Affliction Clothing Formally Announces Debut MMA Venture

Affliction Clothing yesterday formally announced it will hold its first live MMA event on July 19 at Honda Center, according to Miguel Lopez of the Long Beach PRESS-TELEGRAM. While it has been rumored Affliction would "join the fighting ranks ... the story is who it's bringing to its coming out party." The card will be headlined by Fedor Emelianenko fighting former UFC champion Tim Sylvia. Affliction Clothing VP Tom Acendo said that the company is "not a money-first MMA operation," and that its goal is "providing quality shows." Many boxers and MMA fighters regularly wear Affliction apparel, and Acendo said, "We didn't think our clothing brand was going to get as big as it is and we hope our Affliction MMA branch will have the same result." He added that the company "isn't on the scene to replace, or rival any company, but that it's simply out to produce the fights you can't see elsewhere." Sylvia: "Affliction was willing to pay me more and give me an opportunity to fight other people outside of the UFC" (Long Beach PRESS-TELEGRAM, 5/21).