Emelianenko (left) and BarnettLocal MMA fans are surely familiar with Josh Barnett, the 250-pound Ballard High alum who won UFC’s heavyweight title (but then had it stripped for a positive drug test) and who is currently ranked the 3rd best heavyweight in the world. (He also had a cameo in my story on Cindy Hales–he manages women’s MMA standout Megumi Fujii.) Yet despite his high ranking, he’ll be the underdog in his next fight, as he’ll be facing the top-spot holder Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko, a 233-pound Russian who has been considered the world’s best heavyweight for the last six years. They’ll match up on August 1st in Anaheim as part of the Affliction promotion’s “Trilogy.” Adding a fun twist is that the two are good friends–something that has often led to speculation that they wouldn’t fight each other.