Donald Trump and Affliction to launch new MMA reality series
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
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Comments (1)
What a great idea. You definately have the golden goose in Fedor.
It is a shame that the winner of the tournament will be destroyed however,
and therin lies the problem. People no doubt will tune in to see who the winner
may be, but Fedor will be criticized for taking on the winner, but
great idea, especially because of people like Dana White and in
particular his boss, the Fertitto brothers, absolutley will not let thier
signed fighters compete. Which brings me to my next point.
I'd like to see a true World Championship Tournament at the
end of the year in which each champion from each weight class
of each league would compete. Example: WEC Wreckage
UFC, Affliction, and King of the Cage, would send all current
champions to one showdown championship at years end.
The Ufc would be forced to ease thier restrictions of thier
fighters for that one event or risk not being a part of the biggest
mma event of the year.