There wasn’t a whole lot of news to report today—just some trash talkin’, sponsorship deals, and Rampage’s new home away from home—so I thought I would pass along a few rumors that have surfaced.
Actually, the Affliction rumors aren’t really rumors at all since they came straight from Affliction VP Tom Atencio. First, Tom confirmed rumors that Jerome LeBanner may sign with the organization to fight Tim Sylvia at Affliction 3.
What would this week be without a few classic quotes from UFC President Dana White? Well, we’ve got two good ones for you.
On Tim Sylvia and Fedor Emelianenko:
“[Fedor’s] not the best pound-for-pound fighter, not even close, but he’s one of the four or five best heavyweights.”
“But we all have to thank him for getting rid of Tim Sylvia. He’d been stinking out the joint the last couple of years and Fedor did everyone a favor by beating him so easily and getting rid of him.”
Dana is so nice to his former champions.
On the failed HBO deal (Playboy via CagePotato):
“I pulled the plug at the 23rd hour. HBO was pi**ed off… I would have had to sell out, literally. They would have owned the UFC… I took meetings with HBO’s boxing guys. I’ll tell you, if I had to hear one more time about how many fu**ing Emmys they had won, I was going to dive out the window. I said ‘You won a bunch of Emmys, but I’m kicking your a** on pay-per-view.”
I would have loved to have been a fly on that wall. I bet that conversation was quite entertaining.
All we’re missing now is a new “t-shirt guy” quote, and we’ll be set.
Contrary to what Tito Ortiz stated in a recent SI.com article, Affliction has not and likely will not sign Tito to the “ground-breaking” deal he spoke of. During a press luncheon yesterday, Affliction confirmed that they were actively negotiating with Tito Ortiz, but they seem to far apart on terms at the moment.
According to Affliction VP Tom Atencio, Tito’s current asking price is just too high.
No Comments | Filed under: Affliction, Affliction II: Day of Reckoning, Ben Rothwell, Paul Buentello, Pedro Rizzo, Tim Sylvia, Tito Ortiz, Tom AtencioWill he really be paid another $800k? I have a feeling the answer to that question is a big fat no.
Any guesses on who he’ll be fighting?
The latest Affliction II: Fedor vs Arlovski fight card and event info can be found in our fight cards section.
CR: Brawl Sports
Props to Ariel Helwani for asking Fedor about the Ivan Drago comparison. Fedor obviously didn’t care for Rocky IV.
MMARated.com interviews with Tim Sylvia and Ben Rothwell after the jump.
Tim Sylvia sets out to “prove people wrong” when he squares off against the number one heavyweight in the world, Fedor Emelianenko, on July 19 at Affliction “Banned.”
CR: Sherdog.com
Affliction “Banned” stadium preview after the jump.
Fedor Emelianenko and Tim Sylvia will be fighting on July 19 at Affliction “Banned” for a heavyweight title, according to Five Oz. of Pain.
[5 Oz.] was first alerted to the possible title component for the bout between Emelianenko and Sylvia during an off-the-record conversation that took place at Affliction’s New York press conference on May 21. A second source then confirmed earlier this week that a heavyweight title will in fact be at stake.
I’m not so sure its that simple Tim.
This is easily the fight I am looking forward to the most this summer.
Tim Sylvia will face Fedor Emelianenko in the main event of Affliction “Banned” on July 19.
Check out more Affliction “Banned” content on MMAConvert.com.
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