Affliction: Banned on July 19

Affliction is a brand best known for fashionable clothing often worn by MMA fighters and fans alike. There were rumours that fighters at the UFC were told not to wear the clothing line when they were fighting at or watching events. Well it looks as though the reason is that the UFC did not want a rival MMA organization getting free advertisement.

That’s right, Affliction has now branched out to host its very own MMA event in association with M-1 with a surprisingly impressive card for its first show. The event will be held on July 19th at The Honda Centre in Anaheim, California.

Headlining the card will be top ranked Heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko taking on former UFC Heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia in a bout that was previously reported to take place by mmauniverse.com.

The undercard is also fitting for such a big match up.

Heavyweights Josh Barnett and Pedro Rizzo will be squaring off in a grudge match and a possible shot at redemption for Barnett as Rizzo is the only man to ever knock him out when they met at UFC 30: Battle on the Boardwalk in 2001.

Matt "The Law" Lindland will battle Brazilian Fabio Nascimento in a middleweight contest. Lindland is well regarded and experienced at Middleweight but will definitely have his hands full with the explosive Nascimento who has three knockouts on his record.

Submission specialist Renato "Babalu" Sobral is being pitted against TUF alumni Mike Whitehead and IFL Heavyweight Ben Rothwell who has an impressive record of 26-5 and currently riding on a thirteen fight win streak is also scheduled to be on the card against a yet to be named opponent.

Golden Boy Affliction: Banned is looking like it will be a big draw for MMA fans and the UFC will have to keep it eye on yet another upstart organization. If Affliction can maintain such a high quality level of fighters on their cards it will certainly become a big player in the world of Mixed Martial Arts.