Affliction — one of the most recognized and popular clothing brands out right now — made its bid to become the latest mixed martial arts promoter official today during an episode of “Inside MMA” on the HDNet network.
It’s been known for some time now that Affliction would throw its hat into the MMA ring. In fact, the UFC and Elite XC recently banned their fighters from wearing Affliction gear during events because of the looming competition.
And if the proposed inaugural pay-per-view (PPV) fight card slated for the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. on July 19 is any indication of things to come, then Affliction will indeed pose some stiff competition.
Here’s what we can expect thus far:
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tim Sylvia
Josh Barnett vs. Pedro Rizzo
Matt Lindland vs. Fabio Negao
Renato “Babalu” Sobral vs. Mike Whitehead
Ben Rothwell vs. TBA
That’s one hell of a star-studded line up … and there’s more than likely still more to come.
Of course, it will be interesting to watch this all unfold — successful MMA promotions are a dime a dozen. It must also be noted that Affliction will have to clear a few regulatory hurdles, too, which the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) is mandating for the show to go on.
In particular, according to SportsIllustrated.com, the “CSAC requires a bond that covers twice the fighters’ costs.” That’s no small feat, considering some of the unconfirmed salaries that are being tossed around (Fedor is rumored to be making more than $1 million guaranteed and Sylvia is set to pocket at least $800,000).
Do the math … and that’s just the possible main event purses.
In addition, the CSAC will request urine tests from Sylvia and Barnett — both fighters have tested positive for the banned performance enhancer earlier in their careers.
Regardless, if Affliction can get all its ducks in a row — and not blow its wad straight out of the gate — this could be something special. Let’s just hope those in charge realize this is a marathon and not a sprint.
Check out a video snip of Affliction Clothing Vice President Tom Attencio on “Inside MMA” after the jump.
May 9th, 2008
I really hope Sylvia beats Fedor.
Don’t get your hopes up. Get ready for another boring submission.
What u got say about that one, Kevin? FINGERS CROSSED! I am giddy with anticipation!
LOL, I know you’re wiping up right now John!! It will be a great card, and I’m very excited. Then the company will fold because they are paying out ore than they’ll make, but who cares as long as it happens. I think Timmy will KO Fedor. I rewatched the coleman fight the other day, I think he’ll beat brock too (experience) unless they work it!
U know I am…Kevin! lol………Thats why I said….If they pull this card off and make a profit!…That is a big if, but I have learned that the organization has some deep pockets backing it, so hopefully the can pull it off.
The best thing that can happen to mma fans, is that Affliction becomes a legit organization, with some staying power. Competition is whats best, and although Affliction is a new organization, it will immediatly launch itself in front of EliteXC, but still behind the UFC. EliteXC has been around for a while now, and they still have never managed to put out a great card like this Affliction card.
We should all be hoping that this new organization becomes a success because they seem to have a good idea about what true mma fans want to see. They are managing to do what the UFC could not, deliver us mma fans a Mega fight between Fedor and a legit top 5 UFC Heavyweight…which would be enough to make any mma fan purchase this event/….but they did not stop there, they delivered a rematch of what was a great fight between another top 5 Heavyweight, Barnet vs. Rizzo…..They did not stop there, they are giving us a babalu fight, and a Matt Lindland fight, and I have a feeling that Arlovski vs. Rothwell will take place on this card again. If they keep putting out monster cards like this, fans will not be able to ignore them, and they will have a shot at becoming a long term success. FINGERS CROSSED!
Question: Any word on weather Affliction’s fights will take place in a cage or a ring?
Affliction rumored card , HUGE CARD:
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tim Sylvia
Josh Barnett vs. Pedro Rizzo
Andrei Arlovski vs. Ben Rothwell
Matt Lindland vs. Fábio Negão
Aleksander Emelianenko vs. Paul Buentello
Renato Sobral vs. Mike Whitehead
Mark Hominick vs. Savant Young
Mike Pyle vs. Brett Cooper
Justin Levens vs. Ray Lazama
J.J. Ambrose vs. Patrick Speight
Affliction Executives stated that Aleksander vs. Buentello will be a part of this card, but Aleks is not signed yet. Obviously they think it will take place since they are talking about it….If this fight is added to the card and Rothwell fights Arlovski….It will be the greatest display of heavyweight mma fighters that I have evers een on 1 fight card. IMO these match up makes this card even better then a heavyweight Grand prix, as a matter of fact, with all this heavyweight talent, they should have just made it a Heavyweight Grand prix that they could have stretched over 3 shows.
I dont think his fellony convictions will keep Aleks from fighting in the USA. After all, Dana White already offered him a contract and Dana would know better then anyone about Aleks’s eligability to fight in the USA. Dana White has a monster legal team that doesnt leave any rocks uncovered. If he offered him a contract already it must mean that Aleks is eligible to fight in the USA
What a card, but then what?? unless they plan on doing 4 HUGE ppv’s a year, they’ll run out of money. But $ “super fight” ladeled ppv’s is better than 12 or 13 ppv’s with a couple good fights. If they are proven to pay, UFC better watch out, they can only hold guys hostage with their contracts for so long! You may be right about Tito John…I smell Tito/Babalu
Kevin, this will shown on HDNet for free live not on PPV, subscribe cable box or satelite i have Time Warner HD (Scientific Atlanta cable box) get the HD one if your TV has HDMI input (you’ll get a HDMI wire if you get the HD one) this will give better graphics. If your TV don’t HDMI input then use the 5 wire components even if your cable or satelite aren’t the HD editions and still give great graphics.
I read it may be on ppv. That would be the smart thing to do as far as money goes…I think?
For all the fans that have been living under a rock that are not familiar with the best heavyweight fighter in the world…Fedor:
A dvd with all the best Fedor fights will be released this tuesday in all DVD stores through out the USA…I suggest checking out the most dominant fighter of all time!
Notice I did not refer to him as the best fighter of all time because he hasnt fought the best fighters in the past 2 years, but that does not change the fact that he is the best heavyweight of all time, who is not only undefeated, but he has never even lost a round.
I challenge anyone to find 1 round in Fedor’s PRIDE career that he has lost….Good luck because there arent any!!!!
Correction: I meant to say…Notice I did not refer to him as the best fighter in the world because he hasnt fought top competition in the past 2 years, but I called him the best Heavyweight of all time, because he has never lost a fight, or even a round in his entire Pride career….which is a fact that can not be disputed!
The Barnett vs Rizzo, should be a great fight.
Fedor is going to punish sylvia. sylvia fights for the win… fedor fights for the kill!
Fedor is definitely one of the best today, but I am honestly questioning these past 2 years of fights for him. Besides maybe Lindland, Fedor really hasn’t fought anyone proven in a couple years. Mark Coleman? Maybe in ‘96. I don’t know…lets see what happens.
I think it will be a very entertaining fight.
I agree chad, and Lindland looked good and coleman had his back. I got Timmy
The only thing I would change about this spectacular fight card would be that I would have Matt Lindland vs. Babalu!
I know that Lindland is a middleweight (traditionally), but he has fought against heavier fighters. he fought Fedor and he fought Rampage…I would have liked to see Lindland move up to LHW and face Babalu…That would be an awesome match up.