AFF: MMAs Next Generation

[ProphetX]

The story thus far:

 

In 1998 Ken Mitsuru and Matt Tripp combined their efforts to create the American Fighting Federation. Based out of San Jose, California; the AFF quickly began building their roster with many of the available rookies and veteran cast off from the larger promotions. With a solid core of fresh talent the AFF set off to become a major player within this rapidly growing sport.

 

Late 1999: The AFF lands their first PPV and AFF 14 becomes their first event televised to the whole of the United States. Morales vs Woodley draws 68k+ buys and cements the fledgling organization fiscally with a steady stream of cash. Around the world Gamma and Alpha-1 remained dominant in PPV buys and growth in their respected regions. Tap Out Promotions opened for business and quickly began signing fighters to exclusive contracts; quickly creating problems for the smaller regional promotions. Kadena De Mano Fighting Circuit financial woes become public knowledge and their future uncertain.

 

Early 2000: In a financial gamble the American Fighting Federation agrees to take on KDM FC's debt and purchase the Asian organization effectively doubling their roster. TOP continues to hire from around the world, even signing AFF Middleweight champion Bill Brown in a coup de tat and setting off a rivalry that would continue for the next year and a half. WEFF, XCC, and BCF begin to decline as access to legitimate fighters with drawing power begins to fade. The AFF continues to grow steadily; using the KDM FC as a farming organization while they continue to correct the debt-to-income ratio. MMA experiences a major boom as dozens of small regional promotion begin to rise up. New gyms appear almost overnight with the promise of becoming the next MMA star. Even television stations and pay per view companies seem to experience a similar boom as everyone was now trying to leverage a piece of the MMA pie.

 

Mid 2001: The feud between Jerome T McCallum (TOP) and Matt Tripp (AFF) came to an abrupt end when the AFF purchased TOP in a hostile take over. While the AFF was only the #3 organization in the world; the purchase of TOP and KDM FC provided Tripp and Mitsuru with a large portion of the world market share. Alpha-1 and Gamma took note while WEFF, BCF, and XCC continued to try and desperately turn their fortunes around. The MMA market 'bubble' was about to burst; many of the new regional organizations signed fighters but did not have enough to begin holding events. Of the new wave of MMA organizations CUFA, M3a2, RATP, Strikefirst, Sunshine MMA, WFA have slowly began to establish themselves. Bushido FC however has taken the world by storm with an incredibly deep roster of new fighters and savvy negotiation skills; causing some to see a semblance of the AFF.

 

March 2002 (current setting time): Alpha-1, AFF, and Gamma have begun to lose momentum as the cost of signing fighters has begun to rise. Fighters with considerable drawing power are now being horded by the major players to stave off the advancing next generation. The WEFF and BCF managed to land PPV deals and have finally returned to profitability. The XCC however is in dire straights and have refused to offers from the AFF to be bought out. If help doesn't come soon they will default on their loans and go out of business.

 

Currently the AFF is gearing up for the summer and continuing the trend of planning 2-3 shows ahead. Under the AFF conglomerate leadership Tap Out Promotions and Kadena De Mano Fighting Circuit have both managed to land PPV deals; giving the MMA trifecta deep pockets and considerable power.

 

We pick up the dynasty after the successful AFF 54 event. Buddy Garner had been refusing to resign and was the reigning Middleweight champ and agreed to meet the returning Bill Brown for the belt in his final match. Brown and the AFF buried the hatchet and agreed to a long term contract; Brown returned the favor by destroying Garner via TKO (Strikes) in the co-main event. This was followed by Lamont Banner throttling Gideon Navarro in the beginning of the 2nd round with a big knock out punch to retain his Welterweight belt in the main event.

[popyura]

Nice! I dig it!

[ProphetX]

http://giovanni-wod.net/images/mmatycoon/AFF-B.jpg

 

AFF 55

 

LHW Matthew Michael Kirby 8-1 vs Toby Dingleberry 7-1 (to face the winner of the Marlon John vs Gvtisavar Zhordania for the belt)

LHW Isaiah Monroe 8-1 vs Anthony LeToussier 16-3 (LeToussier is on a losing streak)

BW Mischa Leigh 9-2 & Women's lightweight champ vs Teresa Dooey 4-0

Leigh is ranked #2 p4p and #1 BW, Dooey is #11 p4p and #4 BW

LW Eric Noons 5-4 vs Rogelio Quesada 11-2

FW Vasya Kascmarek 9-1 & Women's heavyweight champ vs Kelly Andrews 8-2.

Kascmarek is #3 p4p and #2 FW, Andrews is #10 p4p and #7 FW

HW Jeff Carlton 34-10 vs Quinton Lashley 11-2 (Carlton is on a losing streak)

MW Ashley Ballard 15-3 vs Guillermo Morales 12-2-1

WW Colm Dee 13-5 vs Vjekoslav Sarich 5-0

BW Tatjana Vinick 8-1 vs Alison Beattie 6-3

 

3 prelim fights but I wont details those here

 

 

Dingleberry has been talking about wanting his title back all week; whereas Kirby has had to remind him on several occasions that he stands between him and his shot. Kirby is 3-1 since being signed away from the BCF who has won all but 1 of his fights by knock out. Dingleberry first won the LHW belt by defeating MacGregor Dare and then successfully defending it against LeTossier before losing it to Marlon John.

 

The Monroe/LeTossier bout should be a good one as well. Monroe as the hungry up and comer who recently moved over to LHW to fight for the title. LeTossier however has had it rough as the veteran struggling to show he still has the skills to fight the best in the business. Since being signed away from Gamma he has gone 0-2 against Dingleberry and Patinkin and needs this fight to remain relevant in the AFF.

[ProphetX]

Anyone up to predict the winners? First person to correctly guess 4 Main events/co main events will get a free fighter render from me (if you want it).

[WeeMan]

I'll just predict the fights of fighters I know:

 

Kirby

Monroe

Kaczmarek

Carlton

Ballard

[popyura]

LHW Matthew Michael Kirby 8-1 vs Toby Dingleberry 7-1 (to face the winner of the Marlon John vs Gvtisavar Zhordania for the belt)

LHW Isaiah Monroe 8-1 vs Anthony LeToussier 16-3 (LeToussier is on a losing streak)

BW Mischa Leigh 9-2 & Women's lightweight champ vs Teresa Dooey 4-0

Leigh is ranked #2 p4p and #1 BW, Dooey is #11 p4p and #4 BW

LW Eric Noons 5-4 vs Rogelio Quesada 11-2

FW Vasya Kascmarek 9-1 & Women's heavyweight champ vs Kelly Andrews 8-2.

Kascmarek is #3 p4p and #2 FW, Andrews is #10 p4p and #7 FW

HW Jeff Carlton 34-10 vs Quinton Lashley 11-2 (Carlton is on a losing streak)

MW Ashley Ballard 15-3 vs Guillermo Morales 12-2-1

WW Colm Dee 13-5 vs Vjekoslav Sarich 5-0

BW Tatjana Vinick 8-1 vs Alison Beattie 6-3

[ProphetX]

Update coming tomorrow with the AFF 55 results! If I had to vote I think you guys are dead on with Monroe and Kirby. Even I don't know but I've been less than impressed with LeTossier and Carlton so far

[ProphetX]

http://giovanni-wod.net/images/wmma/results1.jpg

 

 

Following his loss to Quinton Lashley, Jeff Calton announced his

retirement from MMA. Citing that his heart isn't in it anymore he

leaves the sport as one of the original pioneers. Unfortunately the

sport morphed into a different creature as it's popularity spiked and

his skills weren't up to the task.

 

Guillermo Morales calls out Bill Brown for the Middleweight belt

calling it a "street fight in the making". In the barrio or the 'hood it

made no differences to Morales. Brown issued a statement from his

announcers booth stating "Just Bring It" and threw the microphone

down.

 

The AFF match makers will be scrambling to make this match up happen

sometime later this year.

 

Dooey wins her first major title, celebrates by holding a massive

post-fight party at Agenda Restaurant Bar & Lounge with the band

members of Lonely Island. The party turned wild when Teresa Dooey

performed 'Natalie's Rap' for the crowd, explict lyrics and all. The

spokesperson for the AFF was without comment while the incident was

reviewed.

 

 

AFF 56 news:

 

Christopher Sharp: The very first veteran signed by the AFF has had a

storied career thus far. A mainstay in the heavyweight division with a

massive 10-3 record since signing with a stoppage in each and every

one of his victories. His boxing is good but his ground and pound is

his bread and butter. And despite having a weak chin most of his

victories came against stiff competition, solidifying his status as

the reigning HW champ.

 

Chuck Dooley will be looking to avenge a loss to Sharp in early 2001.

Currently ranked as the #24 HW he is 1-1 since being signed away from

Alpha-1 for an exuberant contract. Dooley came into the AFF riding a

5-1 streak with an immediate shot at the HW title. Unfortunately the

first fight was over before he even knew what was happening as Sharp

finished him off in the 1st round under his relentless ground and

pound. He rebounded from that loss to destroy Carlton later in 2001 at

AFF 49 Halloween Havoc to earn one more shot at the title while the

rest of the division got reshuffled.

 

 

The lightweight action promises to be equally electric as Alejandro

'Lobo' Laguera takes on Patrick 'The Troll' Pedersen. The LW title is

on the line as is their respective undefeated streaks.

 

Alejandro 'Lobo' Laguera first won the LW title in an upset against

Agung Hatsumo with his own vicious ground and pound. Laguera would go

on to defend the title 2 more times, dispatching David James Diggle

and leveling Fumiaki Hayashi with a knock out punch. Another mainstay

within the AFF; all of his wins except 3 have come within the AFF

octagon. To say he's a fan favorite is an understatement. In the press

conference for the event he praised the work ethic of 'The Troll' and

promised not to take him lightly. But despite his humble approach to

the press conference he did make the promise that when all was said

and done he'd be walking out 11-0 with the title in tow. Laguera is

currently #18 p4p and the #3 LW.

 

Patrick 'The Troll' Pedersen began the conference by thanking the AFF

for taking a chance on him overseas. A native of Sweden; he was well

aware that he really didn't have any hype or standing in the States

where the AFF holds all of their events. And while some of his fights

haven't been the most exciting he has yet to meet a fighter he

couldn't beat. Both of their styles are similar as both enjoy the

sprawl and brawling tactics with the only major difference showing is

the difference in the amount of fights. While Pedersen has less fights

he has been slightly more accurate with what he has landed. And he's

landed much less leading one to believe the little man has more power

that Laguera may be expecting. Pedersen will have to watch out for

Laguera's wrestling skills however as it's believed that 'Lobo' is the

better wrestler. When pressed for an answer Pedersen said he believed

this would probably be decided by who has the better chin and standing

power. Patrick Pedersen wants to trade leather and Alejandro Laguera

plans on doing just that. Pedersen is currently ranked as the #15 LW

 

 

In other news:

 

The AFF continues to throw it's weight around the world; signing

rookie stand out Raul Peixoto and signing Lefter Oktay away from Sigma

and Ryan Landingham away from the XCC. It's clear that the AFF is now

playing hard ball with the other MMA organizations with little care as

to the cost. Matt Tripp was recently quoted as saying "We have the

financial security to do just about whatever we want. Even going so

far as to provide medical subsidies to our fighters and helping some

of the veterans up for retirement. We take care of our fighters far

better than others do hands down. We were slapped around a bit when we

first began and some of our fighters left; leaving us in a lurch. We're just slapping back"

 

#15 ranked Welterweight Stian Agdestein was signed away from Alpha-1:

 

One of the highest profile free agent pick ups this year has been

Stian Agdestein, the dynamic WW formerly fighting under the Alpha-1

banner. It is believed that he should be making his first appearance

for the company within the next month or two.

 

And the fighting over available fighters continue. Mostly notably

damaged is Gamma. While they are in the position to bolster their

ranks with home grown talent and lower contracts they are having to

grossly overpay lesser talent to fend off the hungry younger organizations. The XCC recently held an event which was a hit with the fans but scarely made a dent in their coffers. One can only fend off the vultures for soo long before they dive in for the kill. KDM FC recently rose to the #5 MMA organization and driving in 800k+ in PPV sales. FLB continues to try and sign fighters to bolster their own ranks but have managed to safely position themselves at #7. While their PPV sales are nothing to write home about they are financially stable and growing. Which in this economy is something not many can say.

[ProphetX]

Full line up for AFF 56

 

HW Christopher 'The Knife' Sharp 44-15 vs Chuck 'The Laughing Man' Dooley 9-2

LW Alejandro 'Lobo' Laguera 10-0 vs Patrick 'The Troll' Pedersen 8-0

LHW Adam 'Hollywood' White 14-3 vs 'Mr Fantastic Ed Burridge 7-0

FW Echiko 'Rhino' Watanabe 7-4 vs Alyson 'Alley Kat' Arroway 9-6

FW Hanako 'The Storm Bringer' Shimizu 12-3 vs 'The Sniper' Piper Evergood 7-1

BW Jessica Herbig 7-2 vs Rennaya Rives 9-1

WW Delroy Rhodes 13-4 vs Duncan Thislewood 9-3

HW Derrik Nielson 3-0 vs Gareth Grundy 9-10

LHW Jamal Lathon 5-5 vs Neville Granville 4-3

 

And 3 prelim matches that won't be listed

 

Notes: Sharp is #15 p4p and #4 HW, Dooley is the #24 ranked HW.

Laguera is # 17 p4p and #3 LW, Pedersen is ranked #15 LW

Shimizu is #13 p4p and #7 FW, Evergood is ranked #8 p4p and # 6 FW

Herbig is #13 BW and Rives is ranked #24 BW

[ProphetX]

Get your picks in soon. Update will be coming tomorrow!