Affliction VP Atencio Debunks Rumors

[BigBanda]

Source: - AFFLICTION VP ATENCIO DEBUNKS RUMORS - MMA WEEKLY - Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more

After months of hush-hush negotiations and a rumor mill working overtime, clothing company Affliction has stepped out of the shadows to announce its entry into fight promotion.

In an appearance on “Inside MMA” last week, Affliction vice president Tom Atencio announced a card to be held July 19 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., featuring a laundry list of top fighters including the ever-elusive Fedor Emelianenko.

Several published reports have put Emelianenko’s asking price at between $1.5 and $2 million. On top of that, a report on Sports Illustrated’s online magazine put total value of fighter’s purses north of $6 million.

“Not true,” Atencio told MMAWeekly.com. “They’re rumors, they’re all rumors.”

So how then did Affliction secure the world’s most expensive fighter?

Atencio wouldn’t disclose Emelianenko’s base pay, but said, “It’s a considerable amount of money, but it’s not what everybody says.”

Still, with names like Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Josh Barnett, and Matt Lindland – all high-priced free agents – it’s apparent that the promotion is starting in the red. Atencio says that’s fine. He doesn’t expect the July 19 show to make money.

“I don’t see how anybody can,” he said. “The only people who are making money in this business are the UFC and Scott Coker with Strikeforce. Do we plan on making money this first show? Absolutely not. The second and third? Hopefully.”

Plans for a second show in October and a third in February will round out the first phase of Affliction’s new venture. At that point, Atencio and his partners will decide whether they still want to be carnival barkers.

“This is new to us, so we’re going to take it step by step,” he said.

Already, Affliction has attracted the ire of existing promoters, particularly the Ultimate Fighting Championship, who banned them as a fighter sponsor. EliteXC followed suit shortly after, echoing the Las Vegas based organization’s non-compete policy. In a conference call for EliteXC’s upcoming “Saturday Night Fights” card on May 31 on CBS, president of live events Gary Shaw took a swipe at Affliction.

“I think they should stick to the clothing business,” Shaw said. ”I predict they will do one or two shows and then go back to making clothing.”

Atencio said he understands the arrows slung his way, though he didn’t expect Affliction to be banned by the UFC. As a lifelong fan of the sport, he simply sees his company’s venture as a natural extension of their success in the clothing industry.
“We’ve been involved in the industry as far as the clothing side of it, and I’ve been personally involved in MMA for over 16 years. I’m a huge fan of the sport so it just makes sense for us at this point,” he said.

Affliction plans to hold press conferences with several of its fighters on May 20 in Los Angeles and May 22 in New York.

[ILJO]

At first I thought he was being very realistic but I dont see them making any money on their second or third shows either,

hopefully they will continue to put on shows after the first 3.

If the first card is any indication, there are good things to come from this promotion

[Intellectual]

Fedor is probably gonna get $700,000. i dont see him making more than that cuz that is just too much.

[MADDHATER]

does anybody know the presale code for tickets they go on sale this friday the 16th @ 10 am

and one last question is it taking place in a cage or ring?

hopefully a ring cuz thats fedors home and timmy will get smashed

[smoogy]

I'm pretty sure its in a ring.

I think they're maybe biting off a little more than they can chew, but at least they aren't using the same failed tactics as other shows. People want to compare this to WFA, but the first WFA show wasn't so stacked that it would rival any UFC event this year. We won't really have an indication of how well they can do until we see how they promote the event, IMO

And its nice to see someone finally giving props to Coker and Strikeforce, some people don't realize how well they have built up their MMA show

[Bran]

Originally Posted by smoogy

And its nice to see someone finally giving props to Coker and Strikeforce, some people don't realize how well they have built up their MMA show

agreed. aside from the last show they did with sapp in the main event, i've enjoyed all the SF i've seen and they're very smart by keeping it in san jose and raking in gigantic live gates. they're probably my favorite fledgling org. wish they'd take over EXC

[kingrobert]

I thought I read somewhere where Tim is making 800,000 and if thats true then you know Fedor is making more then that.

[CJRockstar]

Originally Posted by smoogy

I'm pretty sure its in a ring.

I think they're maybe biting off a little more than they can chew, but at least they aren't using the same failed tactics as other shows. People want to compare this to WFA, but the first WFA show wasn't so stacked that it would rival any UFC event this year. We won't really have an indication of how well they can do until we see how they promote the event, IMO

And its nice to see someone finally giving props to Coker and Strikeforce, some people don't realize how well they have built up their MMA show

Yea, it's in a ring. That was announced last week some time, not sure where. I read it on this forum.

And as for Tom saying hopefully they are making money on the second and third shows, with the current trend of their talent pull they are grabbing at, I would say nope, no profit on the second one. I honestly dont see them profiting at all, then dropping out after the second or third show.

Even though the UFC has been making good money the last few years the Fertittas just recouped their 44 million dollar original deposit late last year nearly 7 years after they bought it.(or so says the Bloodsport to Bigtime CNBC report) So for affliction to just rocket into the profit just doesn't seem realistic.

[markzabin]

Originally Posted by MADDHATER

does anybody know the presale code for tickets they go on sale this friday the 16th @ 10 am

and one last question is it taking place in a cage or ring?

hopefully a ring cuz thats fedors home and timmy will get smashed

Actually the cage favors the ground game, particularly ground and pounders.

I think they should do a few free shows to get their name out before they start doing PPV shows. This card is more for hard core fans then the casuals, and I don't see people buying from a new promotion where they don't know the fighters. Maybe they might have a chance if they co-promote with EliteXC/Dream, but thats if they allow them to be another contender.

[Diab0lus]

Does anyone have the pre=sale code for the Affliction: Banned ticketmaster pre-sale yet? I can't wait to jump on this and check it out!