“The UFC is the Q-Tip of MMA,” stated Tom Atencio on Wednesday’s Affliction: Day of Reckoning conference call. What he meant by that is when you think of cotton swabs to clean your ears, you think of the brand “Q-Tip.” When people (casual fans) think of MMA, they think of the UFC. Make no mistake, Affliction is out to topple the UFC as the number one MMA organization in the world.
From the tone of the Affliction Entertainment executives it has become very clear they are not going to be satisfied playing second fiddle. Michael Cohen, Executive Vice President and Special Counsel to Donald J. Trump said, “Affliction Entertainment will become the premiere company in mixed martial arts…Affliction will become the Q-Tip of MMA.”
There certainly are enough people and companies collaborating together to make some waves. Affliction Entertainment, M-1 Global, Donald Trump, and Golden Boy are all working together to put on the best MMA events possible. With Fedor leading the charge as the WAMMA Heavyweight Champion, Affliction is poised to do big things in 2009.
There had been reports recently that Affliction may put on up to 16 shows in 2009. Tom Atencio clarified those reports by saying it included the events that M-1 Global will be holding, since they are in partnership.
With so many different companies involved, yes that can help in many ways, but it also means the profits must be shared diversely as well. Clearly, Affliction has a strong roster of Heavyweight fighters. It’s a good start. But saying they will become the premiere MMA organization in the world when half of their fighters are UFC castaways only makes them seem unrealistic about their goals.
To hear the full audio of the Affliction: Day of Reckoning conference call go HERE.
-Jack Bratcher