(My Sportsbook) - There will be a couple of heavyweight title fights in the mixed martial arts world on Saturday.

The first is the conventional kind when Tim Sylvia, a two-time former UFC heavyweight champion, takes on Russian superstar Fedor Emelianenko, the consensus No. 1 in the division and the so-called linear world heavyweight champion, in the inaugural event from the fledgling Affliction promotion.

Sylvia, 24-4, is coming off a tough loss to Brazilian Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira during his last UFC match in February. After winning the first two rounds on most scorecards, Sylvia got caught in a guillotine choke by Nogueira.

The 6-foot-8, 262-pound Ellsworth, Maine native still had one fight left on his UFC deal that guaranteed him $100,000 plus a $100,000 winners bonus. However, UFC agreed to release Sylvia after Affliction agreed to give him a substantial raise. Now the big man is back in the main event picture against Emelianenko (27-1), the former PRIDE champion.

Sylvia will enter the ring with an eight-inch height advantage and a significant weight edge over the 230-pound Russian. Meanwhile, despite his glowing reputation, Emelianenko, who has spent most of his career fighting in Japan, hasn't been tested in many years.

There are also significant rule changes Emelianenko must adapt too. In Japan, knees to the head on the ground are legal while elbows were illegal. The opposite is true in the United States.

In the end, who wins this compelling fight is probably inconsequential, however.

The fights in the ring are just undercard fodder. The real fireworks take place outside.

The battle between the industry leader, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and Affliction, a group that has already made a big splash by throwing around huge purse money and bringing in Donald Trump as a co-promoter, is the real main event Saturday.

Both companies will be putting their best foot forward in two major live events airing at the same time.

Affliction has loaded its first card from the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA with big name heavyweights. "Affliction: Banned," will start on Fox Sports Net at 8 p.m. (et) before switching to pay-per-view for a scheduled four hour show.

Emelianenko, who is undefeated in his last 25 fights, and Sylvia are at the top of a card in the inaugural World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts title bout. The event also features three other well-known heavyweights, former UFC champs Josh Barnett and Andrei Arlovski, along with IFL stalwart Ben Rothwell.

Feeling the pressure, UFC responded with a free three-hour show on the company's network home, Spike TV, set for 9 p.m. (et) and emanating from The Pearl at the Palms in Las Vegas. UFC middleweight champion, Anderson Silva, the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, moves up to light heavyweight division in that one to face James Irvin.

Don't expect huge pay-per-view numbers by Affliction, but a solid showing may change the landscape in mixed martial arts.