Tapping Out With TBerg 01.16.09: Episode XIV - My Affliction

Posted by Todd Bergman on 01.16.2009

With less than a week left until Affliction's "Day Of Reckoning" Pay-Per view, 411's Todd Bergman breaks down what afflicts him about Affliction and what the future holds for the t-shirt company turned MMA supernova.

Saturday, January 24th is one of the most important days in MMA's short history. This day will either signify a legit competitor to the UFC or see another company tumble at the feet of the great Zuffa. On January 24th, Affliction "Day Of Reckoning" takes place in Anaheim, California. The card is stacked with a who's who of hardcore MMA favorites along with former UFC, PRIDE, and IFL fighters. It would seem like this up-and-coming company is well on its way to breaking the monopoly on MMA that the UFC has held for so long. But, that's putting the cart before the horse, I suppose.



The problems surrounding this promotion and the upcoming event should be non-existent, but with a struggling American economy and a card full of hardcore favorites, Affliction isn't marketing to the crowds that it needs to be hitting. Those crowds, of course, would be the run-of-the-mill UFC fans. I'm sure that everyone can spot this guy. He's the guy wearing the UFC hat sideways in his Facebook. It shouldn't be that hard for Affliction to market to these fans. For years, the run-of-the-mill fan wore Affliction shirts and all of us tossed insults at them for the "coolness" of their garb. It's even hard to walk in a retail store and not see Affliction clothes now-a-days. Couldn't the Affliction buy some time on the stores' video that plays all day long in order to attract these fans? While I'm certainly not trying to tell someone how to run their company or promotion, the t-shirt company probably spent all of their money paying Fedor's last salary in his epic 36 second beating of Tim Sylvia last July. That last statement brings up another issue that always incites an argument between MMA fans.

The question always comes up with how much an MMA fighter should get paid. I've always believed that you get paid what you put into the product. So, it's not hard to understand where I stand on this subject. I believe that companies looking to challenge the UFC, always play the "we are paying these athletes what they are worth scheme." Well, that's fine if you want to play that way, but how long can you last when more than 75% of your income is spent on salaries. It doesn't take a Rhodes Scholar (thank you Myron Rolle!) to figure out that you are going to be drowning in debt sooner than later. The whole payroll process should be redesigned, especially when the owners of the company aren't sure if their promotion can last past three shows. So, to play devil's advocate here, what is the right amount to pay these fighters? To answer that, I would have to be a part of Affliction's accounting department but I can say that you could model yourself after the UFC and what they pay their fighters. I understand that to some fans they are doing the right thing by paying the fighters more and there's a huge debate about this, but what is there in pleasing those fans when they don't buy or attend your shows? I also realize that the complaint can be made by some individuals that it's not enough money to live on as a fighter with gym fees and the many other expenses that accrue. However, if you are looking to be a pivotal part of the future of MMA then you owe it to these fighters and fans to be responsible with your money. I think that the fighters have clearly taken advantage of a company that will do anything to be successful, which isn't good for the sport and could ultimately lead to a downturn in MMA because of fighters and their agents setting the market for the fighters instead of the companies. Anyway you look at it, it's a very tough argument to make or defend because I can't argue with a guy making as much money as someone is willing to pay him, but I can be upset if it is going to ruin the sport that I love and essential cut the sport off at the knees before it really has a chance to reach it's full potential.

The Players Of Affliction
Now that I've taken on the task of payment with the fighters, let's take a look at the people that will actually be on this show and how important they are to the sport of MMA. The Main Event is a much talked about fight featuring Fedor Emelianenko and Andrei Arvloski. For a considerable time both were considered the best of the best. Fedor still can be considered the best because he hasn't lost, and who could forget his run through PRIDE's best in the Heavyweight Division. Arlovski on the other hand is really a guy with his back up against the wall. He is coming off a so-so performance against Roy Nelson at EliteXC's finale. I'm calling the performance so-so because Arlovski showed his weakness in the ground game as Nelson had Andrei in some scary positions before the questionable stand up that ultimately lead to Nelson being KO'ed. Andrei has done his best to go out and recruit great talent around him including legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach, but MMA is much more than boxing. With that said Arlovski is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and has shown his value in defending the title two times before losing it to Tim Sylvia. Fedor, on the other hand, is the great mythological monster who can't seem to be beat. I love to watch Fedor fight, but there's something about him that I struggle with. I'm not sure what it is to be honest with you, but you can't argue with his status as one of the world's best when he hasn't been defeated in over 9 years.


Decent Video Preview

When it comes down to value of fighter, I think that you have to take Fedor over Arlovski. Fedor is going to be much more valuable to the company as he is the only real thing that you have over the competition for however long that lasts. Fedor's commitment to companies could ultimately sway if the UFC gives him what he wants. I devalued Arlovski because he has decided to be more of a boxer and than an MMA fighter. Far be it for me to judge someone on their career goals, but I think that after Fedor wins, Andrei is going to boxing instead of MMA fighting. Maybe Andrei could slug it out with one of the 17 Heavyweight Boxing Champions.

Also, when you peer upon the Affliction Pay-Per view card, you notice great names and former UFC fighters like Josh Barnett, Matt Lindland, Vitor Belfort, Renato "Babalu" Sobral, Sokoudjou, Paul Buentello. All of the fighters are of a great quality and value when it comes to fighting. However, most have been flushed out of the UFC due to losses or questionable behavior. Josh Barnett is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion but got busted using steroids and went to Japan where he dominated. For the most part American fans have supported Barnett, but I know quite a few who still remember him for cheating and getting caught. Josh certainly qualifies as a big catch for the company, but does that positive test ultimately hurt him when it comes down to it? I think that steroids are a taboo subject here in America. With professional athletes being caught on almost a daily basis, it could and would hurt your credibility as a company if one of your main fighters were found using. On the reverse side of things, most fair-weather fans aren't going to know the history of Barnett except perhaps his days in PRIDE. So let's count this as a victory for Affliction and consider Barnett's value as insanely high for Affliction as he will more than likely challenge the winner of the Fedor/Arlovski fight.

The rest of the guys aren't of high value in my estimation. I've never understood why people supported Lindland so much. He's a former Olympic Wrestler but he isn't exciting and makes for some terribly boring match ups. Lindland is coming off a fight where he basically had to play opossum with an eye poke in order to not be knocked out or stopped due to strikes. I'm hoping that Affliction is putting him inside the ring as fodder for Vitor Belfort. When you talk about talent and excitement, you use to be able to talk about Vitor Belfort.


Belfort vs. Lindland Hype Video

It's never been a question of talent when it comes to Vitor Belfort, but it becomes a question of putting in the work to create a mixture of talent and training. Vitor didn't always have the best of success inside the UFC but really made his name overseas fighting in PRIDE and Cage Rage. To be fair to the situation, Vitor fought with a very heavy heart for the better part of two years while dealing with his sister's murder. It's just been recently that it seems Vitor has found his old self. I believe that if he is able to stop the takedowns and the boringness of Lindland then Vitor can win the fight. Looking at this from Affliction's aspect, I hope that Belfort finishes Lindland so Matt doesn't talk about how terrible a decision it was and how The Ultimate Fighter guys get all the breaks.

The theme of questionable characters continues as Renato "Babalu" Sobral takes on Sokoudjou. Both guys are exciting fighters who have past victories inside the UFC's Octagon. And there ends the comparisons between the two, as both made exists from the UFC on different notes. Babalu was canned because of his lack of common sense against David Heath. Soku was released because he didn't reach his hype in his three fights with the UFC. To be fair to Sobral, he has owned up to his mistake and has been on a tear since leaving the Zuffa Company.


Babalu vs. Soku Hype

The same cannot be said about Soku yet because we won't know which guy we are going to be seeing on the 24th. Will it be the Soku who tore up the PRIDE ranks or we will see the guy who couldn't find his range or condition against Glover Teixeira or Lyoto Machida. Sporting a 5-3 record isn't something that is going to excite newer fans but a KO win over Babalu will put Soku right back on the fast track to success. With that said, both fighters have had their ups and downs, but I believe that Soku has more value here. He's still insanely young and could turn the corner. I think that as fans we are seeing a fighter who needs to expand his toolbox of skills. Maybe a changing of camps would be the best thing for Soku.

The last person on that list is Paul "The Headhunter" Buentello, who at one point was the guy to beat in the UFC Heavyweight Division. I say at one point because Buentello blew his big chance we he was knocked silly by Andrei Arlovski in all of 15 seconds. Paul rebounded by winning 5 out of his next 6 fights including a successful debut at the first Affliction show with a Unanimous Decision victory over last-minute replacement, Gary Goodridge. I would like nothing less than to see Buentello regain his old form and get another shot at a title. However, there seems to be a pattern when it comes to Buentello. He will always win the fights that he is suppose too, but when it comes time for him to take the next step, it just doesn't happen.

It may not be a fair assumption but look at his record and who he has beaten and lost to. He has a tough match up against "Baby Fedor" Kiril Sidelnikov, who will be making his North American debut. It's really a lose-lose situation for Paul in this fight. If he wins, then he was suppose to and still hasn't proven himself; if he loses then he will be considered washed up and needs to hang it up. I don't really see Paul as a great value to Affliction as the company is trying to make an impact on a national level and Paul is a Strikeforce kind of guy at best. The value in Kiril could be high depending on how this fight goes. He's young and a training partner of Fedor, so all aboard the hype machine.

HDNet scores a Knockout
I think that it goes without saying that the best part of the evening will be the undercard airing on HDNet. With a recent change of Mark Hominick pulling out due to pneumonia, L.C. Davis is now taking on Bao Quach. Here is how the rest of the card looks:

Vladamir Matyushenko vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Jay Hieron vs. Jason High
L.C. Davis vs. Bao Quach
Antonio Duarte vs. Albert Rios
Patrick Speight vs. Brett Cooper

I'm pretty sure that more people will be checking out the undercard instead of the main card kind similarly to what happened last time when Affliction offered the undercard on Fox Sports Net. It's a good way to also pick up some extra buys if the undercard has some exciting fights or if they hype the main card enough. There are some very strong names featured on the HDNet card. The fight that I'm looking forward to is the Jay Hieron vs. Jason High fight. I recently had the chance to interview Jason High and I believe that he will become a big star in 2009.

Final Thoughts on Affliction "Day Of Reckoning"
I really want to believe that Affliction will last past three shows as I want to see the UFC have some competition. However, I'm not sure if financially the company will last past this single event. There are a ton of guys on this card that will be drawing salaries in the six digit range. That's way too much for this company to be offering up so early in its existence. I think that the show will offer a great variety of fights and will entertain all who attend and purchase it. In the end, I don't think that the juice will be worth the squeeze as Affliction will be so far over budget that it can't afford its means. The only thing that I can say is if you really want Affliction to stay around then get everyone you know to buy the card individually and continue to buy their t-shirts.

Thanks again for checking out my article. Your thoughts and opinions are always welcome. If you haven't already then please check out my interview with Jason High. Jason High Exclusive Interview

I would also like to apologize to Jason High's cat Rajah who was not pictured in the Jason High interview. That cat was Stitch, Jason's old roommate's cat. With the help of Jason's girlfriend Ann, we have located a picture of Jason & Rajah. I apologize again for the mistake Rajah. Here is your time in the spotlight.



"Tap That" girl of the week will return next week featuring Amber Miller as she continues "On The Road To Carano." Remember to support your local MMA and keep your tapping hand strong.