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Thu Jul 24, 2008 7:00 am EDT

Affliction backs UFC into a corner with Las Vegas event

By Steve Cofield

Scrap the notion that Affliction fighting will wait until November for it's next pay-per-view card, Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole reported last night that October 11 is the date. In an absolute stunner, the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas is host venue. For those of you who don't know, UFC's corporate office is 4.7 miles from the arena. Talk about Affliction VP Tom Atencio (pictured - thanks to Combat Lifestyle) grinding the gears of UFC President Dana White.

What's next? The announcement that White's arch-enemy Tito Ortiz has signed with Affliction and is fighting on the card? Don't be surprised if that happens.

The main event will feature Fedor Emelianenko against former UFC champ Andrei Arlovski.

What can UFC do to counter-program this event? The promotion already has events set in stone for the following two weeks. UFC 89 in Birmingham, U.K. on Oct. 18 and UFC 90 in Chicago on Oct. 25. It's not feasible to throw together another free SpikeTV show to match the Affliction II PPV.

Boxing takes a hit that night as well from a scheduling standpoint. HBO and Showtime are already programmed against one another. Showtime features a fight between light heavyweights Chad Dawson and Antonio Tarver. HBO is planning on Samuel Peter against Vitali Klitschko. 

As far as this week goes, poor EliteXC can't get much momentum as it moves towards its second CBS card. This Affliction announcement steals EliteXC's thunder for the next few days.

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51 Comments

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  1. Uncle Sizzle
    1. Posted by Uncle Sizzle Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:10 pm EDT

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    Fedor will kill Arlovski!!
    2nd round TKO!!
  2. Syddigs
    2. Posted by Syddigs Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    Atencio needs to pick his battles very carefully, both with the UFC, and alsofor his fighters. As Ron M said, you don't want to shoot your wad to early and have Fedor clean out the heavyweight division inside of 6 months. It's all well and good to have the big names in the division, but when you lack the depth outside of them, then youre in trouble. We don't want to see Fedor v Slylvia 6 in a years time.
    He also has to be careful about who he signs. I'd like to see some competition against the UFC, just so that Dana Whie might have to pull his head out of his butt just an inch. I hope that Atencio doesn't turn Affliction into a seniors tour by signing washed up fighters like Tito, and maybe guys like Matt Hughes and others like him down the road.
  3. Syddigs
    3. Posted by Syddigs Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    P.S. Affliction didn't steal Elite XC's thunder. Elite XC has no thunder. It's two marquee fighters were both very ordinary, as was everything else to do with its hastily arranged debut TV debut. Slice struggled against a bum, and Carano already can't make weight and didn't look too flash. If anything, Elite XC will be doing it's best to grab hold of Affliction's coattails and go along for the ride for as long as they have the cash, and hope that Alffliction can make the tiniest dent into UFC's dominance.
    At present, UFC is the big dog, while Affliction is the shark, and Elite XC is the parasitic remora feeding off the morsals that the shark drops.
  4. Ron M
    4. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    Look at it this way. Fedor's contract with Affliction is for two more fights. Then it will be a bidding war between Affliction and the UFC to sign him. If Affliction loses that battle. They are done. No Fedor. No Affliction.
  5. mystaryte
    5. Posted by mystaryte Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:32 pm EDT

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    Affliction needs to develop their lighter weight divisions a lot more to compete. Out of the whole card, there was what, 3 or 4 fights that weren't HWs. Other than that, it will shoot its wad very quickly.
  6. Ron M
    6. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    dana white and the fertita brothers are the reasons why we are having this dicusssion in the first place. i'm all for competition. but affliction has to make money to be able to pay and attract the top fighters. as it stands now fighters coming from the ufc wouldn't have much job security with affliction at this point. i just think it's a mistake for affliction to try and go head to head with the ufc. i think they should start on a smaller scale and try to build and promote their hw division.
  7. Norman R
    7. Posted by Norman R Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    Um Chuck Liddell was submitted by a class b fighter. Srill doesn't change the fact that Daniels is the best striker in the world. Has nothing to do with anything. RonM believe me i have more knowledge than you on MMA can you tell me anything aboput MMA prior than 2004 probably not. Ive been watching this since its start. Since Horace was choking out men 80 lbs bigger than him and Ron M its actually about rather Affliction putting on shows competing against UFC.
  8. Ron M
    8. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    Like it or not ...love or hate Dana White but the UFC is the NFL of MMA. No one is saying you can't watch any other MMA orginization....The UFC does have all of the best fighters...except for Fedor. All I'm saying is that without Fedor Affliction will fold.
  9. Norman R
    9. Posted by Norman R Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    Point blank Im not here for insults. I know there are a huge amount of great fighters in this world that are not in UFC. Dana knows that too. As well as anyone who just started watching MMA cause it was cool and new. When in fact it isn't all that new. Ron M Im sure you know your opinion isn't the end all. Kimbo Slice might be a joke to you. I ganrantee you If Kimbo is on the TV people coming and watching. Men Lie women Lie numbers don't. Daniels may have been submited doesn't change the fact that in stand up like I SAID if you read he is the best striker in the world. He is a class a fighter as well as Fedor, Chung Lee and a host of others who doesn't fight in the UFC point blank Period.
  10. Ron M
    10. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    Ok, let's take a poll and see how many people think Daniels is the best striker in the world. Vote people...is Daniels the best striker in the world??? Yes, I've seen all the Gracie fights...I've seen all the UFC's and early no rules cage fights. You only think you know more...but based on some of your comments that is highly questionable.
  11. Ron M
    11. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    As I said Kimbo will not put people in the seats after he is exposed as an average fighter. I'm sure there are great fighters outside the UFC and Affliction and Elite XC. What is your proof that Daniels is the best striker in the world. You can't say that unless he has beaten all the best strikers in the world. Otherwise it's just your opinion.
  12. Norman R
    12. Posted by Norman R Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    Thats just like you and others saying Fedor is the best heavy in the world when he hasn't beat Randy. Who's to say Kimbo will be avearge he is just in is 4 pro fight. HE is supposed to fight the level of comp he is. i don't understand the reasoning for people saying that he is fighting people who are not Fedor or Josh barnett. he isn't supposed to. He has to learn but he is the main event because people knows what he wants to do and thats stand up and trade and He has knock out power. you are right that is my opinion about daniels but my opinion stems from him being in a league of striking. There is no ju jitsu, wrestling, or judo in World Combat league its all striking. I think it will be safe to say even at the age of 40 something I feel Horace is the best Ju jitsu guy in the world. I think at one time he was best fighter in the world and was the only true p 4p fighter in the world because he fought all weight classes in the beginning.
  13. G H
    13. Posted by G H Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:10 pm EDT

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    Dana is already on the phone with Anderson. " We need you again Oct 11 for another free fight!!!"
  14. Joe J
    14. Posted by Joe J Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:30 pm EDT

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    It's not that great fighters don't exist outside the UFC, its just since the UFC has become the main thing that supports MMA it is thus considered the best. I mean this happens in different sports as well. There are great baseball and basketball players outside the MLB and NBA but when we think of baseball or basketball we automatically think of the MLB and NBA as being the best because they are the biggest and main supporters of their respectful sports, and have the biggest roster and larger number of talent.
    This same concept holds true with the UFC and MMA..
  15. Ron M
    15. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    Wow, that was the ramblings of a true lunatic. why don't we just shoot each other and get it over with.
  16. Ron M
    16. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    Ok I'm done. I have absolutely no idea what Norman R is talking about now. I think it's time to move on.
  17. Norman R
    17. Posted by Norman R Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    Ron M Please Move on thank you.. Please Move on.
  18. Norman R
    18. Posted by Norman R Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    Anyway back to the topic of the blog.. I think Affliction has done a great job taping into the marketing of UFC. Using Ufc for its on buzz. Now Affliction gets free press because every time the press says something about the UFC it has to say Affliction. Even when the UFC has a press conference the Affliction organization will be mentioned.
  19. Ron M
    19. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    Boxing is boring now .. I used to be a big boxing fan when they had some real talent..like Hagler, Hearnes Leonard, Duran. Cotto or Magarito would have no chance against any of those guys. Whose the HW champ?
  20. Norman R
    20. Posted by Norman R Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    Who's the MMA heavy weight champ... I thought you were gone...LOL
  21. urwrecked
    21. Posted by urwrecked Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

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    Ron M. You sound like a grandpa that says stuff like, 'back in my day son'/// blah blah... If you really know boxing and follow some of the new talent, they are on a level of previous greats.. They are greats in the making.. Chad Dawson, Cotto, Pacman, etc. There have been some great fights lately. Obviously you are stuck in your rocking chair .. Get up and tune in old man. There is some great talent in boxing and MMA.. It is all good. ....... A good fight is a good fight... Period..
  22. Ron M
    22. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    What free marketing are you talking about Norman. They just spent about $5 million on marketing, advertising and promotional costs on their last show. You could use the same argument with the UFC. Wonder how many times Attencio has answered the question...How will you compete with the UFC.
  23. wheelbarow
    23. Posted by wheelbarow Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

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    I'm getting the ppv. I WANT TO SEE FEDOR. I love the UFC, but because of the fighters in the UFC is the reason that I wear Affliction. And the last i checked affliction signed fedor the best in the world. I want to see him battle it out with Arloski. And then the superfight.......Fedor v. Randy The only thing the UFC can do to combat that for me is to pull Faber from the WEC and match him against Penn at a catchweight on the same night.
  24. Ron M
    24. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    The fact still remains that the names I mentioned are widely recognized as some of the greatest fighters in any era. Probably the best of all time in their respective weight classes. You can't say that about any of the fighters you have mentioned. I really don't have anything against today's boxing. In fact I'm an avid boxing fan. I just find MMA much more exciting.
  25. wheelbarow
    25. Posted by wheelbarow Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

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    Make no mistake #32, in a hands only bout, no mma fighter can stand with Cotto or Margarito in their weight class. MMA is more popular than Boxing but top ranked boxers will get any mma fighters in any respected weight class believe that!

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