So in this orgy of rumors, false deaths and miscommunication that is this week, I only feel obligated to tell all of you that Jeff Monson says "My name's in the mix" to replace Josh Barnett in Affliction Trilogy. Jeff friggin Monson. This just got really interesting(er). Check out what he told MMAJunkie.com today: 

"My name's in the mix to fight Fedor,"

"I'm not really supposed to say," Monson said. "I can say [it] is more than just me saying, 'I want to fight him,' though."

"I think my best strengths are maybe not his strengths," Monson said of Emelianenko. "It'd be a tough match, but I think it's a fight I can win.

"(With the fight) nine days away, I'm ready to fight. I don't know if anyone is ever really, really ready. But here at American Top Team, I'll have a good game plan and be ready to go."

"I've never been about the money," the 38-year-old said. "I just like to fight. I'm a fighter. It's what I do for a living. More (money) is better, of course. I have kids. But I just want to fight. If you win and beat Fedor, you never have to worry about it (money) again."

"I see me choking him," Monson said. "I see me winning. You've got to get him on the floor, that's for sure. ... And that's where I'd end it." 

Apparently, the going rate to fight Fedor ranges from $600,000 to $1,000,000 (Brett Rogers requested a cool $800,000 to scrap with The Last Emperor). That super secret conference call that I was talking about earlier today has been cancelled however Tom Atencio said that he will announce a definite opponent Friday. Stay tuned for my chaos. [Source]