Affliction talk

[Susan]

Might as well get a thread started for what looks to be the best card of the summer.

WAR FEDOR, AA & BARNETT.

[CPT]

It's a good card with a lot of talent, but I'm still not that pumped for it. I find heavyweights to be the least entertaining division in MMA, and this event is all about that division. I could see it having a few boring fights, especially the main event, which would set the whole organization back.

The card as a whole actually has some more interesting matchups in other divisions, but those probably won't make it to the broadcast.

I hope this event goes well for them, and they have another event soon, hopefully headlined by Fedor vs. Barnett or Arlovski, and with some talent from other divisions.

[SpReEfOrAlL]

where does the affliction card take place? If they dont test for steroids i wont even entertain the idea of watching it.

[CPT]

It's at the Honda Center in Anaheim, and the CSAC definitely tests (though they may not be testing all fighters).

One thing I have to say about this event, is that I think the UFC made a great move putting that card on Spike the same night. From talking to some of my friends, who range from very casual to pretty serious, most of them haven't even heard about the Affliction show, and all of them will be watching the UFC that night. There's no way you're talking a casual fan into paying $40 to see Tim Sylvia, Arlovski, some Russian guy, and a bunch of guys they have never heard of, when Anderson Silva is fighting for free the same night. It's just not going to happen, and that could spell disaster for Affliction.

How many buys do you think this show will do? I say under 50,000, which I think has to be considered a huge failure.

[Cammo101]

No one is going to buy this PPV because they haven't advertised it at all and the UFC show is free and everyone will watch that. I will be very surprised if Affliction has a 2nd show.

That said, I expect Ben Rothwell to beat Arlovski for the upset.

[Blame Rasho]

I wonder what will be the buy rate for the PPV given that UFC is actually taking it serious and promoting their product at the same time slot and for free.

I think it is in the best interest for there to be a legit alternative to UFC. It will create a better overall product and better purses for the fighters involved.

[Headliner]

I wonder what will be the buy rate for the PPV given that UFC is actually taking it serious and promoting their product at the same time slot and for free.

I think it is in the best interest for there to be a legit alternative to UFC. It will create a better overall product and better purses for the fighters involved.

That's part of the reason i want to support it.
It is never good to have a monopoly in any business, if Affliction get get even somewhat positive exposure it could be great for the sport.
I was really hoping they would be the company to get the primetime CBS spot, not EliteXC

[cowboyronnie]

The only brand I'd like to support less than the UFC is Affliction (followed by Baby Seal Beating Inc.).

It's a good card with a lot of talent, but I'm still not that pumped for it. I find heavyweights to be the least entertaining division in MMA, and this event is all about that division.

Agreed.

[CPT]

While I do think competition between organizations is good to an extent, I could certainly live with all of the top fighters being under one roof, so we can see the matchups we want. The only problem with that, is that the company wouldn't have any incentive to put on the best matches all the time, or offer stacked cards.

On the issue of fighter pay, I think they deserve to make more, but it doesn't bother me too much that they don't. It definitely doesn't factor into my decision to support one show or company.

I for one am not going to support (by support, I mean spend my money on their product...I'll still find a way to watch) a company with bad marketing, bad organization, and more importantly, bad matchmaking. I guess I understand the reasons that they went with Fedor vs. Sylvia as their main event (Barnett is not very well known in the US, and Arlovski wasn't a free agent yet), but does anyone really like that fight better than Fedor vs. Barnett or Fedor vs. Arlovski? Was there any real reason to spend a bunch of money on Matt Lindland (not the most exciting fighter in the world) to put him up against a nobody? I don't know all of the behind the scenes details, but they also could have found a better matchup for Babalu (how about Lil Nog, who is already fighting on the card?). I would have also liked to see a LW or WW fight that could have stolen the show. With all the money they were throwing around, they could have thrown some at Gomi or someone like that.

I know this all sounds like nitpicking, which it probably is, given that the card is still pretty damn strong, but it's such an important event for Affliction as an organization and MMA as a whole, that I feel like pointing out where they may have gone wrong.

[Cammo101]

I think anything is better for their being competition, but I hope it is Dream and stays overseas. That is the best case scenario for the sport, not a bunch of UFC wannabe's popping up every couple of months.

[CPT]

I think anything is better for their being competition, but I hope it is Dream and stays overseas. That is the best case scenario for the sport, not a bunch of UFC wannabe's popping up every couple of months.

Agreed.

Dream has the best chance of becoming a legit alternative to the UFC. They can focus primarily on the huge market for MMA in Asia, without having to worry about having their thunder stolen by the UFC. They can build a small hardcore fanbase here in North America through their deal with HDNet, and maybe even do a show in the US at some point (though that was a mistake for Pride).

Anyway, they have a pretty good chance at becoming the new Pride, and Pride was the best form of competition for the UFC. Competition for fans and fighters, but none of this cutthroat head-to-head stuff.

[Susan]

I think anything is better for their being competition, but I hope it is Dream and stays overseas. That is the best case scenario for the sport, not a bunch of UFC wannabe's popping up every couple of months.

Affliction is nothing like EXC or Strikeforce though. They've gotten the best and found a niche in the HW division. Their HW division is already significantly better than the UFCs and we'll see what's up with Randy in October. If they can put together Randy/Fedor they'd have the best in the world and the USAs first or second most marketable fighter, that card would sell. I just like the fact that the best fighter in the world is fighting again and not fighting cans.

[Cammo101]

The most marketable fighter in the world is Chuck Liddell, and he ain't fighting for Affliction. After him Randy, Tito, Kimbo and Forest are likely the next 4 in terms of marketability. Fedor may be a great fighter, but there is nothing to prove he is marketable in America. He certainly isn't one of the 2 most marketable.

[Susan]

The most marketable fighter in the world is Chuck Liddell, and he ain't fighting for Affliction. After him Randy, Tito, Kimbo and Forest are likely the next 4 in terms of marketability. Fedor may be a great fighter, but there is nothing to prove he is marketable in America. He certainly isn't one of the 2 most marketable.

Hence the term "the best fighter" against the most marketable (or second) in the USA based on the premise that Randy/Fedor would actually happen under HDNet/Affliction.

[stick]

I doubt Ill watch it. The group of people I usually pitch in to order the fights is spread thin that weekend, and I'm not going to come up with the whole amount to watch it by myself. Too risky. Ill end up watching the UFC event. Though Id like to see both.

[Susan]

http://thegarv.com/index.php?option=com ... liction-vp

Pretty sweet interview with the t-shirt guy.

Elbows allowed in the ring. Respectable dude unlike Shaw and senior F bomb.

[Headliner]

Trump pumps up Affliction

Real-estate mogul and Affliction affiliate Donald Trump was out in full force Thursday, fielding a series of questions during a media conference call to promote the July 19 debut event, entitled “Banned.”

Ever the optimist, Trump said the UFC’s decision to air their own fight card on the same night as Affliction’s event shows they’re taking the upstart promotion seriously.

“Obviously, they consider this a threat and they take it seriously,” Trump said. “But you know, again, [we're] a group of people with a lot of money who like this particular sport, and I can see someone wanting to [counter us]."

Despite already having a roster littered with talent, Affliction is continuing to attract more of the world’s top fighters, Trump said; one of which could very well be UFC top draw Tito Ortiz.

"I think Tito is terrific," Trump said. "He not only was a nice guy and very different from the way he is in the ring, he was really talented, really smart, and yes, I think he likes me a lot. And I like him a lot. That doesn't mean he signed a contract (with Affliction), but I think Tito would love to deal with us."

Tito would be a very smart pickup for them, he has a large fan base, a relationship with Trump and even though he's not near the top of his game, he'd still be a top fighter for them

[Blame Rasho]

Right now on FSN we have everyone talking about the PPV card....

[CPT]

Might as well make picks....

Fedor over Sylvia
Arlovski over Rothwell
Barnett over Rizzo
Lindland over Negao
Babalu over Whitehead
Belfort over Martin
Buentello over Goodridge
Noguiera over Dewees
Hominick over Young
Pyle over Ambrose
Levens over Lazama

I'd like to be able to see some more of those undercard fights.

[Susan]

http://www.afflictionclothing.com/banne ... _watch.php

Damnit Aleks.