Donald Trump comments on Affliction 'Banned' July 19 MMA show
by Mike Trask on Jul 10, 2008 3:42 PM EDT
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Self-styled millionaire Donald Trump refused to throw any verbal jabs at the UFC during a 15-minute conference call to hype the upcoming Affliction "Banned" event.
"Dana's been very respectful of me and I of him," Trump said on the day White called Affliction promoter Tony Atencio a "T-shirt guy."
We're 10 days away from the kind of MMA war that hasn't been seen in years ... if ever.
On July 19 the Trump-backed Affliction Banned card will attempt to take a step toward dethroning the UFC as the biggest organization in the world. It has built a card of top-notch heavyweights -- arguably the UFC's weakest division -- headlined with Fedor Emelianenko against Tim Sylvia. It also added some other big names: Josh Barnett, Pedro Rizzo, Ben Rothwell, Andrei Arlovski and Matt Lindland.
But in a slick counter the UFC has thrown together a free Ultimate Fight Night on Spike featuring Anderson Silva.
The Affliction card will cost $39.99 on pay-per-view. However, two fights, including Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Aleksander Emelianenko, will air for free on Fox Sports Net.
The fight, to be held in Anaheim, Calif., is sold out. The UFC card will be in the Palms in Las Vegas.
"I think we may top them because we have the better fighters," Trump said, although he wouldn't comment on the UFC's business decision to directly oppose Affliction until after the events.
It will first time in recent memory two big MMA cards will square off head-to-head.
Affliction has placed a billboard in New York's Times Square to go along with a flashy Web site and advertising on a few fan Web sites.
It's unclear if that will be enough for the start-up company to make big money, especially when it's being opposed by the UFC.
This isn't the first time the UFC has thrown a wrench into a rival's plans. The UFC previously aired a Chuck Liddell special during last month's inaugural EliteXC event on CBS. It also plans to re-air UFC 84 during the next CBS EliteXC telecast on July 26.
Quick notes: Trump said he believes Tito Ortiz would like to fight for Affliction, although there hasn¹t been any official discussions ... The business man said he expects New York to sanction MMA in the near future ... Trump swore he's a long-time MMA fan. "I enjoy it," he said. "I watch it. I like the MMA stuff. It's the new wave. I don¹t know if it¹s taking over from boxing. But I think it might be."
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Sylvia, Arlovski, Whitehead, Babalu, White, Dewees. Affliction can have all those guys. Hell, throw in Tito also. You mean to tell me that this collection of fighters are the best in the world? Trump is out of his league. D*mn right he didn’t say anything disrespectful about Dana White. Dana will tell him where he can go and send him there a little lighter.
by Adam on Jul 10, 2008 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Interesting that last night on the Fight Night repeats they had two Babalu fights on there, I wonder why. It would seem that would help give some attention to Affliction.
by chefdaddy on Jul 11, 2008 8:26 AM EDT up reply actions
I’ve always like Trump, but he’s definitely an old school businessman in the new wave of sport in MMA, and he just doesn’t fit the image or really have that much knowledge about it.
However, Affliction is off to a good start, but it won’t be anywhere near what the UFC is for a long time.
by THORAZINE on Jul 10, 2008 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Trumps just trying to cash just like the rest. “I like MMA STUFF”. LOL. Yeah…..RIGHT!!
by aDavis on Jul 10, 2008 3:51 PM EDT reply actions
Normally I would buy this card. This month I had to choose Forrest/Rampage. Sorry Affliction, the economy sucks right now. Where is the best place to watch online?
by BNF on Jul 10, 2008 4:11 PM EDT reply actions
I’m starting to feel the same way… turning down Fedor vs Tim is rough!!!!!! But then again so is $89.00 worth of MMA in one month……
by Robert on Jul 10, 2008 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions
before I go on and tell you where to download, this card is going to be waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than that UFC 86 cra*ppy card they had, way better. only good fight in that card was the main event, everything else was garbage. anyways, download them at fight2live.net (you have to become a member first, than go into the forums section and look for video, it will probably only show up on the following day though).
by BNF's B_tch aka LINX on Jul 10, 2008 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Can’t really argue with you about 86, but it ended great for me… LOL. I am pissed I can’t get the Affliction card, last year it would have been no problem. But seriously, thanks for the info Linx, you are the man.
by BNF on Jul 10, 2008 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions
THE FIGHT IS SOLD OUT??
Where did you hear that?
by Ronald on Jul 10, 2008 4:22 PM EDT reply actions
if they sold out like they are saying thats a big start.that alone will be a huge gate.things arn’t looking good for you kevin.
by roy on Jul 10, 2008 4:24 PM EDT reply actions
If you can afford to to buy it..buy it. I so happy to be living during this time in MMA history.. I remember not ot long ago.. UFC/MMA events came around every 6months or so.. I take what I can take..I watch what i can watch.. I order what I can order.. and love every moment of it.. I’m addicted to MMA. I need help. F’ that I need more MMA in my veins Man.. it’s like weed..you can’t O.D. from it. =P
by PhilQNY on Jul 10, 2008 4:32 PM EDT reply actions
LMAO, yeah, same here Phil, if there is anything that I’m addicted to it is p*ssy and MMA! can’t stop watching this cr*ap :?
by BNF's B_tch aka LINX on Jul 10, 2008 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I am going to “banned” but i bought my tickets before the UFC event was planned. I’m still going but will DVR UFC. Great day. this will be the only Affliction event worth watching.
by dtrain on Jul 10, 2008 4:38 PM EDT reply actions
dtrain..hey man you never know.. I heard their next will be better then this one..which is real hard to believe..but you still never know..I mean this is the best 1 st fight card for a new promotion ever!!!!!! With Trump in the equation.. Michael Buffer in the middle of the ring/ cage I still don’t know.. it’s going to be insane.. " Let’s get ready to rumble!!!! ".. I’m getting chills already.
by PhilQNY on Jul 10, 2008 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions
“We’re 10 days away from the kind of MMA war that hasn’t been seen in years … if ever.”
Seriously? That might be a little over the top if you ask me. I’m looking forward to this event, but let’s calm down a little. I know all the Pride fanboys are wetting themselves over seeing Fedor actually fighting a credible opponent. It has been three years since we’ve seen Fedor fight someone worth talking about.
In actuality, there is really only two good fights on the card. I actually think UFC 84 had more quality fights on the card.
by RealDrew on Jul 10, 2008 4:44 PM EDT reply actions
I was referring to the battle between UFC and Affliction on one night. Not the idea that Fedor-Tim was the biggest fight ever.
It almost certainly isn’t.
That sentence wasn’t clear. My bad.
by Mike Trask on Jul 10, 2008 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions
The UFC scheduled a free event to try to detract from Affliction. But what if the Affliction PPV still draws a huge audience as I predict it will? That will only help Affliction by proving they are for real. I think that the UFC, by scheduling a free event opposite Affliction, has only brought more attention to the new organization and will end up helping Affliction in the long run. I know I will be recording both programs.
by DrPepper on Jul 10, 2008 4:51 PM EDT reply actions
No, many people just on the boards are saying they wont buy with a free show on. They will youtube it.
My casuall fan friends have no idea of the affliciton ppv in a week. But they buy every single UFC PPV, they have no idea Affliction is on, other then i told them.
Affliction may do over 100K buys, which would be the first time ever a MMA org does over a 100K in buys in the US other then the UFC. But it wont be much. and I would say its a 50/50 chance at best. This show is losing money.
I will order tho. Double header nite, then Dream then next day whooa!
by Badguy on Jul 10, 2008 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know if anyone is old enough to remember, but during the 80’s and 90’s Trump was one of the big players in the boxing world. Atlantic City, and The Trump Casino was synonomous with big fights. So, Dana shouldn’t under estimate Trumps ability to make this thing happen in a big way.
by tinwab on Jul 10, 2008 6:19 PM EDT reply actions
Trump is not being honest when he says he wouldnt have counter programed if it were him.
Listen at the end of the day it’s business. And if Affliction gets big and they do 8-12 PPVs, someone is going to lose atleast some dollars and or a long term national TV deal. Trump is ruthless and of course he would be aggressive if in the drivers seat.
It is not like 3 or 4 companies can put on 6-18 PPVs each a yr and all get lots of buys, not matter how much we want competition, with another big org in the mix, the UFC loses potentially alot of buys, ratings, and fighters, which means a big drop in market share.
This is not the NFL or NBA. Each org is and has to be trying to be the #1 org. It is the only way one is 100% safe. Otherwise a a few shows later and boom, you could be filing bankruptcy. Most dont want to lose millions upon millions. IFL gone, Elite was close, but they still would lose on a PPV I guarentee it.
TV has saved them for now, but right now they are not getting big bucks for there shows.
by Badguy on Jul 10, 2008 7:04 PM EDT reply actions
Trump: involved when its hot and sells when it starts to lose steam.
Dana: Took something cold and turned it red hot.
by Ro-J on Jul 10, 2008 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions
oh yeah and the show should be call “Gassed out”, cause that is what 95 percent of the fighters on the card are known for doing
It’s all smoke and mirrors until I see what they put on.
by Ro-J on Jul 10, 2008 7:50 PM EDT reply actions
it is bad business by dana, for us, the fans. everyone ask yourself how many times over the past 2-3-4 yrs. how many times u have wondered after watching a ufc ppv “when’s the next mma card?” or, “where can i see some more of this mma stuff?” I, for one, always wished i could’ve seen more live fights on tv because i couldn’t always afford ppv’s every month and i used to get so mad because the vast, vast majority of live ufc events were on ppv. so i watched all the old pride’s on FSN and all the old ufc’s on spike, even some ifl shows on tv. as a fan, i couldn’t get enough of televised live mma events. did dana ever give the fans what they wanted before, numerous free live tv mma events? NO he did not. but now all of a sudden he’s counter programming elite xc on cbs, and now affliction’s card. as a true mma fan i want to see as many live televised and preferably free mma events as possible instead of having to choose one or the other. i just wish dana would put on his free fight night card a different weekend than affliction’s show, and do the same with elitexc
by deuce 4 on Jul 10, 2008 8:39 PM EDT reply actions
there is no mma war ufc is the tops by far and mr.trump wit that roster of losers u have no shot
there are 3 fighters fedor,big dumb and barnett who can fight in the ufc the rest nope…mr trump ur brand will have 1 ppv then sorry ur losers on that roster cant compete the ufcs july 19th undercard will feature better fighters then mr.trumps main card
by juggalomike on Jul 10, 2008 10:46 PM EDT reply actions
Trump is a friggin’ leech. He has no interest in the sport and only wants to suck out what ever money he can. His only interest is the dollar signs flashing before his eyes. Mark my words, when this thing starts bleeding like Edwin Dewees, he’ll be gone so fast that sparks will come off his feet.
Say what you will about Dana, love him or hate him, he has a true passion for MMA. He was working just as hard, probably even harder, when the UFC was losing millions at every event.
I hope that Affliction survives and provides some credible competition for the UFC because valid competition can only be positive. But when these money-hungry bitches start getting involved, things start to look bleak.
by JRK on Jul 11, 2008 9:45 AM EDT reply actions
What are Vitor Belfor doing on the preliminary fights.
He is a legend ,put him in the main cards Affliction..shame on you!
by Dark on Jul 12, 2008 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Check out Matt Lindland’s signature line at wwww.Grenadegloves.com
We’ve just released our line of shorts, fighting gloves, t-shirts, etc. to help support our recent addition.
by GRENADE on Jul 21, 2008 1:05 PM EDT reply actions
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