“I just talked to Richard Schafer CEO of Golden Boy and he obviously would have prefered that the shows not be on the same day,” McNeil said on MMA Live. “However HBO came to Golden Boy and said: we have a open date on January 24, it happens to be on the same day as the Affliction card. The money was too good Richard and Oscar (De La Hoya) could not say no.”

“Richard seems very enthustiastic he’s not down at all about it, he said the Affliction card’s sales are through the roof. He doesn’t believe the pay per view will be effected that much on the Affliction card at all.”

I don’t know if MMA fans and critics will be as optimistic about the prospect of Affliction having to tangle with 3 other promotions for their second show? If there ever was a time that Golden Boy was going to prove it wanted to work with Affliction on a future promotion it was then. It looks like Affliction is learning the hard way that the only thing Boxing wants to do in MMA is suck the sport dry, you know like they did with Boxing. If you want any proof of how much Boxing promoters care about MMA just look at EliteXC and how little they actually cared about their fighters.

MMA fans are going to love me

While Boxing promoters probably couldn’t give a flying fuck about a promotion that will compete with the UFC long term, fans and those who love the sport like I do want to see another promotion beside the UFC. Since the collapse of Pride FC long time MMA fans (no longer than TUF 1) have been hoping for another great promotion to come along and not only compete with the UFC, but also give us something to watch when they are not on. Affliction fits that mold because they had what EliteXC did not, seasoned fighters who have the respect of the “Hardcore” community. If Affliction is serious about surviving in MMA they should look to distance themselves from Boxing and look to join another good promotion with a proven track record like StrikeForce. Not that I am saying it will happen or should, it would just be a better option than a partner who chooses to work against you rather than with you.