UFC has Brock Lesnar, EliteXC had Kimbo Slice, Japan has Bob Sapp; the idea here isn't necessarily freakshow; all three are great athletes who have dedicated serious time to training and have succeeded to a decent extent, despite whether they faced top tier talent or not. Most importantly they've been faces who get a ton of attention and a ton of attention means viewers and buyers. Even if you don't put them on your next card - casual fans will probably tune in to your next show simply because it was the stage that they saw the popular fighter on. One seriously needs to think business here for a moment and put their conservative, hardcore passion for the discipline of the sport aside for a moment - though never compromising it of course.
Hasim Rahman will be the most accomplished boxer at his age to make the transition to MMA. Rumors have it that Dave Haye and Enzo Maccarinelli have both flirted with the idea as well. On the other end of the spectrum, Freddie Roach's Andrei Arlovski, Anderson Silva, KJ Noons, Vitor Belfort, Kimbo Slice, Frank Shamrock and Tim Sylvia have or are going to switch the 5 five oz gloves for some boxing gloves. I really think the cross over has been initiated; but this is not so much about the cross over rather an opportunity to get some attention. It would be smart business for Affliction to get a big name on their card like UFC and EliteXC had done to put more people in the seats, get more viewers, more PPV buys. For example, let us use Hasim Rahman as potentially being that guy. I think Affliction can put him on the undercard somewhere and can def guide his career better then anyone else.
The other two opportunities Affliction can take advantage of from this situation is cross promoting Rahman - an Affliction fighter, with Strikeforce and eventually put him against the guy he wants to face and probably will beat in Kimbo Slice. Affliction walks away with the winner and a guy who is more legit then the street brawler. If Rahman becomes successful enough, one can flirt with having him face Fedor, if not, you got a lot of attention building Rahman anyways. Its a win win situation.
Affliction seems to be in good terms with Monte Cox and Adrenaline, and Cox's boy Sylvia is going to face Ray Mercer in a boxing match in their main event. If Sylvia wins, Sylvia can box Rahman, and if Mercer wins the boxing match, Mercer could be a fair MMA opponent for Rahman's debut.
Here is a pitch at an imaginary card:
PPV
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett
Fabricio Werdum vs. Jeff Monson - Number 1 Contender.
Vitor Belfort vs. Gegard Mousasi
Renato Sobral vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Chris Hordecki vs. Dan Lauzon
Paulo Filho vs. Matt Lindland
HDNET
Tim Sylvia vs. Paul Buentello
Ben Rothwell vs. Gilbert Yvel
LC Davis vs. Din Thomas
Bao Quach vs. Mark Hominick
Hasim Rahman vs. Ray Mercer (MMA fight)
Bobby Lashley vs. Roy Nelson
Paulo Filho, Fabricio Werdum and Bobby Lashley would be great pickups for Affliction. I think the number one contender to Fedor Emelianenko after Barnett would be Werdum who has defeated his brother Aleksander Emelianenko, he's beaten Alistair Overeem twice, he's beaten Gabe Gonzaga ... he would be a solid pickup for Affliction.
Paulo Filho who is 16-1 was a vicious fighter that reminded people of Ricardo Arona. I think Filho would be an awesome addition and perfect opponent for Vitor Belfort or Matt Lindland.
Lashley is very popular and a good attraction. He has a fight on the March 21st Roy Jones Jr. card. He is a HW who Affliction could def use. I think he is a top prospect who can get PPV buys because of his popularity from the WWE - like Brock Lesnar was.
Let's say Affliction got a Primetime deal on CBS, ABC, or NBC, so beyond Showtime, HBO and SpikeTV, Affliction MMA live on CBS featuring Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett and Tito Ortiz vs Renato Sobral going against UFC 100 on PPV? The familiar faces in Oscar De La Hoya and Donald Trump on scene and on CBS. Does it do any damage?
