JOSH BARNETT FAILS DRUG TEST, OUT OF FEDOR EMELIANENKO FIGHT

The MMA world was rocked late Tuesday with the revelation that Josh Barnett had tested positive for a performance enhancing drug and would not be granted a license by the California State Athletic Commission.  As a result, he’s been pulled from the August 1 Affliction: Trilogy main event against Fedor Emelianenko.  Barnett is appealing the decision, but Affliction is moving on without him and scrambling to find another credible opponent for ‘The Last Emperor’.

Specifically, Barnett’s pre-licensing test indicated the presence of the anabolic steroid Drostanolone. Drostanolone is more frequently referred to by the brand name of Masteron.  Barnett supplied a ‘B’ sample during testing, and the CSAC is currently analyzing that sample before making a final ruling.  Barnett is maintaining his innocence and will appeal the ruling.  This is a particularly touchy issue for Barnett, as he’d largely resurrected his career after being stripped of the UFC heavyweight title in 2002 after a positive steroid test.

While Barnett tries to deal with the fallout of his failed test, Affliction Entertainment is trying to find a fighter willing to take on the unenviable challenge of facing arguably the ‘baddest man on the planet’ on 10 days notice.  In a media conference call today, Affliction VP Tom Atencio sounded remarkably calm as he addressed the situation.  Atencio indicated that there were no plans to cancel or postpone the event, and that their search for a replacement had narrowed down to three fighters.  He declined to provide specific names, and shot down the rampant speculation saying that ‘until the word comes from me it’s purely speculation’.
 
One early target as a replacement opponent was former WWE pro wrestling superstar Bobby Lashley.  While Lashley’s inexperience makes him a poor matchup for Emelianenko, he perhaps offered the greatest marketing upside—and particularly among casual fans.  Lashley also has the size and strength to make it a compelling contest.  Affliction reportedly offered Lashley $500,000 US to take the fight, but has so far turned it down.  He’s been building his career as a MMA fighter in a very methodical fashion, and isn’t interested in taking the monumental step from Japanese icon Bob Sapp to ‘The Last Emperor’ on such short notice.

Reports also suggest that Vitor Belfort has verbally accepted an offer for the fight.  Belfort was scheduled to face Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago on the card, but could easily come into a fight with Fedor at 210 or higher.  Belfort is a very talented, highly accomplished fighter but would be less of a PPV draw than Lashley.  Still, he may be the best quality opponent available on such short notice.

There have been other names thrown around including Strikeforce contenders Brett Rogers and Fabrico Werdum, Jeff Monson and WWE castout Daniel Puder.  Though Atencio failed to provide a timetable for an announcement of the replacement opponent, he strongly suggested that it would be forthcoming sooner rather than later.