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30/07/08 - Exclusive: Affliction VP talks Couture, Ortiz and Las Vegas
Affliction’s second mixed martial arts event will not necessarily be staged in Las Vegas, Fighters Only can reveal.
Multiple websites have reported that a deal is in place to stage Affliction 2 at the Thomas & Mack centre later this year, but Affliction vice-president Tom Atencio says nothing has been finalised.
“I know everybody is reporting that but we haven’t confirmed it,” he told Fighters Only this morning.
“It’s not necessarily going to be in Vegas. We’re looking at different places. I don’t like to announce anything until papers are signed - and we haven’t signed anything, so nothing is concrete.”
However, Las Vegas is the fight capital of the world and he does see the attraction of holding an event there.
“If we could do it in Vegas it would be great. I think the buzz in Vegas is great, I think the fanbase is great. I think Las Vegas would be wonderful.”
Affliction “were looking at October 11 for our next event but it doesn’t look like that is going to work out,” he added.
He also debunked rumours that Affliction has signed, or is in the process of signing, a deal with Tito Ortiz.
“There is a “match period” until August 3rd and we can’t even talk to him until that expires,” he revealed.
According to Atencio, the clause means that if Ortiz is made an offer prior to August 3rd, the UFC has the option to match the terms and so extend his contract with them.
Randy Couture was present at Affliction: Banned and at one point was in the ring at the same time that Fedor Emelianenko was, fuelling rumours that the two would clash on a future Affliction show.
But Couture is currently engaged in a lawsuit with Zuffa, parent company of the UFC, which makes meaningful negotiations impossible at this stage, says Atencio.
Asked if Couture will fight Emelianenko on a future Affliction show, he said: “We have a relationship with Randy and if we can facilitate that then absolutely, but at this point, until he is done with his legal problems, we can’t even sit down and talk about it.
“It just doesn’t make sense at this point.”
Contracts and legalities are some of the downsides of being a promoter, but there have already been plenty of highs for Atencio.
“It was our first show and it’s not like we’ve done this before, so overall I am real happy,” he says. “The matchups were good, the fights were good and the music was good.”
“We were criticised by some people but I think overall it went well, I think the entertainment aspect of it was really good. We will have another band, somebody who is more mainstream. We’re looking at Ozzy Osbourne, Korn and Motorhead. All three of them are interested so we just need to see which one we are going to go with.
Coincidentally, all three names in the hat have Affliction signature t-shirts, don’t they?
“Yes they do,” he laughs.
Atencio also thought Fedor Emelianenko put in an “amazing” performance that “solidified his place in MMA”.
“A lot of people didn’t think he was as good as he really is, you know? He came out and just walked through Tim like he was nothing and showed why he is considered the number one heavyweight in the ring.”
The debut show did very well on pay per view, according to Affliction. But the company has not revealed exact details of the buy numbers - nor are they likely to.
“I know the UFC doesn’t give out exact numbers and I feel that we should learn from other people and see what they are doing,” Atencio revealed. “The UFC doesn’t give the numbers, so I am only going to give a general figure myself.”
“It was over 100,000. Well over 100,000. I think that is more than enough.”
John O'Regan
john.fightersonly@gmail.com
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