Affliction cancels card, will reunite with UFC

Hours after Affliction canceled its Aug. 1 card in Anaheim, Calif., because it was unable to find a suitable replacement for heavyweight Josh Barnett, the mixed martial arts organization on Friday stepped out of the fight promotion business.

In a deal reached late Friday — with an official announcement expected early next week — Affliction will come back under the umbrella of one-time business partner Ultimate Fighting Championship as an apparel provider.

“We are excited about the return of Affliction to the UFC and look forward to seeing our fighters once again walk into the octagon wearing the Affliction brand,” UFC president Dana White said. “Affliction is an innovator of mixing fashion with this sport.”

Affliction co-founder Eric Foss confirmed the new business relationship with the UFC.

“Our brand is synonymous with the ‘Live Fast’ approach to life, and UFC is the perfect venue for us to market our brand,” he said.

Affliction was a fledgling promotional company with just two major shows on its resume.

Fedor Emelianenko was set to fight Barnett in the main event of “Affliction: Trilogy” at the Honda Center, but the California State Athletic Commission denied Barnett a license Wednesday after the commission learned Barnett had tested positive for anabolic steroids last month.

Affliction could not find a replacement for Barnett.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.