Former International Fight League (IFL) Welterweight Champion Jay Hieron has followed in the path of his Xtreme Couture teammates Mike Pyle and Chris Horodecki, announcing his intent to sign a one-year three-fight deal with Affliction MMA promotion.

Hieron last week told that he had offers on the table from EliteXC, UFC and Affliction, but the clothing company turned MMA promotion brought the best deal.

"They came and offered me what I thought I was worth, and I'm happy to be a part of it," he said.

Hieron and his lawyer are currently in due diligence with the contract, ironing out details of pay and exclusivity. He says he would like to test his skills overseas if the opportunity were there.

"I know I could definitely fight overseas, and I'm trying to see what we're doing entails in the States," he said.

The signing ends a two-month period of limbo for Hieron's career following the cancellation of the IFL's August 15 card at the Izod Center in New Jersey. He said he had heard rumors of the company's demise, but didn't take them seriously until the event was cancelled.

"I'm finally going to see where my career's going," he said. "Now I can just put my mind at ease and train and know I have a home. Get back to what I love doing, and that's competing."

Now, the search is on to find the welterweight division a worthy opponent. A quick survey of Affliction's welterweight ranks shows that the company needs to import more talent to keep Hieron busy in the next year. The only other notable fighter in the division is his Xtreme Couture teammate Mike Pyle, and that's not even an option for him.

Hieron said he has already begun training for October 11's event "Day of Reckoning" and should know more about his opponent soon.

Not before and not since Dan Henderson won Pride Fighting Championships 183-pound and 205-pound titles has a fighter in a major organization held two title belts in two weight classes simultaneously, but it appears the current UFC 155-pound champion, BJ Penn, will try to do that very thing as he sets his sites on the Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre later this year.

But what does that mean for the 155-pound weight class and the Lightweight Championship if Penn is off fighting for another title in a different division?

"BJ's not vacating the 155-pound title," according to UFC President Dana White following UFC 87 in Minnesota last weekend.

Of course this puts possibly the deepest weight class in all the UFC on hold for an indefinite amount of time as Penn and St. Pierre aren't likely to clash before late December and the lightweight title could be out of the picture until some time deep into 2009.

The reigning UFC Lightweight Champion feels confident in his abilities to defend both titles if he is able to defeat St. Pierre.

"I'm moving up to the welterweight division and moving down to defend the lightweight title," said Penn.

Kenny Florian, who defeated Roger Huerta at UFC 87, is most likely next in line to face Penn for the 155-pound crown, but he doesn't plan on waiting around for a title shot. Instead he will try to compete again later this year against a different opponent, but he's still not sold on Penn retaining the title the entire time.

"I know BJ's game plan is to win the Welterweight title and defend both belts at the same time. I don't know if Dana's going to allow him to do that," stated Florian. "If he beats GSP is he going to stay in the welterweight division? If he loses it's probably more probable that he'll go back to 155. So I don't know, there's a lot of 'ifs"."

"I want to stay busy. I need it for me for me for my game mentally, physically I want to stay busy. I think it's important. I want to keep making money, I want to keep fighting."

For the time being it appears set that Penn will hold onto the lightweight title while waiting to fight Georges St. Pierre and Florian will look for another fight this year.

Fedor Emelianenko greeted his fans last Tuesday at the new Affliction store in Los Angeles, California. The World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) World Heavyweight Champion said that he's interested in fighting Randy Couture to keep competing in the highest level and to reward fans who have supported this sport. He also said that he has never said anything to insult the UFC President Dana White. "It's White's problems and he can go on living with whatever issues he has," said Fedor.

Furthermore, he said he likes Brock Lesnar very much. Although Fedor hasn't seen much of Lesnar's fights, he sees that Lesnar is physically very strong and is someone with a bright future and a lot potential in MMA career. Lesnar is a fight Fedor would be interested in and Lesnar would definitely be a worthy opponent for him.

Fedor also said that he doesn't think about anything before a fight. He usually frees himself of any emotion and thoughts that would complicate things. He paces back and forth to keep the blood flowing and not to get stagnant.

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