(Hey, at least you’ll get to keep those totally sweet t-shirts…)
You may have completely forgotten about it because there’s been virtually no promotional push to speak of, but yes, Affliction will be holding its long-delayed sophomore MMA event just 12 days from now, at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Fedor Emelianenko will face Andrei Arlovski, Josh Barnett will take on Gilbert Yvel, and very few people will be watching.
According to Bloody Elbow, only 1,400 tickets to "Day of Reckoning" had been sold as of last week. (FYI, the Honda Center can hold about 18,000 spectators.) At first, Tom Atencio wouldn’t confirm or deny that figure, but now he’s saying that the ticket sales are comparable to last July’s "Banned" event, where over 6,000 tix had been sold three weeks before the show. CagePotato can neither confirm nor deny how full of shit Atencio’s public statements are.
So, a few things come to mind…
First, if you’re in driving distance of Anaheim, you might want to make it out to "Day of Reckoning," because cageside seats will probably be going for like $40. (Remember last time?) Also, if that 1,400 figure is anywhere close to accurate, and Affliction can only sell a couple thousand more tickets in the next two weeks, and assuming that pay-per-view buys will be as disappointing as the live gate, they will be finished as an MMA organization, guaranteed. Negligible income + the highest fighter payroll in the world = financial ruin. There’s no way they’ll set themselves up to lose another couple million on a third event.
I can’t help but think that for MMA fans, the best-case scenario for "Day of Reckoning" would be if Arlovski somehow managed to beat Emelianenko. Then, the UFC would re-double their efforts to sign him and we’d get to see another world-class fighter added to their increasingly-compelling heavyweight roster. Because it’s not like you’ll ever see Fedor in the UFC, and an Emelianenko/Barnett match in Affliction is far from guaranteed. What’s certain is that MMA fans didn’t latch on to Affliction’s MMA brand like Atencio & Co. had hoped. Will you be watching on the 24th? If not, what’s getting in the way of you caring about Affliction’s product?
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Comments
Mon, 01/12/09 - 07:37
Only because of illegal satelite :).
Mon, 01/12/09 - 07:45
Anyone else think Matyushenko looks like Verne Troyer's midget lusting father?
Mon, 01/12/09 - 07:46
I am going to buy it. The first show was great. Monopoly's are not good for anyone.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 07:47
I am not buying UFC 93 or Affliction. I will watch both on line and buy UFC 94. Affliction is done, and its a shame they will collapse to soon to put on the Barnett vs Fedor fight. I gues that fight will happen 3 years too late on some M1 Card deep in Russia.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 07:48
too may PPV's this month...UFC this weekend (splitting w/ friends) and BJ v GSP (at my house). This is a cool event...who's getting it though? Seriously, I'm not a frickin' baller!!!
Mon, 01/12/09 - 07:48
Im watchin it forrrrrr surrre !!!!!
Mon, 01/12/09 - 07:50
Just outta curiosity why is Titos ginormous ugly noggin lurking around in the back row there? Did I miss something? Or did he just put down his squeegee and run into frame?
Mon, 01/12/09 - 07:50
everyone asks Tito, "hey, how my pee-pee-pee taste".
Mon, 01/12/09 - 07:50
look at tito in the back looks like he snuck in the picture that 12 year old school girl wannabe fuck
Mon, 01/12/09 - 07:51
Offhand...does anyone know the PPV cost of this Affliction event? Is it comparable to UFC event costs?
Mon, 01/12/09 - 07:51
What the hell is the Huntington Beach Pumpkin Head doing in that photo? He's such a parasite.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 07:53
"Eveboy420" Why is Tito there? Because he's a fucking announcer for the event Jackoff. Maybe you should put down the squeegee and fit some more information in your tiny brain before you decide to post another asinine comment for the sole purpose of trying to be funny. Because you failed miserably.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 07:56
Umm... from looking at the picture, doesn't Lauzon vs Hordeski look like a mismatch? I believe size will be a deciding factor in that fight. I'd love to buy all ppv's, but can't. Affliction 2 is the odd man out. Plus, I hate watching Lindland snorefests!
Mon, 01/12/09 - 07:57
I won't buy the Affliction PPV for the same reason I won't buy a boxing PPV. There is only one really solid fight on the entire card and the rest, while featuring decent guys, are mismatches or guaranteed snore-fests.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 08:03
Maybe tom meant they sold as many T-shirts as last event?
Mon, 01/12/09 - 08:04
I would buy this event if my cable company would step into the 20th century provide pay-per-view service.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 08:06
I bet they all went out to the club after this picture was taken and cock blocked each other. Except for Arlovski who went back to his castle and Ortiz who had to finish cleaning the lobby.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 08:12
To be fair, we don't see Joe Rogan in promotional shots. If Tito is an announcer, he doesn't need to be posing with the fighters.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 08:13
I'm not a fan of Affliction because Atencio talks out of both sides of his mouth like some sort of skin-head politician with ugly glasses... ...and their shirts look like a bucket full of assholes!
Mon, 01/12/09 - 08:21
I don't think anyone will be watching this event because I do not think that it will go off. Affliction will pull the plug at the last minute and surrender to the UFC. They have no choice. Golden Boy screwed them by having an event the same night accross town. If it does go off I would buy the PPV if it were $20 or less but otherwise no.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 08:22
I get it for free, so I'm def watching 2 of my faovirte fighters go at it for the Bad Wamma Jamma title.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 08:24
WOW! Tyler I'm assuming since theres no less then 3 other posts asking the same question you kinda feel like a complete tool now huh? I really think you should calm down on your Tito man crush you get seriously offended if someone insults Tito huh? Internet tough guys gotta love them Get your mouth off Tito's dick you little hoe don't you know where that's been? You may wanna go get tested now either from that or the fact that you were squeezed out of the womb of a dirty crack whore who will do ANYTHING! for her next hit and i knew that slut before she turned grimy and trust me SHE WILL DO ANYTHING!!
Mon, 01/12/09 - 08:31
*Looks at bottom row I didn't know Vinny from Orange County Choppers got into MMA. That's weird.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 08:32
I'm ordering it, skipping UFC93 and ordering UFC94. I really think Goldenboy fucked Affliction over. This card should be getting a lot of attention from hardcores at least.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 08:38
Three things about his photo: 1. What the fuck is Tito doing up there? 2. Did Tito, Arlovski and Lindland refuse to don Affliction shirts? If so, more power to them. 3. Gotta love Horodecki looking like he's about six year's old and posing in the team picture of his dad's company softball team.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 08:40
"CagePotato can neither confirm nor deny how full of shit Atencio's public statements are." I loled and then loled some, then I was done loling and I loled 1 more time
Mon, 01/12/09 - 08:51
Is that Sokoudjuo?
Mon, 01/12/09 - 08:53
Any1 that comes on these MMA blogs like the potato will most likely buy the Affliction PPV but your casual fan will not. They r finished. Just a matter of time.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 08:54
I didn't know Jeff Spicoli fought for Affliction.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 08:56
Well it's not a UFC event, so obviously it can't be good, right? Psyche! I'm totally getting this one.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 09:15
God, Hordeski looks like he's 14 years old! I'm going to get the Affliction: DOR PPV only because I think Fedor/Arlovski will be great and I like Barnett. I will not be plunkin' down the cash for UFC 93, but I will watch the vids the next day online. Especially because I wanna see what happens with the "Irish Handgrenade's" stand-and-bang challenge. Truthfully, I'm sorry to see Affliction go because I really don't want the UFC to be the only place for MMA. But Affliction didn't do themselves any favors to be competitive. Their biggest mistake was to re-schedule the original event. Since then, all the steam that they built up after the first fight has just evaporated. Poor marketing (billboards in Times Square?) and a limited stable of healthy fighters just doesn't help, either. FYI: the Affliction PPV is listed on DirecTV for $44.95 Standard and $54.95 Hi-Def. If I recall correctly, that's $5 more than their first bout. I thought that one was only $39.95. If anything, Afflictions apparent demise just speeds up Fedor getting in the UFC. He'll tinker around for a while with M-1, but sooner or later, he'll be in the UFC. BTW, Fedor signed a two-year, 6 fight deal with M-1 in Oct. of 2007. Is he still under contract? Since then, he's only fought Hong-Man Choi, Sylvia and (soon) Arlovski. What becomes of the rest of his fights? I wonder if M-1 will force him to finish his contract before jumping to the UFC.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 09:29
"Eveboy420" takes it in the Ass!
Mon, 01/12/09 - 09:43
Wow good one Tyler and here I thought it wouldn't be a waste of my time typing that 4 min earlier post. EH WELL guess I was wrong! and I'm guessing since there's no less then 6-7 posts asking the same question you REALLY are feeling like a complete douche now! Just remember Tyler Suicide, Its not just for the cool kids anymore. Go get yourself a camera and post it on JustinTV PLEASE! your pathetic!
Mon, 01/12/09 - 09:44
Regardless of Affliction as a company (either MMA-wise or douche bag T-shirt wise) the first show was awesome and this is not a one fight card. I'll watch Fedor or Barnett fight anytime, plus the undercard (including lil Nog vs The Janitor in a potentially high quality rematch) is free on HDNet. What's all the bitching about? Who cares what organization is putting it on? Enjoy it while it lasts!
Mon, 01/12/09 - 09:51
Not only am I going to get the PPV but I am going to TIVO, DVR And record it while I am at the event and still save more money then if it were to be a near sellout.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 09:59
"Why is Tito there? Because he's a fucking announcer for the event Jackoff." Yea he's in the picture with all the other announcers for the show....oh wait it's just him pretending he's one of the fighters on the show. If John Madden ended up in a picture of the Dallas Cowboys roster people would be asking what he was doing there too.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 10:02
Well I am 40 minutes away from the Honda Center, and since its on my birthday my friends and my wife are going to travel there and score some comps. YAY us.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 10:02
I'll forego UFC 93 for the Affliction PPV. Itr looks like it will be much better anyway...
Mon, 01/12/09 - 10:06
lol, look at Tito's shit-eating grin, did he sneak into that pic? Is Jenna hiding behind everyone else on her knees in front of Tito?
Mon, 01/12/09 - 10:22
God Damn, its like watching Titanic or something...all this bullshit just to watch the fucker sink in the end... If Fedor wins, the only horse left in the stable in Barnett (provided he wins) If A.A. wins, the light dims on Fedor and Affliction. Although an A.A./Barnett fight would be compelling to hardcores, they will not hold enough viewers to sustain an organization. The only difference between Elite and Affliction in my book is one bet on a horse with Talent. Nobody wins forever. And lastly to all the afflicted who want another organization to rise up and claim some of the UFC's market/fighters/power.... Its like listening to a fan of football screaming about how huge the XFL is going to be and how the NFL is doomed...haha. Run, "He Hate Me", Run. Just dont forget to go out and buy a T-shirt so when you sink, you do it with style.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 10:27
I love how on this site, you can think that you're just making a quirky comment; ya know, bein all cooky with your buddies, and then be viciously attacked from someone that seemingly hates your guts for what you said even though, your comments weren't directed at him or anyone else for that matter!
Mon, 01/12/09 - 10:34
@ Thoughts The NFL vs UFC analogy has some merit, but there are some differences I'd like to point out. First off, I was one of those guys who actually watched the XFL games. And you know what? Some of them weren't half bad! I don't know where you live "Thoughts" and if you had an XFL franchise there, but when I went to Vegas I got in a conversation with a sports nut and he said XFL was huge in Vegas. No other competing football teams. The XFLs biggest downfall was the talent pool. There are only so many world-class NFL players...and they all play for the NFL. I don't think the UFC is the same way. They may have the best fighters in the world, but is there enough talent outside of the UFC to support another large orgnization? I think so. It's just really hard to get something like this off the ground. I never thought that Affliction would be bigger than the UFC. I did hope that they would at least be able to put on a good show every two to three months. Same with EliteXC. They have a lot good fighters and overall, I've enjoyed all of their shows, if not some of the matches. I don't think someone else is gonna take down the UFC. Face it: Dana and Company know what the hell they are doing. I just want to see as much good MMA as possible, that's all. The more the merrier. No one is gonna break the UFC, but not every fighter is a good match for the UFC.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 10:46
Why in the name of GOD, would anyone want to pay for this, when it will be on the internet FREE 5 min after it happens! I think that Tom, is going to have alot of t-shirts to wipe his ass with after this!
Mon, 01/12/09 - 10:50
Just throwing it out there, Tyler= Tito? unemployed and searching the net for his next fight no matter who or where it is? Well Come on then Tito I don't sweat you??
Mon, 01/12/09 - 11:15
OBI As a genuine MMA fan, I do appreciate other organizations and what they do. I have watched the UFC for years, enjoyed Pride back in the day, and frequent local shows whenever possible. I enjoy all MMA and regardless of talent level, a good fight/show can be put on by any organization. The difference with all other organizations and the UFC is marketing power. That's really it. Do you get Huerta-like hype anywhere outside of the UFC (in MMA)? I mean, he left the UFC to pursue an acting career.!.!..if to take a moment to let that sink in, it becomes pretty profound. What about Ken-Flo working at ESPN? The UFC represents the top level of MMA in the eyes of our media, just like the NFL represents the top for football. Although other organizations can scratch and claw at the idea of someday being equal to the UFC, the facts say something different. Only the organizations that focus on long run survival by building up talent on a local level, will stand a chance, and that is only a chance. All the ones who reach out and sign the scraps that the UFC cannot or will not....are doomed to fail as Elite and soon Affliction. Last, I dont mind it that the UFC has a strangle hold on MMA right now. If you want to fight the best, be recognized as the best, then the UFC is the only place to go. I bet the average person right now, if asked (the casual fan, not a hardcore) would acknowledge Brock as the best Heavyweight....sad but true.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 11:33
I wish Affliction or the UFC would put an event in Dallas. Residents of California and Nevada are spoiled from having so many choices.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 11:48
I hate Jay Smith because he spelled "kooky" as "cooky". What a butt-reamer!
Mon, 01/12/09 - 11:49
Thank the gods for this thing called the internet, which lets me download the broadcast videos the next day and watch them on my TV. Plus I can skip over all the boring parts.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 12:16
UFC is great, they really have paved the way for MMA. But it will only hurt the sport in the long run if they are the only successful organization. I'm not sure Affliction is ready to step up and be the next competitor but if we want this sport to be successful and grow we need to have love for organizations other then UFC.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 12:27
banned ruled, i don't know why people wouldn't watch this. well, unless they eat n00b-cereal for breakfast.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 12:34
@ Anonymous I'm a butt reamer for what I did to your mother and your sister, not for misspelling a word. I know you did it to make a point though so, I'll let it slide.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 01:39
Nice shirts ya bunch of doubebags.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 02:40
Looks like a fair lineup, but I'd still rather not pay that much to see it. Maybe the price will go down! Not. And sorry, I didn't realize that I was being a skinny internet keyboard warrior as well, by wasting my time here in this chair, typing all this random stuff, arguing on the net. My bad... Whatever becomes of Arlovski, I hope he has good fortune; He's a fierce striker and I respect him very much.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 03:02
LMAO well Tyler looks like you took someone elses cue and started posting under other ppls names huh very clever tricky tricky(as well as very original you loser hack!), As for a skinny internet loser LMAO I would love to see you say that to me of course you wouldn't but a guy can hope and dream right? As for the fight predictions spot on man I am pulling for PITBULL I hope he does knock Fedor out
Mon, 01/12/09 - 03:09
These guys are leaving money on the table. Instead of having rock bands they could have taken that money and figured out how to sell the pay-per-view online. I can watch UFC, WWE, etc., via pay per online but I can't buy Affiction. I don't have cable, none of the bars I go to even know who these guys are. In short, these guys have no business sense. Everything from over-paying someone like Fedor who no one in North America has ever heard of. To working with Golden Boy, who clearly do not have a genuine interest...It all frustrates me. I don't want *M-1 to be my only Fedor option (yes he is not a multi million dollar draw in the US but he is the man). Unfortunately, this may be the swan song for Affliction. *Didn't IFL and Bodog Fight prove to us that tape-delay doesn't work for MMA....did M-1 miss the memo?
Mon, 01/12/09 - 04:46
Yes,... it will end soon and then Ben can devote 100% of his time sucking Dana's balls. The first card was very good as is this one yet the overwhelming majority of your Affliction (or should we say non-UFC?) articles are ridiculously bias. Every article or comment is a barb, innuendo or rumor if not straight up bashing a very good card. It doesnt take a genius to figure out the sub-text. You might call a few part of the charm of 'trying to be funny' but this is constant. DREAM had amazing cards in 2008, Sengoku had a few very good ones, Afflction's was excellent and even the Kimbo fiasco one carried 4-5 interesting fights on Elite's final show.... there is excellent MMA outside the UFC and you would figure a healthy MMA scene would be a boon for a MMA site. Im not saying to sugar coat it or to do the fluff jobs you reserve for the underwhelming UFC cards (Bisping/Leben as a main event should have been laughed at non-stop) but EVERY non-UFC event is presented as worthless, a failure, non-competitive when the opposite has been true. Thank god for the Youtube. Dailymotion, live streaming sites and online cable software. Someone without access to these and relying strictly on your slanted coverage would have a different view of what is out there beside your 'precious'. Personally, i dont care where fights happen. if I cant get the PPV or feed like HDNET, then there are tons of ways to see them. And I dont care if the Vegas mob or the Yakuza runs a show as long as the fighters get paid well. I dont care because I like mixed martial arts. You on the other hand like being Perez Hilton a bit too much. Maybe he'll tell you how to get the taste of White's ass out of your mouth. Best regards.
Mon, 01/12/09 - 05:04
Where are the mullets!
Mon, 01/12/09 - 06:29
OK I admit it. I like getting poked in the ASS!
Mon, 01/12/09 - 09:33
Id get the Affliction event but i dont think its on ppv in AUS???
Wed, 01/14/09 - 12:59
Affliction should have started from a television show first, and used it as a promotional tool for their title fights (much like the UFC). But instead of showing us a bunch of bonding homos in a house they should be showing undercard fights and documentaries on their fighters. That kind of material is far more interesting than the Real World meets gameshow format that is the Ultimate Fighter show .
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