UFC's decision to run a live show on Spike opposite Affliciton's PPV debut on July 19th has nothing to do with Affliction. That's Dana White's spin on things, anyway. He told SI.com that he's simply giving the fans what they want and that Anderson Silva wants to fight more and that it is in no way, shape or form counter-programming. He's also got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. UFC isn't giving away a Silva fight for free because they love their fans so much. The first light heavyweight fight for Silva, one of the biggest names in MMA, would be a draw for a future PPV and the choice to put it on Spike is clearly meant to drive a dagger into the heart of Affliction. Tom Atencio, Affliction's VP, spoke to MMARated and sees it the same way.
"It's just an example of how they want to control everything but at the same time it's flattering as well. I guess they do view us as threat...absolutely."It's damn hard to see it any other way. UFC ran their own offerings against Elite XC's first CBS show and are now doing the same thing against Affliction. It didn't hurt Elite's ratings but that was free against free. When you're choosing to spend $50 or not, the decision is much different. Flattered as Atencio may be, he can't be thrilled about the hit his company is going to take because UFC feels threatened by them.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-22-2008 @ 5:13AM
PB&J said...
This is an interesting situation. Anderson Silva moving to light heavyweight is something that ppl have been hoping for and now its a done deal and going to air free, does it get better then this? Well the answer is, there is a slight problem. Fedor is on the Elite fight card. I don't think anyone wants to miss seeing Silva fight at a higher weight and while Fedor is always worth watching, it would defy logic to think he is going to lose his fight, would prefer to watch both but $50 is not exactly cheap. If Elite signs Coutoure, which is possible since he wants to fight Fedor then having those 2 would make Elite a more interesting draw.
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6-29-2008 @ 6:34AM
Waters08 said...
Dana White and UFC reminds me more and more of Vince
McMahon's WWF of the 80's. When the NWA/WCW (rival pro wrestling group) would have a pay-per-view, there would suddendly be a WWF "special" on USA Network.
Both Vince and Dana said that timing has nothing to do with. Anyone that knows either man's history will clearly know the M.O. is obvious. "Getting ppl to NOT spend money on the rival group."
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6-30-2008 @ 2:14AM
docbisio said...
Fedor is on the Affliction card, not Elite. They are a rival promotion of Elite and UFC. Their card is loaded. I'm guessing most hardcore fans will TiVo one and watch the other live.
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7-01-2008 @ 6:41PM
PB&J said...
docbisio your right my mistake, Affliction and not Elite has Fedor and the upcoming july 19 fight card. All the talk of who the best pound for pound fighter is runs into a brick wall when Fedor is put in the same conversation. Yes he has one loss but that was caused because of a stoppage due to a cut, he has never been submitted or knocked out. It's also true that he has not had real impressive opponents for the past couple years but that may not be as relevant as some ppl out there seem to think. He would have signed with the UFC but said that the restrictions that Dana wanted were unreasobable. Point is I don't get the impression that Fedor has been trying to dodge any opponents, that's my opinionn but until someone actually beats this guy then nobody else can be considered to be more dominant in MMA. A loss by stoppage, which was not due to a TKO but a cut is a mute point. If anyone can KO or TKO or submitt or win by decsion in a full fight then we can start to wonder if any other MMA figher is better, heavyweight or otherwise, till then he sits at the top, my opinion but I think hard to argue with.
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7-03-2008 @ 7:17AM
claudio said...
Fedor is the threat not Affliction, he has dominated the UFC champ Minotauro twice. So, they put Anderson Silva at 205 as a counter, that's just fine by me I'll watch both events, the more the merrier. Just don't not call MMA fans stupid. To eliminate the threat of all the new promotions the UFC has to sign FEDOR. SIMPLE!
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