Mike Chiappetta • E-mail

First he was rumored in a high-profile fight with Andrei Arlovski. Then he was rumored in an even-higher profile fight with Fedor Emelianenko. But in the end, Josh Barnett will face an infamous and dangerous opponent in Gilbert Yvel during January's Affliction: Day of Reckoning event.

The news was confirmed by M-1 Global, an Affliction promotional partner.

Barnett (24-5) won his Affliction debut with a highlight reel knockout of Pedro Rizzo back in July. Weeks later, Affliction announced that with Emelianenko injured, Barnett vs. Arlovski would headline a planned October card. But that event was soon scrapped and moved to January. Shortly thereafter, Barnett was rumored for the main event slot against Emelianenko, but that fight was never signed, and instead Arlovski was handed the opportunity.

The event will take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., on Jan. 24.

Barnett is considered by many to be among the top five heavyweights in the world. In 2002, Barnett TKO'd Randy Couture to win the UFC heavyweight title, but later tested positive for steroids and was stripped of the title. After serving his suspension, he signed with a Japan-based organization and spent the majority of his career fighting overseas.

Barnett holds notable wins over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Aleksander Emelianenko and Pedro Rizzo.

The 32-year-old Yvel holds a 35-12-1 record and was won seven straight matches. Those seven wins, however, have come over fighters with a combined mark of 55-52-8. Yvel's most notable career victory has come over UFC veteran Cheick Kongo, but he's also been in combat with name fighters like Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson and Don Frye.

Yvel, nicknamed "The Hurricane," is known for a stormy temper and during a November 2004 match infamously attacked a referee, punching and kicking him after the official repeatedly stopped and re-started the match. He has also been disqualified in two other fights, once for biting and once for eye-gouging. In 2007, Yvel was denied a fighter's license in Nevada because of the prior incidents and could not participate in a PRIDE event.

Since then, he has yet to fight in the U.S., and it is not known whether he will have to face the California State Athletic Commission to explain his actions in order to gain a license there.

M-1 also announced that 20-year-old Kirill Sidelnikov would make his U.S. debut against veteran brawler Paul Buentello.

Sidelnikov, nicknamed "Baby Fedor," trains with Emelianenko's Red Devil Sport Club and sports a 5-2 record. Buentello, a UFC and Strikeforce veteran, is 22-9 in his career.

For the Affliction card as it stands, click here.

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