The Fedor/Sylvia fight was also different from most MMA fights in that it kick started what appears to be a serious rival for the UFC...good news is that competition pushes the action for the harvesting of better fighters. Couture, Ortiz, McCarthy, Herb Dean, Sylvia, and Arlovski were all familiar UFC faces at this Affliction event. "Big John" McCarthy (UFC's signature "LET'S GET IT ON" screaming referee) was coloring the fights. Michael Buffer (not Bruce) announced the contenders.
With the success of this venue, and Donald Trump's business savvy, the support for Affliction will increase, especially with a Fedor/Couture fight looming in the future.
In addition to this, the UFC is increasingly boring, the octagon style cage fighting, with its no kicking when kneeling (and other similar ridiculous striking rules) isn't standup friendly.
MMA fans have missed that since PRIDE was bought out. We pay for knockouts, beatdowns, and explosive submissions. I don't think it will be long before the payout of Affliction will lure fighters away from the UFC to establish another credible MMA promotion company...hopefully it will be sooner than later. I would love to see Uriajah Faber, GSP, BJ Penn, Anderson Silva, and others in a sport where hype isn't needed.
Ask the Russian Bear who trains Rocky 4 style in the middle of the Russian winter...you have good enough fighters, the hype won't need to be manufactured.















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