Atencio calls out White during Sapp-Lashley press conference
Tom Atencio has taken the high road in the war between UFC and Affliction, but that changed today during the "Ultimate Chaos" press conference in Biloxi, Miss. Atencio, an Affliction VP in charge of the fight operations, spoke during today's primer for the Bobby Lashley-Bob Sapp fight on June 27. He said that he has the balls to step into the cage, why doesn't UFC president Dana White:
"I’ve been seen in front of the cameras before as far as the business side, but it’s time to fight. I’m doing something Dana White won’t do and that’s fight. He talks like a fighter, so why doesn’t he fight? I’m stepping up to the plate and win, lose or draw I attempted it. I don’t ever think he would fight."
This is Atencio's second professional MMA fight. He's fighting someone named Randy Hedderick in the 170-pound range.
Lashley is taking on a big test in 350-pound Bob Sapp. Sapp, a former college and NFL offensive lineman, is considered a joke by many in the MMA community, but he is 10-3-1 and also has 17 K-1 fights on his ledger. He is no easy mark for the former WWE wrestler:
"My opponent, as you can see, is a big boy," said Sapp. "He’s big and strong, but he’s yet to be tested. I’m here to give him his test and I’m here to let you know it is going to be an F."
That tiny bit of trash talk might be all it takes to ruin Lashley mentally. After his win over Jason Guida, Lashley admitted that his opponent's pre-fight gabbing really screwed with him mentally.
The card also features Gilbert Yvel against Pedro Rizzo along with Din Thomas, Chris Horodecki and Brett Cooper.
