Now that it seems he’ll finally get the chance, will Josh Barnett be ready for his rival?

MMAMania has posted a cryptic news brief that quotes Affliction veep Tom Atencio giving a “Yes sir” in apparent response to his signing of Affliction’s headlining attraction on August 1.

As previously rumored/discussed/beaten to death, Fedor Emelianenko will make a long-delayed defense of his paperweight WAMMA title against rival Josh Barnett. Barnett was last seen grinding out a win over Gilbert Yvel at Affliction II in January; that same night, Emelianenko rallied from a slow start to knock Andrei Arlovski into the dead zone.