Fedor Emelianenko
For me, yesterday was Affliction day. Affliction is holding their first MMA event at the Honda Center on July 19th. Yesterday was the first day it sold tickets to the public. The main event willl have my favorite fighter, Pride FC champ, Fedor Emelianenko face former UFC champ, Tim Sylvia.
Went to Honda Center so I don’t have to pay the absurd ticketmaster charges. I tell the cashier I want the $50 seats. She said it’s sold out since only about 8 rows were available for that price. The rest of the rows are $100 but on the same level, 400. I decided to pass on the tickets. There’s no way I’m paying $100 when I’m up on the bleachers.
Hooray for lines
Picked up my friend and went straight to the press conference. Got there around 12:15. First thing I noticed was how disorganized the event was. Security guards kept telling us to move back and forth so there will be no safety hazards. I went towards the stage to take pictures and the guard tells me not to cut in line since fans were already waiting. I told him that I wanted pictures and he said to get back in line. The guards in this event needed to calm down, I’m not going to kill anybody with my camera.
I talk to the people in line. They knew a lot about MMA and pretty much hated UFC and Dana White. The people in line even yelled:”It’s Joe Riggs” when a look alike was seen. People were booing Tim Sylvia when he was introduced but he was way cool with the fans. He didn’t run from the crowd and took his time mingling with the fans.
Line was moving really slow, it seemed like they let a handful of people in to get autographs and just stopped it altogether. It also looked like everyone was just getting Fedor’s autograph and leaving afterwards. I saw Josh Barnett and Babalu behind Fedor not doing anything – it’s not like they were jerks, they just couldn’t move.
We noticed Affliction giving out free shirts on the other end of the stage. So me and my friend each get one. What surprised me was that they were giving all sorts of styles and sizes, not just XXL’s.
I go back to the line and Ben Rothwell is going down the line talking and signing autographs for the fans. He thanked all the fans for showing up. Very cool guy, I’ll definitely root for him against his rumored opponent, Andrei Arlovski.
Ben Rothwell
He keeps on signing when security calls him and tell him it’s time to leave. He didn’t want to leave and I think he stayed for the fans. Then Tim Sylvia is the first to leave the event, getting escorted by guards. He gives everybody high fives and even poses for pictures as the guards tell him not to linger.
Tim Sylvia
Next is the last emperor, Fedor Emelianenko. One fan busts out a poster and a pen and he signs it. Everybody rushes towards Fedor and he starts signing as much autographs as he can. Then he says in a soft voice “I’m in a hurry” but he still kept on signing. Guards pull him away and he still signs as he is walking. He goes down the escalator and the person in front of me has his memorabilia signed(can’t remember if it was a glove or the poster). I was behind him and I reach out the Yarrenoka DVD cover to him. The photographer following him takes the cover and hands it to Fedor. He signs it. Big thanks to the person in front of me for letting Fedor use his sharpie to sign the cover and the photographer.
Fedor about to leave
After that Fedor leaves for an interview and we call it a day.
Overall, it was a chaotic but fun event. I would have been pissed if I didn’t get Fedor’s autograph since I waited more than an hour. The Affliction shirts were a nice bonus since they cost about $40-$70 retail. Not a bad start for Affliction’s first MMA press conference.
The signed DVD!
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