Sherdog’s Top 10: Defunct Promotions

Josh Barnett was blamed for Affliction’s demise. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

8. Affliction (2008-09)

While Affliction only held two events -- the third was canceled mere days before it was to be staged -- during its brief lifespan, it occupies an important place in the history of MMA. It marked the last serious attempt to challenge the UFC’s stranglehold over the pay-per-view market; and while it fell well short of its goals, it did represent a fundamental challenge to the UFC’s entire way of doing business.

Affliction Entertainment was spun off from Affliction Clothing, and the infamous Donald Trump owned a major stake. Like Trump, Affliction tried to be splashy: Its first event featured a Megadeth concert in addition to a star-studded lineup that included Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Josh Barnett, Vitor Belfort and Matt Lindland, among many others. The total payroll for the card was well over $3 million. The second event featured the same high quality, with Emelianenko-Arlovski in the headliner, Belfort blasting Lindland in an outstanding middleweight bout and Josh Barnett beating the venerable Gilbert Yvel.

The promotion’s business model was unsustainable given its underwhelming (90,000-100,000) buy rates, but Barnett’s positive out-of-competition drug test 11 days out from its third event was the nail in the coffin. The event was canceled, the fighters went elsewhere and Affliction Entertainment folded up shop. Still, it put on an outstanding quality of action, and its place in history is assured.

Number 7 » Cage Rage