Gilbert "Hurricane" Yvel
Josh "The Baby-Faced Assassin" Barnett
just got this from M-1 Global:
M-1 Global is pleased to announce that Gilbert Yvel, one of its top heavyweight competitors, has agreed to terms on a three-fight contract with Affliction Entertainment.
Yvel will make his Affliction debut against former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett on January 24 in Anaheim, California at the Honda Center during "Day of Reckoning," to be presented by Affliction, M-1 Global, and Golden Boy Promotions.
Despite being veterans of the now-defunct PRIDE Fighting Championships in Japan, Yvel and Barnett have never fought before with "Day of Reckoning" serving as the first-ever meeting between the two.
Yvel, 33-12-1, who is known for the strong Muay Thai skills he developed while training in his home country of Holland, has been competing in mixed martial arts since 1997. Over the years, the veteran fighter has recorded notable victories over K-1 standout Semmy Schilt, current UFC heavyweight Cheick Kongo, and former PRIDE and UFC veteran Tsuyoshi Kohsaka.
Yvel's involvement serves to increase M-1's contributions to the event, as M-1 contracted fighters Fedor Emelianenko and Kirill Sidelnikov are already scheduled to compete.
Fedor will be featured during the show's main event when he defends his WAMMA heavyweight title against former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski.
Meanwhile, the 19-year old fighting prodigy Sidelnikov, nicknamed "Baby Fedor," will be making his United States debut against former UFC heavyweight title challenger Paul Buentello in an undercard bout to be televised on HDNet.
Additionally, the M-1 Challenge broadcast team of play-by-play announcer Sean Wheelock and color commentator Jimmy Smith will be calling the action during Affliction's pay-per-view telecast. Wheelock and Smith can be seen and heard in the U.S. every Friday at 8 p.m. ET during airings of the M-1 Challenge on HDNet.
Ted's Take: Although Barnett has honed his striking skills, with Yvel's kickboxing pedigree, I think this will turn into your classic striker vs. grappler. Yvel is not known for his ground game, but Barnett is a top-notch practitioner of catch wrestling (think freestyle wrestling and add submissions).
The other interesting thing here is that it didn't seem likely Yvel would ever be allowed to compete in the U.S. because of his reputation as a dirty fighter. In one fight, he punched a ref and in a PRIDE fight, he gouged Don Frye's eyes repeatedly. Yvel's also taken his licks, too. Wanderlei Silva cracked him in the nuts about 20 seconds into their bout in PRIDE. And he took a wicked elbow shot that was deemed illegal in an M-1 fight in 2003.
Barnett, 23-5, is on a three-fight win streak, notching victories over Hidehiko Yoshida, Jeff Monson and Pedro Rizzo. Yvel, 35-12-1, is on a seven-fight win streak, but has faced less-than-top-notch competition, although he pulled out a toe hold in one fight, which is surprising.
Their ages are similar, Barnett is 31, while Yvel is 32, and Barnett has the edge in height and weight at 6'3", 250; Yvel is listed at 6'2", 225.
Barnett wins by submission, maybe a key lock or heel hook.
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