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TOKYO -- While the next step for Fedor Emelianenko remains uncertain, the immediate future of Sengoku appears much clearer, as World Victory Road Director Takahiro Kokuho plans to enlist the services of Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and Josh Barnett.
The two highly regarded heavyweights recently ran afoul of stateside athletic commissions, leaving their mixed martial arts careers in limbo.
“Antonio Silva is currently scheduled for our Sept. 23 card, and as for Josh Barnett, we still have to continue negotiations with him, but we are planning to have him on our Nov. 7 card,” Kokuho said. “We didn’t have [Barnett] in contract, but we had a conversation with him about his return in November. He will be in Japan next week, so we’ll be speaking with him just before his Inoki Genome Federation appearance.”
Barnett, who was scheduled to meet Emelianenko at Affliction “Trilogy,” tested positive for performance enhancing drugs and was forced to withdraw from the match.
When asked about his thoughts regarding news of Barnett’s positive test and the subsequent scandal that followed, Kokuho expressed skepticism over the handling of the test samples by the California State Athletic Commission. Citing Kazuhiro Nakamura’s three-month suspension by the CSAC in September 2007 for a positive marijuana test, Kokuho said Nakamura’s protest and ensuing request to be retested using hair samples were denied. The encounter, according to Kokuho, left him wary of CSAC drug testing procedure.
However, Kokuho said he plans to subject Barnett to drug testing before his November appearance with the promotion.
“If Josh Barnett gets caught in our doping control tests, we absolutely must deal with it,” Kokuho said. “We will be testing through our commission, along with the Japan Anti-Doping Agency, as well as the World Anti-Doping Agency. We are using the same anti-doping control agency as the Olympics. If a fighter is caught doping in our event, since we are in cooperation with JADA and WADA, it is our responsibility to make sure these findings are dispatched from us to the world.”
For the many fans across North America who partake in the joy of live, late-night Japanese MMA on HDNet, the five-day delay of Sengoku’s “Ninth Battle” came as naturally disappointing news. Since Affliction “Trilogy” collapsed, nothing appears to be standing in the way of a live Sengoku broadcast. Despite Kokuho’s efforts to get Sengoku aired live in North America, it was not meant to be.
“It’s all about Affliction,” he said. “They had a contract with HDNet before us, and since Affliction was their first commitment, they naturally took priority over us. As soon as we heard that Affliction was canceled, however, we began trying to negotiate with them to make our event live.
However, it was already in the contract, and we couldn’t move our broadcast time. We don’t know what the particulars of their contract with Affliction were, but what we heard was that we just couldn’t do a live broadcast this time.”
The awkward airtime was not an obstacle for HDNet, according to Kokuho.
“We did talk with them about that,” he said. “Sunday night Japan time is apparently rough for them to air live, but that’s not the problem at all. They told us it would be great, however, if we could schedule fights on Saturday night, Japan time. That was just a suggestion, not the reason for the delay.”
Kokuho believes this tape delay was an exception and promises that future Sengoku events will air live on HDNet. He also affirmed his interest in former Affliction fighters and confirmed he made an offer for Emelianenko’s services.
“As far as we’re concerned, many of the fighters’ contracts have automatically moved to Zuffa, but Jorge Santiago still has a contract with us, as does [Takanori] Gomi, so there is a possibility that they will return to Japan to fight for us,” Kokuho said. “We have also been interested in Chris Horodecki and, of course, Fedor Emelianenko.”
Oh, look, another promotion for Fedor to bankrupt.
Well yeah, and in Japan Barnett can juice and make it into the second round.
Roided Barnett vs. Fedor = Giant Action ! ! ! !
i'll be happy if the fight occurs. it's still a relevant heavyweight match. if anything...fedor will be fighting barnett with every advantage barnett can muster.
super chin - i'll be happy if the fight occurs. it's still a relevant heavyweight match. if anything...fedor will be fighting barnett with every advantage barnett can muster.
Exactly! Whether the brainwashed, band wagon, UFC nut huggers like it or not, Fedor and Barnett are the two current best HW's right now and NEITHER are in the UFC! Deal with it! OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!
Don't get me wrong, I'd love for this match to happen, but what happens after this fight? If Fedor wins does he retire?? The UFC thing isn't just a one fight thing for Fedor, it's long term the only chance he has to continuously fight the top HW's in the world.
RC Gogo - I heard that he has to fight in two freak show matches before moving onto Barnett.
Awesome!
Well...he could be like Lesnar, a WWE faker that gets a title shot after a 1-1 record in the UFC! Yipeee...he's the greatest untested champ ever! Faggot...
I like Sengoku. They put on good fights.
ohferfuxsakes - can't believe i'm typing this...
I don''t really care.
Yeah...me either. I'm stoked for the 2-1 champ (and former WWE superstar) to fight some other lame ass UFC HW!!! YAY for Dana White and the UFC!!!!!!!!! Yipeee again! XOXO!!!
BTW...KIMBO will be the next mma superstar, right UFC TUF newbs???? XOXOXO!!!!!!!!!!!
Queers...
I hope to see Fedor fight again soon.
Zedlepln - Oh, look, another promotion for Fedor to bankrupt.
LOL, wish I could vote up.
The herring fight went to a decision. No finish there....
I wonder how serious these drug tests are over there, and if they can be covered up. I don't think Barnett is dumb enough to get caught two times in a row, but who knows. That being said, I was never extremely excited about Barnett vs Fedor in the first place. I'll always watch Fedor, but don't see Josh being much of a test, but I guess anything can happen.
Gullivers Travels - I wonder how serious these drug tests are over there, and if they can be covered up. I don't think Barnett is dumb enough to get caught two times in a row, but who knows. That being said, I was never extremely excited about Barnett vs Fedor in the first place. I'll always watch Fedor, but don't see Josh being much of a test, but I guess anything can happen.
They do not test.
"220" -ohferfuxsakes - can't believe i'm typing this...
I don''t really care.
Yeah...me either. I'm stoked for the 2-1 champ (and former WWE superstar) to fight some other lame ass UFC HW!!! YAY for Dana White and the UFC!!!!!!!!! Yipeee again! XOXO!!!
BTW...KIMBO will be the next mma superstar, right UFC TUF newbs???? XOXOXO!!!!!!!!!!!
Queers...
VTFD.
Not because of your opinion but the idiotic way you choose to present it. Seriously, are you on meth?
they claim they do now in the article. I know in the past there's been nothing, and then someone from pride said they tested for recreational drugs, not steroids.
Zedlepln - Oh, look, another promotion for Fedor to bankrupt.
lol no doubt...
bodog...check!
Afflicition...check!
Sengoku...check?
“If Josh Barnett gets caught in our doping control tests, we absolutely must deal with it,” Kokuho said. “We will be testing through our commission, along with the Japan Anti-Doping Agency, as well as the World Anti-Doping Agency. We are using the same anti-doping control agency as the Olympics. If a fighter is caught doping in our event, since we are in cooperation with JADA and WADA, it is our responsibility to make sure these findings are dispatched from us to the world.”Just LMAO at this quote. I love when they straight up lie the most.
EDIT: Maybe I was too harsh, it's not necessarily a straight up lie. "IF Barnett gets caught in their doping control tests (which won't happen because Barnett won't be tested), then we'll tell everyone he used steroids."
"220" -
Yeah...me either. I'm stoked for the 2-1 champ (and former WWE superstar) to fight some other lame ass UFC HW!!! YAY for Dana White and the UFC!!!!!!!!! Yipeee again! XOXO!!!
BTW...KIMBO will be the next mma superstar, right UFC TUF newbs???? XOXOXO!!!!!!!!!!!
Queers...
lol wow you're a fucking loser... coming on the internet to call people QUEERS because they like the UFC... look at you go tough guy!!! YOU GO GET EM TIGER !! GRRRRR