC* (will fight on WEC43)
LC Davis – WEC* (will fight on WEC42)
Javier Vasquez – WEC* (will fight on WEC42)
Dan Lauzon – UFC* (will fight on UFC103) 
Rafaello Oliveira – UFC* (will fight on UFC103)
Paul Daley – UFC* (will fight at UFC103)
Takanori Gomi – UFC 
Gilbert Yvel – Regional 
Paul Buentello – Regional 
Matt Lindland – Strikeforce or Regional

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