Affliction Joins UFC

**Keyboardsamurai** · Posted On: 7/24/2009 5:41pm

http://unhub.com/grw4

In a sea change for the promotional landscape of mixed martial arts, Affliction has agreed to cease promoting fights and become an official sponsor of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports first reported the news on Friday afternoon, and a UFC official confirmed the report to MMAWeekly.com.

A joint announcement between the Las Vegas-based promotion and California-based clothing maker is expected soon.

Few details about the deal are known, but the popular clothing brand could be seen on Zuffa fighters as soon as Aug. 8, when UFC 101 lands in Philadelphia.

A similar deal was first proposed last October after the postponement of Affliction’s second event, “Day of Reckoning.” Executives from the UFC and Affliction met in secret in Las Vegas and offered to take Affliction on as a sponsor and co-branded apparel maker in exchange for ceasing to promote fights. Affliction executives rejected the offer after a fiery confrontation between co-founder Todd Beard and UFC co-owner Lorenzo Ferttita.

The fate of fighters marooned by Affliction’s cancellation of its third show, “Trilogy,” is unknown at this time.

Check back with MMAWeekly.com for more updates on this story as it develops.

**MSphinx** · Posted On: 7/24/2009 5:53pm

Oh wow.

We'll need to wait for further reports...

**honest_truth** · Posted On: 7/24/2009 6:06pm

since Fedor still has a 1 fight left in his contract with affliction, which now joined UFC, does that mean .....

BROCK LESNAR VERSUS FEDOR EMELIANNEKO

WWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
:karated::karated::karated::karated::karated::kara ted::karated::karated::karated::karated::karated:: karated:

**265lbsfist** · Posted On: 7/24/2009 6:27pm

So either DREAM, Strikeforce or the UFC then? ( Don´t think Sengoku has the pockets to get Fedor. )

Would be cool if he went to DREAM and fought Sergei and Monson and maybe even Barnett on roids, then to Strikeforce to beat Werdum and Alistair and finally to the UFC to fight Lesnar after he has donkey konged Carwin, CC, Nog/Couture for the biggest megafight ever.

**sambosteve** · Posted On: 7/24/2009 7:56pm

Originally Posted by honest_truth

since Fedor still has a 1 fight left in his contract with affliction, which now joined UFC, does that mean .....

BROCK LESNAR VERSUS FEDOR EMELIANNEKO

WWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
:karated::karated::karated::karated::karated::kara ted::karated::karated::karated::karated::karated:: karated:

My thoughts exactly!

**Goju - Joe** · Posted On: 7/24/2009 8:02pm

UFC wouldn't let Fedor near Brock with out a Multi-fight exclusive contract.

However Fedor Vs Randy - now that's doable

**basko** · Posted On: 7/24/2009 8:42pm

why does this seem to be happening so quickly? Because it is? or People are jumping the gun with what is actually going to happen?

**theotherserge** · Posted On: 7/24/2009 10:00pm

Originally Posted by basko

why does this seem to be happening so quickly? Because it is? or People are jumping the gun with what is actually going to happen?

celebrities are dropping like flies, the California budget is in a total freefall, our president wears poor-fitting jeans, there was another swine flu death somewhere in America!!!11!! Kimo was rumored to have died but he didn't and held a press conference about it (four people showed)...seems like the freaking sky is falling!

**Hesperus** · Posted On: 7/24/2009 10:15pm

Originally Posted by basko

why does this seem to be happening so quickly? Because it is?

Noooo, what made you think that silly thought?

**Melchizedek** · Posted On: 7/24/2009 10:26pm

Affliction agreed to cease promoting fights. M-1 was co-sponsoring the event with Affliction. I don't know, but I don't think that Affliction "owned" Fedor the way that UFC owns the rights to their fighters. Definitely just guessing on that.

No doubt that Affliction has gone under though . . .