Affliction MMA: New network, fighters highlight 'Banned' press conference
by Jesse Holland on May 21, 2008 10:48 AM EDT
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Affliction: "Banned" is shaping up to be more than just a pretty face.
In addition to the already stacked lineup of fights, Affliction brass unveiled a partnership with Fox Sports Net to air the undercard portion of the show during yesterday's press conference according, to MMAWeekly.com.
Also announced was the signing of light-heavyweight competitor Antonio Rogerio "Minotoro" Nogueira (13-3) -- PRIDE veteran and younger twin brother of current UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogeuira.
"Lil' Nog" became available after the demise of Canada’s Hardcore Championship Fighting.
Conspicuously absent from the event was former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski. Fans and media have been speculating about where the MIA superstar might turn up, noting the not-too-subtle absence of an opponent for heavyweight contender Ben Rothwell -- the only fighter still flying solo.
Whether or not Affliction is holding out in the hopes that Arlovski is able to be signed (before committing Rothwell) remains to be seen.
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 earlier this month 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.
Check out a video of the press conference after the jump, which includes footage on the main event of the evening between former UFC heavyweight champion, Tim Sylvia, and the last man to hold the Pride FC heavyweight strap, Fedor Emelianenko.
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This is shaping up to be one of the best, if not the best card ever! I only hope they stay afloat after paying all this star power. I had heard a rumor that they would have some sort of rock concert before the event to sell tickets at a higher price. Don’t know if there’s any truth to that. I know John will disagree, but if Timmy can keep it standing, he has a good chance at winning this fight!
by kevin on May 21, 2008 10:52 AM EDT reply actions
I sent my “Who Am I” answer in at 11:44. Did anyone beat me? I came back to my desk and saw the posting. I don’t know how long it was up for…
by ViolentMike on May 21, 2008 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
who’d you put? I put mine in too, but think I’m wrong after rethinking it
by kevin on May 21, 2008 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
thats not who I put, I answered vandy
tito/chuck
nog/rampage
by kevin on May 21, 2008 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Jeremy Horn qualifies for all, except I don’t think he ever mad an appearance on the ultimate Fighter
by James S on May 21, 2008 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions
you beat me in timewise and i couldnt connect either so i sent via reg e-mail so i lose. i wonder if we had rhe same answer. prety easy i think.
by b.w. on May 21, 2008 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Damn. My entry was at about 11:48. I can only hope you got it wrong, VM, but guessing from your “expertise” you got it also. I shoulda refreshed the page sooner.
I have to think that Affliction is going to spend everything they got on this card and don’t have the established business to put together other cards with this much talent. But even if it is one and done, this is a fantastic event!!
by PJJ on May 21, 2008 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I wonder if I could get a DVD outta Mania by complaining the clue was actually inaccurate (3 and 3) which delayed my entry by mere minutes costing me the contest victory. Would begging be pathetic? (Doesn’t matter. I will beg.)
by PJJ on May 21, 2008 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions
No, the clue was right. It’s not who you think it is. That’s the first guy that popped into my head too, but that’s not the correct answer. Look at the other clues.
by Pat on May 21, 2008 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
stop teasing us mania, we know one of us already got it right…tell us who one…please!!????
by kevin on May 21, 2008 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Enjoy the suspense. Gotta let the people browse thru the DVD’s and maybe buy a few before we get our answer. Check back tomorrow after the next clues, huh?
by PJJ on May 21, 2008 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I am happy that Affliction signed lil Nog. Why in the world the UFC never negotiated with him…I do not understand.
Affliction is picking up all the top fighters that the UFC has kept me from watching compete….and I LOVE IT!!!
I really hope that Affliction is hear for the long run because they really seem to understand what the die hards want to see and they are trying to provide it for us
by John on May 21, 2008 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
The “die hards” and the casual fans want the same thing. Good fights. We all want to see the best fighters going at it. Affliction is going to have a great card. There are a lot of people excited about seeing it, the die hard and casual fans alike.
We’ll see if Affliction has some staying power. I’m a little cynical since the UFC is the only promotion that has shown they can make money in this business. Even the beloved Pride was losing money. Anyone can put on a great show if they start throwing around money. The question isn’t the ability to put on one great show, it’s whether you can sustain it. The UFC should be admired for puting on great show after great show and still make money doing it. Instead everyone bitches about what the UFC doesn’t do.
by RealDrew on May 21, 2008 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Once again: Dana’s panties in a bunch? Or is he holding out for something far, far bigger for the UFC?
by chefdaddy on May 21, 2008 10:53 AM EDT reply actions
Affliction just joined Fox. Those awesome fights are gonna appear on TV
it means UFC stands no other choice but to partner with ABC, or just keep rolling with Spike which sucks.
on the flipside, more fights for the MMA fans
by Anonymousf*ck on May 21, 2008 10:53 AM EDT reply actions
good deal. its for real. fedor vs tim is gonna happpen! i would have loved to have seeen arlovski added but its still a great card and i hope they do have 3 show in total this year. as far as them signing w/fox, its not a network deal, it’s just a 1 hr deal with fox sports net(cable) to show the undercard, but still pretty cool nonetheless. and depending on ppv sales is what dana has to worry from this org and thats still pretty sketchy. ppv is always gonna be the biggest revenue for mma for some time to come and the ufc still excels at that. gsp last fight just outsold both of randy’s last 2 title defenses and i think is their 3rd highest selling ppv to date. the next might be even be bigger w/ bj,wandi and yes even jacob. guys like gsp ,bj and a.silva are gonna be the neww posterboys for the ufc, so they are not gonna havr to depend on chuck,randy and jacob nearly as much as in the past. ive gotten off track so i will stop now.
by b.w. on May 21, 2008 11:10 AM EDT reply actions
This organization is shaping to be good with the support of all the mma fans it should do good. Some of these guys may be old but some have real potential. Does anyone know how the undercard is shaping? At the end of the day what will matter is that they take care of their fighters because no fighter should count on their sponsors to make it by, when Jordan got his Nike deal he did not need it his normal salary was fine and in all major sports they have minimums(eg. footbal $285,00 basketball and baseball $275,00 and that is for rookies). These guys are professional MMA athletes and they should be compensated as such as MMA has grown to the level of these mainline sports. On any given day if you put a solid mma card and a got football, baseball, and or basketball match up I am proud to say it will be a toss up as who has the higher ratings.
by hk on May 21, 2008 11:31 AM EDT reply actions
If you thought the amount of people wearing Affliction clothing in prior UFC/Elite XC events was overkill, just wait until this event…the fighters are probably required to wear an Affliction shirt to the ring like a uniform….that’ll get old quick
by funkmunkee on May 21, 2008 11:40 AM EDT reply actions
I hope they can succeed, I think Affliction is going for broke on this first card! They figure they get good PPV buys for a stacked card like this. get it all out there on your first card rather than easing into it. Could be costly but I hope they succeed!
by GameFace on May 21, 2008 11:45 AM EDT reply actions
The Answer to “who am I” Is KEITH JARDINE
by Liddell-GSP-Edgar on May 21, 2008 12:23 PM EDT reply actions
He also has not fought 2 current and 2 former champs. It’s not him.
by ragnarr on May 21, 2008 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
both monte cox and gary shaw have stated that they are not trying to compete w/ the ufc. they both said that they would be happy to be a close 2nd…..for now. i think affliction has the best chance in succeding against the ufc, they just gotta make it through this 1rst year. in the future if they become big enough we could see a ufc vs affliction like we came close to seeing in ufc vs pride.
by b.w. on May 21, 2008 12:28 PM EDT reply actions
Now that Affliction is in a partnership with FOX I hope we see Fedor as a russian terrorist armbar Jack Bauer in the next season. :D
by YouTapped on May 21, 2008 1:02 PM EDT reply actions
Jack Bauer is the only man who could defeat Fedor.
by PJJ on May 21, 2008 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions
That Who Am I contest was easy, but Im not telling.
by ragnarr on May 21, 2008 1:29 PM EDT reply actions
I assume that Tim’s introduction as 5 time UFC champ takes into account his title defenses, right?
by Jeff on May 21, 2008 1:51 PM EDT reply actions
Where does Affliction go after this card? Maybe they will do good with this first one in PPV sales, but then what?
by JV on May 21, 2008 2:22 PM EDT reply actions
wich tuf winner did horn beat. i had it as jens. he beat joe stephenson.
by b.w. on May 21, 2008 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions
this is making me mad, i wanna say a guy who has a fight coming up, but as far as I know that man has never fought in pride, and has only fought one of the current champions. another guy i can think of hasn’t beaten a TUF winner, grrr I wanna know
by ufcmn89 on May 21, 2008 2:30 PM EDT reply actions
Boooo! Way to give it away to those who hadn’t figured it out yet or had it wrong. It was fun watching people struggle. I bet you like ruining the ends to movies also.
by PJJ on May 21, 2008 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
The guy i have has fought current champions big nog, and anderson silva,
former champions chuck and RC beaten an ultimate fighter winner. has competed in pride. Has fought in middle weight, light heavy, and heavy weight. and the final clue is he retired after the UFC gave him the BOOT
by Ktown on May 21, 2008 2:52 PM EDT reply actions
I’m pretty sure we’re thinking of the same guy. But he’s not retired, he’s gonna fight in the TUF 7 Finale against a decorated BJJ grappler.
by Pat on May 21, 2008 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions
ehyo when did u send it in ?
im working so i couldn’t send it quick enough sent mines around 130
by Ktown on May 21, 2008 2:59 PM EDT reply actions
Don’t feel too bad, ehyo. You didn’t win either.
by PJJ on May 21, 2008 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
damm. oh well. did u send the link ? boiling point
by Ktown on May 21, 2008 3:04 PM EDT reply actions
Boiling point wasnt listed. I put another event he was featured in.
by ehyo on May 21, 2008 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry, I thought you said Breaking Point. Damn unoriginal PPV taglines….
by Pat on May 21, 2008 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Boiling point wasnt listed. I just put another event that featured him.
by ehyo on May 21, 2008 3:12 PM EDT reply actions
sorry! I just couldnt contain myself any longer.
Maybe its not him????
by ehyo on May 21, 2008 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
The answer is Jeremy Horn. He’s gonna fight Dean Lister at the Ultimate Fighter Finale.
by anonyumous on May 21, 2008 3:16 PM EDT reply actions
Thats who I put, but probably too late to win. Oh well.
by ragnarr on May 21, 2008 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah i was looking for boiling point. I sent in breaking point lol.
by Ktown on May 21, 2008 3:16 PM EDT reply actions
Does anyone know if Affliction is taking place inside a Cage or a Ring?
by Cool Hand Chad on May 21, 2008 8:14 PM EDT reply actions
i dont see why the Cage isn’t made standard for all MMA. A ring works more as a defense mechanism than anything. There are more stand-ups and re-sets due to rope entanglement. It slows the fight down.
Will still watch the awesome card, but a ring takes a little bit of the enjoyment out for me personally.
by Cool Hand Chad on May 21, 2008 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions
i agree. ive always prefered the cage over the ring for mma. im sure it has alot to do w/ fedor signing.
by b.w. on May 22, 2008 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions
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