Mike Chiappetta • E-mail

EliteXC has added a major drawing card to its upcoming Oct. 4 CBS event, teaming up with Affliction to include former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski in a co-promoted featured bout.

Arlovski was originally slated to fight on Affliction's Oct. 11 card, which was postponed until early 2009. With him already in training for a fight, the two organizations teamed up to co-promote a bout which will feature Arlovski against former IFL champ Roy "Big Country" Nelson.

"This is yet another testament to EliteXC’s willingness to work with other MMA promotions to bring the best possible fights to the broadest possible audience," said Jeremy Lappen, head of EliteXC Fight Division in a statement.

The 29-year-old Arlovski won the UFC title in Feb. 2005 by knocking out Tim Sylvia, who later ended his reign. Arlovski was one of the UFC's most popular fighters due to his knockout power, charisma and his trademark fangs mouthpiece which complemented his "Pitbull" nickname.

He satisfied the terms of his UFC contract in March 2008, and despite both the UFC and Arlovski voicing a hope to keep their business relationship intact, he signed a big-money deal with Affliction, where he made $700,000 to defeat Ben Rothwell in his July debut.

After topping Rothwell, he was expected to face Fedor Emelianenko for the WAMMA title, but Emelianenko broke his hand, and Affliction decided to promote an Arlovski-Josh Barnett main event before scrapping the card altogether.

The EliteXC event features a main event of Kimbo Slice against Ken Shamrock, as well as a featured welterweight title fight pitting champ Jake Shields against Paul Daley. Popular women's fighter Gina Carano will face Kelly Kobold during the broadcast as well.

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