Affliction Debuts To Mixed Reviews; Fedor A Marketable Star
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Affliction Sells Out Honda Center For
Inaugural Foray Into Promoting MMA Events |
Clothing company Affliction, which Saturday night debuted its first MMA card as a promoter with "Affliction: Banned" at the Honda Center, came out of its debut show with the "potential for several of the biggest heavyweight marquee matches in the sport," according to Dave Meltzer of YAHOO SPORTS. Saturday's show took place in front of a "packed house" and had a "major-event atmosphere that was a stark difference from most of the promotional opponents UFC has faced off against over the past few years" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/20). In L.A., Dan Arritt noted the show drew a "sellout crowd of 13,988" with a production that "seemed part rock concert and part fashion show." The show had "some early glitches, particularly with the oversized boxing ring Affliction chose to use," as on three occasions, fighters "fell through the ropes, forcing the referee to halt the action so they could get back in the ring." Several fighters also "appeared out of shape, leading to slow-paced action that elicited booing" (L.A. TIMES, 7/20).
IN COMPARISON: In Las Vegas, Mike Trask compared Affliction's PPV broadcast to UFC's "Ultimate Fight Night 14," which aired Saturday night on Spike TV. While the UFC telecast was, "as always, top notch," the Affliction broadcast "looked a little dark, as if the area was not very well lit." The Affliction show "wasn't as slick as the UFC." The Affliction fighter introductions were "well done, quick and to the point," and the company "did a great job pointing out storylines." But it was "painfully obvious that Affliction owned zero footage of previous fights" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 7/20).
FIGHTING FEDOR: FOXSPORTS.com's Mark Kriegel wrote fighter Fedor Emelianenko, who defeated Tim Sylvia in 36 seconds in the final fight of the card, gives MMA "what boxing does not have: a recognizable heavyweight champ." Emelianenko is the "best this sport has." Affliction will "remain in business as long as it's in the Fedor business," because"what makes this fighter scary also makes him marketable" (FOXSPORTS.com, 7/20). SI.com's Josh Gross writes,"In many ways, Saturday night marked Emelianenko's introduction to American fight fans. With potential bouts against real contenders on the horizon, Emelianenko should no longer need to concern himself with criticism about fighting chumps. Rather, combining the emergence of MMA in the consciousness of American sports fans with the Russian's talent and unmatched ledger, [Emelianenko] could be this sport's brightest light" (SI.com, 7/21).
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