When Affliction Vice-President Tom Atencio steps into the ring during Saturday’s “Ultimate Chaos” event in Biloxi, Mississippi, he’ll continue a stint as one of the few promoters to get his hands bloody. (You could also make that claim for Don King: ask Google to elaborate.)
All this week: fighters who stepped into the promotional ring.
Wallid Ismail
Resume: Jiu-jitsu black belt who submitted Royce Gracie in grappling in 1998; uneven MMA career that ended in 2002.
Brand: Jungle Fight, a Brazilian promotion instituted in 2003; ran into some controversy when allegations circulated over a pre-orchestrated fight ending. As of May 2009, Jungle Fight is still promoting.
Evaluation: Not without controversy -- Ismail also sued EliteXC in 2007 for freezing him out of the organization -- but generally more successful than Ismail’s fights.