On January 24, 2009, Affliction will have its second mixed martial arts event. As part of the co-main event, Josh "The Babyface Assassin" Barnett (23-5-0) will square off with Dutch Muay Thai expert Gilbert "The Hurricane" Yvel (35-12-1).
Barnett is extremely eager to get into the ring and will do whatever it takes to get past Yvel. Vice President of Affliction, Tom Atencio, told media last week that the winner between Barnett and Yvel will most likely take on the winner of Fedor and Arlovski. With a possible title shot in the near future, this can only give Barnett even more motivation to win the fight.
Here’s a snip from Josh Barnett himself as he talked with mmajunkie:
"The fight (against Gilbert Yvel) is right for me because it exists. There is an opponent, and I have a contract. I mean that’s what I’m here to do…I’m not here to sit around and be picky and sit on my butt hoping for fights. I want to fight. And here’s an opponent. It all works out, so let’s go…when you want to be the best fighter in the world, you’ve got to fight
the best fighters out there…I think (a fight between Josh
Barnett and Fedor Emelianenko) is what people would like. But I don’t really
think anything of it until that comes around…until then, all I’ve got is Gilbert Yvel. He’s got to go down, and I’ve got to look good. We’ll see where that takes us…the stage is set…The opportunity is there. It’s just really up to all of us to make the
most of it. I think with every opportunity like this, the potential for
the best card that’s ever been laid down is there. It really is."
