Our latest example comes not from two feuding fighters but rather from the heads of two of the world’s top MMA promotions: UFC President Dana White and Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio.
Affliction, a high-end clothing company that was once one of the UFC’s biggest sponsors, fell out of favor with the UFC and White when the company launched its own fight promotion in 2008.
Things took an interesting twist this past Saturday, June 27, when Atencio, 42, took his second pro fight in more than four years. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu enthusiast scored an impressive come-from-behind TKO win over 27-year-old Randy Hedderick at an “Ultimate Chaos” show in Mississippi. (Although not held under the Affliction banner, the event used many Affliction fighters.)
Even before the win, hardcore MMA fans openly pondered the possibility of a real-life, promoter vs. promoter, Atencio vs. White fight.
The 39-year-old White isn’t a stranger to competition. He says he previously fought as an amateur boxer, and he even agreed to an exhibition boxing match with former UFC champ Tito Ortiz in 2007 before the bout was eventually scrapped. He’s in great shape for a man who turns 40 next month.
However, White would have little to gain from a fight with Atencio and would likely just help promote a competitor.
Still, with the duo’s constant bickering in the media — and with Atencio proving he’s got bite to back up the bark — don’t expect the topic to fade away anytime soon.
WEC makes Ohio debut in September
World Extreme Cagefighting will make its Ohio debut in September with a major show in Youngstown.
The WEC is the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s sister promotion and focuses on lighter weight classes.
Company executives are expected to officially announce this week that WEC 43 will take place Sept. 2 at the 6,000-seat Covelli Center. The show, likely to feature a main event between top lightweight contenders Donald Cerrone (10-1) and Benson Henderson (9-1), airs live on Versus.
WEC executives told the Dayton Daily News in April that the organization was considering an Ohio show because of the state’s strong TV ratings and thriving regional MMA scene.
Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of MMAjunkie.com, a content partner site of Yahoo! Sports. For the latest mixed martial arts news, go to www.mmajunkie.com.
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