Arlovski not afraid to face Emelianenko

Fedor Emelianenko has built a reputation of near invincibility with 25 straight victories since a fluke loss nine years ago, the only blemish on his mixed martial arts record.

Apparently, Andrei Arlovski isn't convinced.

Arlovski, the former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion, will challenge the man widely considered the world's best mixed martial artist in the main event of Affliction's card Saturday night at Anaheim, Calif.

"(Emelianenko) is a human being just like everyone else," Arlovski said during a recent teleconference.

Even while calling the Russian Emelianenko (29-1) the best heavyweight in the world, Arlovski (15-5) qualified the compliment.

"He is No. 1 and he will be No. 1 until Jan. 24," Arlovski said. "I have a lot of respect for him and I will keep it until Jan. 24. He will step in the ring with me and I will step in the ring to beat him, knock him out and take his belt."

The card, the second ever for Affliction, will be aired live at 6 p.m. on pay per view.

• RUA WIN SETS UP 2009 -- Mauricio "Shogun" Rua's lackluster victory over Mark Coleman on Saturday at Dublin will go a long way toward setting up the schedule for the year in the UFC's light heavyweight division.

After Rua's win in his comeback from a major knee injury, UFC president Dana White offered him a fight against Chuck Liddell in Montreal in April as the main event of UFC 97. Rua promptly accepted.

Before that, former champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson will meet Keith Jardine in the main event of UFC 96 at Columbus, Ohio, on March 7.

With all of those contenders tied up in bouts over the next few months, it is likely the winner of the Lyoto Machida-Thiago Silva fight Jan. 31 will get the next shot at light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans. The other victorious fighters from these bouts would then take their place in line for title contention.

The possible wild card is Jardine. He is a close friend and training partner of Evans and it is believed the two would not fight each other.

• SOLD OUT -- The UFC announced that tickets are sold out for the Jan. 31 card at the MGM Grand, which features a main event bout between champions Georges St. Pierre and B.J. Penn.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@ reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.