Next weekend, Affliction will be officially entering the fight game with a star-studded card, with names such as Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski, Josh Barnett, Pedro Rizzo and Ben Rothwell. This could be the fight card of the year for fans and one fighter in particular is making his return to the ring.

After his exodus from the UFC, canceled fights, frustration and almost nine straight months of training; Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral took some time to talk with Five Ounces of Pain about his upcoming fight at Affliction: Banned against Mike Whitehead, training, Lyoto Machida and his desire as a competitor to fight.

Dave Carpinello: How did the training go for the upcoming fight?

Babalu Sobral: Great, slowing down, the hard part is done.

Dave Carpinello: What do you know about your opponent; Mike Whitehead?

Babalu Sobral: He is an IFL veteran that has been around for a while. He is a good wrestler and he comes from a very good camp. I expect a very good fight.

Dave Carpinello: Do you see any advantages that you may have going into the fight?

Babalu Sobral: I trained a long time for this fight, I am hungry and healthy. I think that my submission game is going to be a big factor in the fight.

Dave Carpinello: How excited are you to finally have a fight that is not going to get canceled at the last minute?

Babalu Sobral: Yeah man, those last two times were bad. The first one in January was tough for me because it got canceled five hours before the fight. After that one my fight in HCF was canceled and so lately I haven’t wanted to answer the phones so that I don’t get any bad news. No matter who was calling me, whether it was my manager or my friends. I didn’t want to answer and I definitely didn’t want to look on the internet. If something happens and this fight next week doesn’t happen, then I’m going to go to the Army or something. I’ve been training for so long it has been kind of frustrating but everything seems to be in line with this fight and so hopefully there are no surprises. This fight is going to be great, the card is great and I am very happy to be a part of it. I can’t wait to fight and get back to my seat so that I can watch all of the other great fights that night.

Dave Carpinello: It is definitely the best heavyweight card I have ever seen.

Babalu Sobral: Yes, even the preliminary fights could be main card events. I think the whole show was good to be very exciting.

Dave Carpinello: Training with [Josh] Barnett, you must listen to some metal; Are you a MEGADETH fan?

Babalu Sobral: Yes, I have been listening to them since like 1986 or 1987. I am a hard-core metal fan and I’ve been listening to them for a long time. I’m very excited that they are playing at the show. I don’t know if they are playing before or after my fight but I’d definitely like to be in the stadium to see them. It would kick ass if I got to fight right after they played. I really can’t wait for Saturday the 19th to get back in the ring and fight again in front of all the fans.

This interview brought to you by PunchDrunkGamer.com:

Read more

Affliction just released that Frank Trigg and Jay Glazer will be working on the announcing team for the upcoming ‘Banned’ card on July 19th.

They will be joining former referee John McCarthy in the booth. It had been previously announced by The Fight Network that McCarthy and SHOWTIME play-by-play announcer Mauro Ranallo were going to handle the PPV broadcast chores. Today’s announcement would seem to indicate that Ranallo will not be involved after all:

“Affliction Banned” PPV July 19 in Anaheim

SIGNAL HILL, California (July 7, 2008) – “Affliction Banned,” the greatest MMA show of all-time, will feature an all-star broadcast team for its July 19th pay-per-view event, featuring the WAMMA heavyweight championship fight between the most lethal MMA heavyweight of all-time, Russian M1 superstar legend Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko (27-1), and former UFC heavyweight champion Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia (24-4), live from Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Veteran television sports reporter and announcer, Jay Glazer, will handle blow-by-blow action while MMA fighter Frank Trigg serves as color analyst. Former MMA referee “Big” John McCarthy joins Glazer and Trigg as a ringside commentator and to conduct interviews. Legendary Michael Buffer of “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble” fame will be the ring announcer.

Glazer is a senior writer for FoxSports.com, sideline reporter for NFL® on Fox® since 2004, and was studio host with Trigg on FSN’s PRIDE® Fighting Championship show.

Trigg is a veteran fighter of several MMA organizations, including UFC® and PRIDE®, as well as color commentator and co-host of MMAWeekly and TAGG radio shows.

McCarthy, who has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, refereed 535 fights during his 14 years as an MMA referee. He started refereeing in the UFC’s® second show in 1994, retired this past December, and is recognized as an MMA ambassador all over the world.

Buffer, arguably the most recognizable ring announcer in the world, has announced many of boxing and wrestling’s greatest events for the past quarter-century.

This post brought to you by:

Josh Thomson came out and didn’t care if he was fighting a friend and training partner. Thomson won all five rounds with his accurate striking that most fans have never seen. Melendez was unable to counter the relentless left body kicks, straight right kicks, punch combos and seven takedowns that Thomson featured!

Here are the quick results:

Strikeforce World Lightweight Title:

Josh “The Punk” Thomson def. Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez via Decision (unanimous) – R5, 5:00 (Thomson claims the Strikeforce lightweight championship)

Lightweight:
Billy Evangelista def. Nam Phan via Decision (split) – R3, 5:00

Strikeforce World Light Heavyweight Title:

Bobby Southworth def. Anthony “El Toro” Ruiz via Decision (unanimous) – R5, 5:00 (Southworth successfully defends his Strikeforce light heavyweight championship)

Meisha Tate def. Elaina Maxwell via Decision (unanimous) – R3, 3:00

Jeremiah Metcalf def. Raymond Daniels via Submission (rear naked choke) – R2, 0:59

Chris Cariaso def. Anthony Figueroa via Submission (rear naked choke) – R2, 4:34

Bobby Stack def. Jose Palacios via Decision (unanimous) – R3, 5:00

Brian Caraway def. Alvin Cacdac via Submission (rear naked choke) – R1, 1:39

Undercard:

Cyrillo Padhillo def. Jesse Jones via Unanimous Decision

Eric Lawson def. Jesse Gillespie via Submission – RNC Round 1 (1:03)

Jorge Interiano def. Travis Johnson by TKO – Doctors Stoppage Round 2 (3:00)

Alexander Trivino def. Eric Jacob via Submission – Armbar Round 1 (0:37)

This post brought to you by:

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture recently gave his prediction for UFC 86’s main event between Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson and Forrest Griffin to Naluta.com.br

“Forrest is training at Extreme Couture and he’ll have a great chance
against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. It is going to be a superb fight. Forrest
has a war spirit and will get into the octagon and do his best performance.
Both fighters like to hit stand-up, Forrest improved Wrestling and his Jiu
Jitsu is good. Robert Drysdale and others Jiu Jitsu guys came to the team
and helped him a lot. Quinton is an excellent athlete, has heavy hands, and
he is explosive. These factors become the fight more attractive.”

The former UFC heavyweight champion bets Griffin.

This post brought to you by PunchDrunkGamer.com:

The weigh-ins for EliteXC ‘Return of the King’ were held earlier and more controversy has followed for EliteXC. Neither Nick Diaz or Mushin Corbbrey made the 160 lbs. limit, with Diaz coming in at 169 and Corbbrey at 163 1/2. No word yet from EliteXC on any purse deductions.

Update: Apparently, EliteXC is now saying that catch-weight was agreed upon before weigh-ins. Anyway it should be a great night of fights.

Here are the official results:

Main Card:

Rafael Feijao – (205) vs. Wayne Cole – (204)
Dave “Pee Wee” Herman – (243 ½) vs. Ron Waterman – (263)
Murilo “Ninja” Rua – (184) vs. Tony Bonello – (185)
Nick Diaz – (169)** vs. Muhsin Corbbrey – (163 ½)

EliteXC Lightweight World Title Match:

KJ Noons – (160) vs. Yves Edwards – (158 ½)

Undercard (shown on ProElite.com after the Showtime Card):

Kepa Madeiros – (171 ½) vs. Carl Barton – (183)
Russell Doane – (135) vs. Dwayne Haney – (133 ½)
PJ Dean – (160 ½) vs. Dean Lista – (160)
Lolohea Mahe – (260) vs. Chris Barnard – (232 ½)
Kaleo Kwan – (160) vs. Mike Aina – (160)
Mark Oshiro – (140 ½) vs. Chris “Red Bull” Willems – (141 ½)
Kala Kolohe – (186)*** vs. Bubba McDaniel – (184 ½)

**Fight changed to catch-weight of 168 lbs.

***Not a Title Fight.