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JR's Blog: UFC/Affliction thoughts...Fedor to UFC??...Q&A's Updated

Posted: Jul 25th 2009 By: mikeiles

Hope every one is having a good weekend thus far. I'm about ready to head to the airport for the start of a challenging, road trip to the east coast for WWE "bidness." I don't look forward to the travel but I look forward to the work. Make sense?

We met with the USPS yesterday regarding shipping issues and may have discovered some answers. A follow up with another person who specializes in accounts such as J.R.'s Family BBQ is slated to meet with us again to provide more feedback. We're trying to make things better in every phase of our business and I can assure you that we are not in the shipping business IE trying to make shipping a profit center. On to the next piece of business.....

With Affliction canceling their August 1 event, it looks as if that promotion has signaled its death knell and with that said one could make the assumption that UFC will have the opportunity to pick up as many fighter contracts from Affliction as UFC chooses. From all that I read, Affliction is essentially history which makes their contracted fighters available. UFC is in the cat bird's seat as it relates to signing who they want to join their already deep and talented roster.

The individual with the most interest will be heavyweight kingpin Fedor (no last name required) who is, arguably, thought by many to be the top heavyweight in MMA. UFC officials are too smart to sign Fedor to a one fight deal as that would be totally insane. Fedor has little leverage in these negotiations unless he thinks fighting in Japan is the answer for him and his career. Fedor is a special fighter, without question, but much of the Russian's specialness comes from the fact that he has only one blemish on his record and that many fans feel that Fedor can't be beat.

That would be wrong.

Fedor's allure will be drastically affected when he is finally defeated, ala when Goldberg's "winning steak" ended in WCW as it relates to marketing/promotion/ perception, and without question someone will definitely defeat the powerhouse puncher some where down the road. Nonetheless signing Fedor would be a coup for UFC but only if it fits their business model. I am told that a deal with Fedor comes with many demands and with a huge entourage. Neither of those issues are particularly positive but certainly not deal breakers. The PPV potential of a Fedor vs. Lesnar bout is a no brainer.

Obviously UFC should do all they can to sign Fedor but to nothing less than a 3 fight minimum.

To quickly address some emails we received:

Who would win a legit fight between Bill Watts and Vince McMahon? My answer and comments are located in our Q&A Section.

Favorite Boston wrestling memory...Austin vs. HBK with Mike Tyson involved. Plus working one event at the old Boston Garden and making that trip with the late Gorilla Monsoon. When thinking of Monsoon, I have wonderful memories of a great man. The wrestling business in general needs more people with Gorilla's character, respect and integrity.

Lots of emails about shipping our products to Canada and we think we are "almost there." Canada is very important to us and we need our Canadian friends business.

No, I don't plan on taking sides in the Flair-Hart war of words and firmly believe that if the two, amazing stars would sit down face to face that their "issues" could be settled in a matter of minutes.

I don't know why I should have vilified Maria on Friday Night Smackdown as some have suggested via their emails. What has she done wrong? Date an arrogant wrestler? Wow, she would be the first to ever do that, right?

I have no desire to respond in depth to the Gates/Cambridge matter other than I do think it had overt, racial overtones. I also have no issue with President Obama addressing the matter. I do think that both entities involved in the matter overreacted, as well.

Apparently I am too old school to get over excited (no jokes please) about Aerosmith providing the theme song for WWE's Summerslam. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great marketing and promotion for the band and for WWE but I am more interested in who will be wrestling. Yeah, I'm old school.

Another person wanted to know why I wasn't harder on C.M. Punk via our commentary over the promo Punk did Friday night on Smackdown. Honestly, Punk's remarks were filled with truths. Certainly one can make an argument that Punk's delivery was a little pompous but that's a subjective opinion too. I can assure you that Punk means what he says about abstinence from smoking, recreational drug use, and drinking alcohol. I sure as hell can't argue his basic points.

Yes, I realized after the fact that I misspelled Jeremy Piven. Shame on me. I think I misspelled Josh Barnett's last name too. Maybe I was thinking of the late, wrestling promoter Jim Barnette who spelled his name with two, e's.

We have many specials available in our on line store and we certainly appreciate you taking a look at them. Yes, we need to sell you something today.

Looking forward to seeing WWE fans in Philly on Sunday at the Night of Champions PPV, for a WWE Superstars cameo in D.C. on Monday, and in Baltimore for the Friday Night Smackdown taping on Tuesday.

Be well and count your blessings.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.