Pedro “The Rock” Rizzo last Saturday night in Biloxi, Dutch knockout artist Gilbert “The Hurricane” Yvel has been added to the Affliction M-1 Global’s star-studded “Trilogy” Pay-Per-View event against another former UFC® heavyweight title challenger, Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello, live August 1 from Honda Center in Anaheim.
Russian combat fighting legend 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 a highly-anticipated 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).
In an awesome display of power striking, Yvel (36-13-1) registered his 31st knockout with five devastating rights in a row on a fallen Rizzo’s face and chin, ending at 2:10 of the first round. “I want to move up to (fight) the champions because I want a belt,” Yvel said after the fight. “I’m learning the ground game. I was patient, relaxed, and kicked-off (Rizzo to the mat).”
Buentello (27-10-0), who originally was scheduled to fight Tim Sylvia, is a 6-2, 245-pound Texan who has beaten David “Tank” Abbot, Justin Eilers, Gilbert Aldana, Kevin Jordan and Gary Goodridge.
The co-main event features former Strikeforce® light heavyweight challenger Renato “Babalu” Sobral (32-8-0) against Armenian kick-boxing specialist Gegard “The Dreamcatcher” Mousasi (25-2-1) in his American debut.
Also on the PPV card is Brazilian bomber Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort (18-8-0), another former UFC® Light Heavyweight Champion, versus Sengoku middleweight title-holder Jorge Santiago (21-7-0). One other PPV fight will soon be announced.
The undercard on HDNet features ex-IFL® Welterweight Champion Jay “The Thoroughbred” Hieron (17-4-0) who will take on former Cage Rage belt-holder, British brawler Paul “Semtex” Daley (21-8-2), along with a pair of exciting, young lightweight prospects, Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki (12-1-0) vs. Dan “The Upgrade” Lauzon (12-2-0) and former IFL® heavyweight titlist “Big” Ben Rothwell (30-6-0) vs. hot, unbeaten prospect Chase Gormley (6-0-0).
Two other HDNet fights have been solidified as featherweight L.C. Davis (13-2-0) meets Javier “Showtime” Vasquez (13-2-0), former KOTC and Gladiator Challenge champion, while former IFL® lightweight challenger Deividas Taurosevicius (10-3-0) faces 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 Michael Zayats (8-3-0).
