The Neutral Corner

So why is this on a boxing blog? Well, we reported in September that Oscar De La Hoya and Affliction had formed a strategic alliance and will promote MMA and boxing events. So, you can bet that Oscar -- the most recognizeable combat athlete on the planet -- and or Golden Boy will have a presence in the reality series.

Trump, who back in the day hosted many of Mike Tyson's fights in Atlantic City, plans to begin filming a new, ground-breaking MMA reality series called "Fighting Fedor." The show's theme is to find the next Fedor Emelianenko, by creating an elimination tournament between undiscovered MMA talent, with the winner fighting Fedor himself. Fedor is the star of Affliction Entertainment's new Mixed Martial Arts league.

Here's what the main players had to say in a press release:

"We are excited about the new show and feel it will be a channel to discover more talent for our MMA product," said Tom Atencio, Vice President of Affliction Entertainment Group. "Our feeling is that the key to success is to surround ourselves with good partners, and with our new partnership it will allow us to reach an even greater fan base."

"I don't know who is going to make it through, but whoever it is will be incredible," said Donald Trump, Chairman and CEO of the Trump Organization. "The show will be spectacular, unique, and is going to be a special event. It will be taped in St. Petersburg, Russia. I'm going to be there, but I don't want to compete on the show."

Sixteen fighters screened by both companies and Fedor himself, not only for their athletic ability but their character and marketability, will compete in a tournament culminating in a face-off against the pound-for-pound champion of the world.

"What Fedor means to Affliction is what Michael Jordan was to the Chicago Bulls and the NBA, what Mike Tyson was to boxing, and what Tiger Woods is to golf," said Michael Cohen, executive vice president and special counsel to Donald J. Trump, and COO of Affliction Entertainment Group. "Through his abilities, Affliction Entertainment intends to attract more fighters to the sport that represents the highest standards of athleticism."

"Fighting Fedor" will be filmed in St. Petersburg, Russia to further capture the international audience and to discover the future star of Mixed Martial Arts through rigorous competition. The fifteen episode series will commence shooting in April, with the earliest possible premier date targeted for June 2009.

-- CASSIDY