This was pretty much a foregone conclusion, but a press release sent out by WAMMA makes if official–sort of:

Coming off a pair of explosive performances in their first appearance for Affliction, #4 WAMMA Ranked Heavyweight and former UFC ® Heavyweight Champion Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski (13-5) will take on #3 WAMMA Ranked Heavyweight and former UFC ® Heavyweight Champion Josh “The Babyfaced Assassin” Barnett (23-5) in a WAMMA Elimination fight at “Affliction: Day of Reckoning” on October 11, 2008 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. The winner will earn the right to face WAMMA World Heavyweight Champion Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko in his first title defense later this year.

Clearly the winner deserves a shot at Fedor–particularly Barnett, based on the fact that he was the only top flight heavyweight from the PRIDE days that Fedor never fought–but down in the presser it gets a big more equivocal:

The Oct. 11 card will feature 10 bouts, showcasing Affliction heavyweights Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski vs. former UFC heavyweight champ Josh Barnett. Arlovski and Barnett both participated in “Affliction Banned” held at the Honda Center July 19 in Anaheim, Cal. Competing in separate bouts, both fighters registered impressive wins over Ben Rothwell and Pedro Rizzo respectively, and will now face each other which could possibly set up a future showdown for the winner with Fedor Emelianenko, the recognized undisputed heavyweight champion of the sport. Both fighters are excited to be a part of Affliction “Day of Reckoning.”

The ‘later this year’ part is also curious–maybe they’re looking for a fight between the Barnett/Arlovski winner and Fedor in Japan on New Years’ Eve?