Search
Recently Written
- Sentinel (video)
- Strikeforce: Shamrock Vs. Diaz: Recap
- WEC 40 Review
- UFC 96 Predictions
- UFC 92 Predictions
- WEC 36
- Elite XC’s Extinction = Plenty of Free Agents
- Art of Carnage (video)
- Arlovski/Emelianenko Fight Made Official
- MMA Bulletin Welcomes Steven Cha
Archives
- May 2009
- April 2009
- February 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- May 2008
- February 2008
Admin
Aug
1
Affliction and Elite XC: Can Either Compete With The UFC? (pt.2)
August 1, 2008 |
After checking out Elite XC in part 1 we now we go to Affliction MMA. Affliction started off as a very successful clothing company. They have now branched off into becoming an MMA organization. Like Elite XC, Affliction has made a few moves that have caught the UFC’s attention. One major move was to form a partnership with billionaire business mogul Donald Trump. Trump obviously has the money to afford to bring in the best fighters and pay them what they feel they deserve. Another major move is acquiring major talent, especially in the heavyweight division. They were able to bring in some of the best heavyweights in the world such as Andrei Arlovski, Josh Barnett, Ben Rothwell, Pedro Rizzo, Tim Sylvia, and of course the biggest acquisition of them all in Fedor Emelianenko. It is easy to say that Affliction’s heavyweight roster is a little more stacked than the heavyweight roster of the UFC…
With both companies making key moves to show that they are legitimate contenders, the UFC has made a few counter moves of their own. First of all, to counter Affliction’s debut pay per view event, the UFC decided to hold an event on the exact same night. However, the UFC’s event aired for free on Spike TV. On top of that, the main event featured the UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. Silva moved up to 205 to fight James Irvin. Any match up involving Anderson Silva is a huge pay per view draw, but the fact that he was fighting for free shows that UFC views Affliction as a real threat. When it comes to Elite XC, the UFC have made a few counter moves during their network broadcasts. During Elite XC’s first broadcast, the UFC decided to run a piece focusing on the career of Chuck Liddell. Also, they decided to re-run the fight between Liddell and Wanderlei Silva. Another counter made by the UFC against Elite XC, was this past Saturday during Elite XC’s second event on CBS. The UFC decided to re-run its pay per view which was headlined by Sean Sherk and BJ Penn. UFC President Dana White also decided to make a special announcement during the broadcast. The big announcement was that its next event in England will air for free on Spike TV
It is pretty clear to see that the UFC views both Affliction and Elite XC as legitimate threats. I for one am glad to see some more competition in the world of MMA. I also believe that the real winners in all of this are the fans. Competition forces all of the promotions to put on bigger and better events to out do one another. It would be nice to see some these organizations try to do co-promotions, but knowing the UFC I wouldn’t plan on seeing them do any co-promoting anytime soon. Whatever happens next, it will surely be exciting to see how this all pans out not only for the sport, but for the fans as well.
Related posts
Comments
1 Comment so far
[…] Affliction and Elite XC: Can Either Compete With The UFC? (pt.2) […]