Barnett denies being offered a fight with AA for EXC; Atencio says fight was offered

[RKO7645]

I read somewhere that I had declined the fight because I would have had to take a pay cut. I suppose others may also formulate some story about me declining the fight for other reasons.

I never decelned to take this fight. I was never told that I would have any part of my pay reduced since working with Affliction. To my knowledge, no one has been asked to take a pay cut that fights for Affliction.

I did not turn down this fight.

Josh

Myspace.com Blogs - Arlovski on CBS - Josh Barnett MySpace Blog

I never heard anything about him turning down this fight let alone even being offered to fight on CBS



Added by Ramma: Follow up Article

Exclusive: Affliction's Atencio Says Original EliteXC Fight Was Supposed To Be Arlvoski vs. Barnett
By: arielhelwani


We're still wrapping our head around today's announcement that Andrei Arlovski will face Roy Nelson on next Saturday's EliteXC on CBS card.

Earlier today, we spoke to EliteXC VP, Jared Shaw, about the deal, but now it's time to hear from the other side of the specturm: Affliction Entertainment VP, Tom Atencio.

"We've been working on the CBS deal for ten days or so," Atencio told MMARated.com. "What we're trying to do is things that are good for the industry. If we can work with these guys great."

Interestingly enough, Atencio mentioned that the original plan for this card was not Nelson vs. Arlovski.

"It was going to be Arlovski versus (Josh) Barnett," Atencio said. "But what happened was we couldn't finalize a deal with Barnett and he went to sign with Sengoku."

Atencio wanted to reiterate that there was never any bad blood between Affliction and EliteXC despite the clothing line ban.

"The name of our entertainment group was Affliction, that's where they had the problem," Atencio said. "Busines-wise it makes sense, it didn't bother me."

On the economics side of things, Atencio added that the Affliction brand will be heavily visible throughout the CBS broadcast. He also mentioned that Arlovski and Nelson were receiving different purses from what they were set to earn for their appearance on the now-cancelled October 11th Affliction show.

Oh, and in case you still don't believe Fedor is fighting for Affliction next, Atencio had this to say:

"I spoke with Fedor's people at M-1yesterday after reading everything on the Internet," Atencio said. "And they assured me that he is with us and he will be fighting for us next."

Of course, Fedor could be loaned out to DREAM much like Arlovski and Nelson are, but that's a different story for a different day.

Source - Exclusive: Affliction's Atencio Says Original EliteXC Fight Was Supposed To Be Arlovski vs. Barnett - MMARated.com

[DaTruThHurTs]

just beat em off...right?

[Bubbles]

Originally Posted by RKO7645

I never heard anything about him turning down this fight let alone even being offered to fight on CBS

me neither

[NebraskaMMAfan]

Originally Posted by DaTruThHurTs

just beat em off...right?

That's funny, but why did you post it in this thread?

[Bubbles]

Originally Posted by DaTruThHurTs

just beat em off...right?

Dana White quote?

[DaTruThHurTs]

Originally Posted by NebraskaMMAfan

That's funny, but why did you post it in this thread?

To be completly honest.....I had jsut heard the quote from last night's show and it was prob one of the funniest things I have heard in a while......and this was the first thread that I saw so I fig I would post part of it.....tha tshit was funny as hell, I am laughing right now.

[Ramma]

Originally Posted by RKO7645

I never heard anything about him turning down this fight let alone even being offered to fight on CBS

Apparently he was offered it...

Exclusive: Affliction's Atencio Says Original EliteXC Fight Was Supposed To Be Arlvoski vs. Barnett
By: arielhelwani


We're still wrapping our head around today's announcement that Andrei Arlovski will face Roy Nelson on next Saturday's EliteXC on CBS card.

Earlier today, we spoke to EliteXC VP, Jared Shaw, about the deal, but now it's time to hear from the other side of the specturm: Affliction Entertainment VP, Tom Atencio.

"We've been working on the CBS deal for ten days or so," Atencio told MMARated.com. "What we're trying to do is things that are good for the industry. If we can work with these guys great."

Interestingly enough, Atencio mentioned that the original plan for this card was not Nelson vs. Arlovski.

"It was going to be Arlovski versus (Josh) Barnett," Atencio said. "But what happened was we couldn't finalize a deal with Barnett and he went to sign with Sengoku."

Atencio wanted to reiterate that there was never any bad blood between Affliction and EliteXC despite the clothing line ban.

"The name of our entertainment group was Affliction, that's where they had the problem," Atencio said. "Busines-wise it makes sense, it didn't bother me."

On the economics side of things, Atencio added that the Affliction brand will be heavily visible throughout the CBS broadcast. He also mentioned that Arlovski and Nelson were receiving different purses from what they were set to earn for their appearance on the now-cancelled October 11th Affliction show.

Oh, and in case you still don't believe Fedor is fighting for Affliction next, Atencio had this to say:

"I spoke with Fedor's people at M-1yesterday after reading everything on the Internet," Atencio said. "And they assured me that he is with us and he will be fighting for us next."

Of course, Fedor could be loaned out to DREAM much like Arlovski and Nelson are, but that's a different story for a different day.

This is turning into he said/he said... but who cares? If they are going to fight at the next show, it doesn't really matter (unless AA loses).

[chungt79]

I am utterly confused. Can someone gimme the scoop?

So AA-Barnett for the rights to fight Fedor isn't happening?
The next Affliction event is cancelled?
AA signed with EliteXC or is he being loaned out?

Some of these mentioned on the article but its all so confusing....

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Good for Barnett, why the heck would he sign to fight Arlovski with like two weeks or less of press and hype for it, when they are two of the biggest heavyweights on the planet? Elite XC should've announced it as maybe their next main event, but this fight would be too too too big to give away free on tv with so little time to hype it. Not cool.