Affliction show in trouble already?

[Gygax]

Like many have said, its never a done deal when it comes to a show involving Fedor Emelianenko. Sam Caplan has posted a very interesting article involving the new Affliction show set for July 19th and featuring the Emelianenko vs Tim Sylvia match.

First, Affliction had trouble securing a deal with Golden Boy Promotions. Now it appears their dealing with Mark Cuban's HDNet have hit a major snag.

While Affliction’s first-ever mixed martial arts card on July 19 does not appear to be in peril, it looks like the event may require a new venue.

On Saturday afternoon, FiveOuncesOfPain.com was informed by a source that a proposed deal between Affliction and HDNet appeared to have fallen through. As a result, Affliction was not able to finalize an agreement to book the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas for its first show.

The event, which is slated to be headlined by Fedor Emelianenko taking on Tim Sylvia, could now be held at The Pond in Anaheim, Calif., instead. That revelation was made by current UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture while appearing Saturday night as a guest on “Rear Naked Radio” on 105.3 FM in Dallas.

While the collapse of a promotional agreement between Affliction and HDNet doesn’t appear to be a catastrophic loss for the clothing maker’s MMA plans, it could be construed as a setback. According to sources, Affliction and HDNet were discussing an arrangement in which HDNet would televise several matches from the undercard on July 19 as a way to drive buys for the pay-per-view telecast. The card was then also expected to air approximately a week later on HDNet on a tape-delay basis.

The failure to consummate a deal with HDNet is apparently not the first time the new Affliction promotion has lost a potential television partner. According to previous reports, Affliction at one point was going to move ahead with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions as a promotional partner. It is believed that Golden Boy could have potentially served as a conduit for a broadcast deal with premium cable provider HBO.

In other Affliction-related news, Five Ounces of Pain has also learned that EliteXC has joined the UFC as the second major North American mixed martial arts promotion to ban its fighters from wearing Affliction clothing during cage-walk entrances.

It will be interesting to see if there is the same backlash to the Affliction clothing ban by EliteXC as when the UFC banned them.

[Pitbull]

Very disappointing. I was so pumped about going to this show.

[giguer]

Oh dammit.

[Rush]

This is just fabulous. I was looking forward to this.

[AikaImmortal]

Go figure, the few times a show that isnt KOTC level is in texas something ****s up.

[Gygax]

Something has been bothering me about this Affliction show. First, Fedor announced the fight with Tim Sylvia was a done deal for this new Affliction show. Then both his manager Vadim Finkelstein and Sylvia's manager Monte Cox said nothing had been signed yet. Yet a week later, Fedor again posts on his own site that the fight is confirmed and its taken as fact again.

Has Tim Sylvia or Monte Cox confirmed this as happening? Nope, not yet. In fact, Monte Cox released a press release last week announcing the 2nd event of his Adrenaline series and saying that Sylvia will be on that card. He's already scheduling Sylvia for a fight 7 weeks after the proposed Fedor fight, yet has yet to confirm the Fedor fight.

Now this falling out with HDNet. Maybe Affliction is looking for a ton of money from HDNet to pay the enormous salaries that they have promised Fedor ($2Mil) and Sylvia ($700G). HDNet is in now position to put that kinda of money into a fledgling promotion with no prior experience. Unfortunately, this show seems absolutely doomed to ever get off the ground. I still have very high hopes for HDNet to get into the market but I think they may be looking to slowly grow. Thats a much more responsible method business wise.

[AikaImmortal]

Vadim Finklestein is a snake. Fedor is held back by a manager whom, I bet money, skims more money off the top than he will ever know.

[Gygax]

Originally Posted by AikaImmortal

Vadim Finklestein is a snake. Fedor is held back by a manager whom, I bet money, skims more money off the top than he will ever know.

Ultimately, that's the biggest problem with Fedor. The whole way that Finkelstein and Apy Echteld took over Fedor's management from the Russian Top Team and formed the Red Devils Sports Club has always been suspicious. It happened right after the Gary Goodridge fight. I have little doubt that Finkelstein completely controls Fedor to the detriment of MMA.

[AikaImmortal]

Even the negotiations at times seem bizarre. Yeah, I can understand sticking up for your friends and family, but turning down contracts simply because Roman won't be tagging along isnt something an athlete would do, but rather a manager.

Needless to say, I am *VERY* disappointed in all of this. Hell, even Ken Imai would be better than Finkelstein.

[opsy]

Originally Posted by AikaImmortal

Even the negotiations at times seem bizarre. Yeah, I can understand sticking up for your friends and family, but turning down contracts simply because Roman won't be tagging along isnt something an athlete would do, but rather a manager.

Needless to say, I am *VERY* disappointed in all of this. Hell, even Ken Imai would be better than Finkelstein.

"Those crazy Russians"

Maybe Dana was right

[AikaImmortal]

Ugh, now I am even more pissed off. Josh Barnett (my favorite fighter) vs Pedro Rizzo is all but certian.

[Drewplata]

I just saw a comment on Sherdog (take that as you will) saying that the July 19th show has been reset for the pond in Anaheim. Independent verification?

[Gygax]

Originally Posted by Drewplata

I just saw a comment on Sherdog (take that as you will) saying that the July 19th show has been reset for the pond in Anaheim. Independent verification?

Randy Couture said in a radio interview this past weekend that the Pond is trying to be booked, but nothing is set yet.