Tom Atencio Posts -- FanHouse

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Tom Atencio Discusses the Fall of Affliction Entertainment

Posted: Jul 28th 2009 10:43PM by Ariel Helwani (author feed)
Filed under: Affliction, UFC, FanHouse Exclusive

There are still plenty of questions surrounding the demise of Affliction Entertainment and their sudden reconciliation with the UFC. One man who can answer most of them is Tom Atencio. The vice president of Affliction Entertainment was the face of the organization during its short existence.

FanHouse spoke to Atencio via e-mail Tuesday evening and asked as much as we could given the constraints of interviewing someone over the Internet. Atencio requested the interview be conducted in this fashion. This is the first time he has publicly discussed the events that transpired last Friday. The full interview is below.

Continue Reading Tom Atencio Discusses the Fall of Affliction Entertainment

Paul Buentello on 'Trilogy': 'It's a Big Hit'

Posted: Jul 24th 2009 2:35PM by Ariel Helwani (author feed)
Filed under: Affliction, FanHouse Exclusive

0 COMMENTS

The biggest losers to come out of Affliction's announcement that they have canceled their August 1 show are not the fans, ticket holders or even the Affliction employees; it's the fighters who were scheduled to compete on the card. The ones who have been training for the last few months with a bigpay day in mind.

Just ask heavyweight Paul Buentello, who was scheduled to face Gilbert Yvel on the pay-per-view portion of the show.

"It's a big hit, dude," Buentello told FanHouse Friday. "It's a big hit for me. I've been in this sport a long time, and it's just a really big hit. I mean, it was good money for me, but it's my livelihood, and it's a big hit. It's a really big hit for me."

Continue Reading Paul Buentello on 'Trilogy': 'It's a Big Hit'

Sobral on Mousasi: When I Started Fighting, He Was Still on Mother's Lap

Posted: Jul 24th 2009 8:22AM by Mike Chiappetta (author feed)
Filed under: Affliction, FanHouse Exclusive

0 COMMENTS

Since making his debut in 1997, Renato "Babalu" Sobral has seen more than a few hot prospects capture attention before fading away. His Aug. 1 Affliction: Trilogy opponent, Gegard Mousasi, is perhaps the latest in a long line of hyped young stars who has excited observers with his potential.

And while only time will tell if Mousasi meets the predictions that many are forecasting for him, Sobral can only concern himself with the present. And what he sees is a talented kid who is a bit short on experience.

"He's a Dream champion. He's not overrated; he's just one more guy," said Sobral, whose fight will air as one of the featured matches on the 9PM ET pay-per-view broadcast. "He's a young guy, upcoming. But when I started fighting for the first time, he was still on his mother's lap."

Continue Reading Sobral on Mousasi: When I Started Fighting, He Was Still on Mother's Lap

MMA Twitter Mailbag on Josh Barnett, Fedor Emelianenko, Affliction 3

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 5:14PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Affliction

6 COMMENTS

Our latest MMA twitter mailbag is, of course, heavy on questions about Josh Barnett, whose positive drug test has caused his fight with Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction Trilogy to be called off.

Continue Reading MMA Twitter Mailbag on Josh Barnett, Fedor Emelianenko, Affliction 3

Josh Barnett to Appeal Failed Drug Test

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 4:21PM by Ray Hui (author feed)
Filed under: Affliction

0 COMMENTS

Josh Barnett is appealing the positive drug test that has denied him a license to fight Fedor Emelianenko in the main event of Affliction "Trilogy" on Aug. 1 in Anaheim, Calif.

"It's our understanding that Josh has taken further measures to validate the results of the test, and if the results stand, then we're deeply disappointed," Affliction VP Tom Atencio said Wednesday.

Continue Reading Josh Barnett to Appeal Failed Drug Test

Tom Atencio: Josh Barnett Out vs. Fedor Emelianenko, Card Still On

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 10:22AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Affliction

42 COMMENTS

Tom Atencio, the head of the Affliction MMA promotion, confirmed to FanHouse on Wednesday morning that Josh Barnett has been pulled out of his scheduled August 1 heavyweight title fight with Fedor Emelianenko. But Atencio said he still expects the Affliction Trilogy card to take place as scheduled.

More Coverage: Who Will Replace Barnett? | Latest Affliction News

Continue Reading Tom Atencio: Josh Barnett Out vs. Fedor Emelianenko, Card Still On

Ultimate Chaos: Tom Atencio of Affliction Wins by TKO

Posted: Jun 27th 2009 10:03PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Affliction

3 COMMENTS

Tom Atencio, the promoter who runs the Affliction MMA organization, stepped into the cage Saturday night at the Ultimate Chaos MMA event in Biloxi, Mississippi, beating Randy Hedderick by TKO in a back-and-forth fight that Atencio has every right to be proud of winning.

Continue Reading Ultimate Chaos: Tom Atencio of Affliction Wins by TKO

Dana White Hints at Possible Vitor Belfort-Anderson Silva Title Fight

Posted: Jun 20th 2009 11:53PM by Ariel Helwani (author feed)
Filed under: Affliction, UFC

7 COMMENTS

Is Vitor Belfort headed back to the UFC? During Saturday night's "Ultimate Finale" telecast on Spike, UFC president Dana White told Amir Sadollah during an "Inside the Octagon" segment that he is considering booking the former UFC light heavyweight champion in a middleweight title fight against current champion, Anderson Silva.

"If his head is right, he's a dangerous, dangerous guy," White said. "I think that would be a great a match-up."

Continue Reading Dana White Hints at Possible Vitor Belfort-Anderson Silva Title Fight

No Gomi at Affliction; New Bout Added

Posted: Jun 19th 2009 1:18PM by Ariel Helwani (author feed)
Filed under: Affliction, FanHouse Exclusive

0 COMMENTS

Update: Affliction Vice President, Tom Atencio, just informed FanHouse that he received an unexpected call from a member of Takanori Gomi's management team about reaching an agreement on a new contract that benefits both parties. Stay tuned.

Takanori Gomi won't be competing at "Affliction: Trilogy" after all. FanHouse has learned that Affliction Entertainment could not reach an agreement with the Japanese MMA star to fight on their upcoming show on August 1 in Anaheim, Calif. Affliction Entertainment Vice President, Tom Atencio, told FanHouse on Friday that after weeks of negotiation, the two sides couldn't agree on a contract. Gomi was offered a fight against Rafael Rivera.

Continue Reading No Gomi at Affliction; New Bout Added

Tim Sylvia Off 'Affliction: Trilogy'

Posted: Jun 15th 2009 2:32PM by Ariel Helwani (author feed)
Filed under: Affliction, FanHouse Exclusive

24 COMMENTS

Tim Sylvia's shocking nine-second knockout loss to Ray Mercer on Saturday has proven to be more costly than originally thought. Affliction Entertainment vice president, Tom Atencio, informed FanHouse on Monday that Sylvia has now been taken off the upcoming "Affliction: Trilogy" card. "It's his second knockout in a row, and I don't want to take a chance on anything," Atencio said. "The fight is less than 60 days away."

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