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View Full Version : Affliction Trilogy Cancelled

Brother Brian
07-24-2009, 04:16 PM
MMA Weekly is reporting that Affliction Trilogy has been cancelled. (http://www.mmaweekly.com/)

They say that Showtime, (their PPV provider), had a big part in the decision.

I can't imagine that this doesn't spell the end for the MMA branch of the clothing company.
carmachu
07-24-2009, 04:45 PM
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Brother Brian
07-24-2009, 04:52 PM
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Should work now.
Brother Brian
07-27-2009, 10:35 AM
No way!!

I think you're right, BB... I think that this has got to be it for them... It's one thing to spend money: the Fertittas spent an assload on the UFC before it really became profitable. But they've been able to put on regular events and to seem like a together organization. Affliction hasn't had that same sense of stability.

The odds of Fedor/Lesnar just went through the roof, though :)

The Fertittas did spend an assload of money, (hell how could you be in the PPV fight business without doing so), but still didn't try to do things on the scale that Affliction did.

Huge fighter payouts. (Timmeh made a million bucks?)
Oversized venues. (While the UFC was hitting up the Fertita's friends in Vegas and Indian Casinos, Affliction went after the Honda Center.)
Oversized cards. (With live undercards on HDNet.)

It was an unsustainable business model.

On the other hand, I really like what Scott Coker is doing with Strikeforce. Sure, Gina Carano vs. Christine Santos lacks the star power of Brock vs. Mir, but they put on consistantly good cards. They sign the best talent that the UFC doesn't want. Now they have the Showtime contract, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them on CBS in the next year or so.

They are growing at a natural, sustainable pace. If they keep at it, they can move into PPV and actually compete with the UFC.

I don't hold much hope for Fedor in the UFC. Dana's not gong to get in bed with M1, and that seems to be a requirement. It's more likely he fights in Dream, and maybe shows up on Strikeforce on CBS if it happens.