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Action Figures Into Sylvia's Plans

AOL

posted: 46 DAYS 18 HOURS AGO

comments: 0

filed under: Fighting

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The MMA wars are upon us. Elite XC was on CBS last month. This month, Donald Trump has teamed with rock fashion purveyors Affliction for Affliction "BANNED," a July 19 live pay-per-view event at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., 6PM PT/9PM ET. It's a heavyweight-heavy card featuring a heavyweight main event between former two-time UFC champ Tim Sylvia and former PRIDE champion Fedor Emelianenko. What ever will the UFC do? Sylvia got on the phone with us to discuss the significance of the fight, extol the coolness of Michael Buffer and order his breakfast.

Fighting for a Change

Getty Images for UFC

Tim Sylvia broke away from the UFC so that he could explore opportunities to fight overseas and have more control over his career, particularly the finances.

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DAVE HOLLANDER: It?s called Affliction "Banned." But it?s not banned. You can buy it on pay-per-view. Why do they make is sound like it?s illegal?
TIM SYLVIA: Just because a lot of people have kind of banned [the fighters] .. (laughs) you know? I don?t know if I?m the person to ask that question. I think why they're doing it is because a certain organization banned them from being in their organization to sponsor their fighters. So they decided to start their own show.

DH: The perceived threat to that "organization" is so real that UFC and Spike TV rushed to create a free fight card for that same night, putting undefeated Anderson Silva on the card. Dana White says it has nothing to do with Affliction. What do you make of it?
TS: I think we got somebody's attention. You know what I'm saying?

DH: You are nicknamed Tim "The Maine-iac" Sylvia and you will be fighting Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko who is also known simply as "Fedor." It?s a big deal when one achieves single name status like: Prince or Cher of Fedor. What if they just called you "Sylvia"?
TS: Uhhh ? I don?t know . These questions are kinda difficult, man. I think he?s just called that because a lot of people can?t pronounce his last name. So they call him Fedor. And of course everyone knows who he is because he?s currently ranked No. 1 until after ? uh ? after the 19th.

DH: Your last name is a girl?s first name. How has that hurt you in the sport of MMA?
TS: Not at all. Technically, it?s Portuguese. My ancestors when they came over to the United States dropped the ?i? and added a ?y? and an ?a.?

DH: Affliction is a fashion mainstay for the most elite athletes, heaviest bands, Hollywood A-listers. How much free swag have you gotten from them?
TS: These guys have sponsored me for a couple years now so my whole wardrobe is Affliction jeans, T-shirts sweatshirts, jewelry and boots.

DH: For your fight, Affliction has a very interesting and powerful business partner. What is Donald Trump bringing to the table?
TS: PR power and money, obviously. Hold on one second?

(He shouts to someone in the background) "Half pound of head cheese, two eggs hard boiled!")

Okay, what were we saying?

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DH: Trump.
TS: He?s gotta lot of money, you know, and he?s got influence in the world. When you say Donald Trump people are like ?Oooh, Donald Trump.? He grabs lot of attention.

DH: Trump says, "This particular sport resembles my business style of being fast paced, strategic and aggressive ? remembering to never give up." In a fight between Trump and Dana White, who would be most likely tap out first?
TS: I?m not answering any questions that have to do with the UFC. I don?t want any part of that. I don?t want the UFC to see it. I left on good terms with the UFC and I plan to keep it that way. I eventually might go back the UFC someday.

DH: Affliction "Banned" is bringing in legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer. Other "nameless" MMA organizations use Buffer?s brother, but Affliction has the genuine article. How big is that?
TS: I never fought in front of Michael Buffer before so it would be pretty cool to have him announce because you always see him on HBO and Showtime -- big, big fights. I think it would be way cool. I've always had his brother, but it?ll sure be cool to have (Michael Buffer) announce my name.

DH: Megadeth will play at Afflication "Banned." That?s pretty hardcore. What?s the best band that ever played at other MMA events you?ve been to?
TS: Dude, I?m a country boy. I couldn?t name one Megadeth song if I heard it.

DH: Affliction "Banned" is a strong card of fighters including Matt "The Law" Lindland who, in addition to being one of MMA?s top middleweight fighters, is also running for state assembly in Oregon. How better off would the country if our politicians were MMA trained?
TS: Much better off. Most mixed martial artist are hard working educated people, you know, that are responsible, you know. We?re nothing like the boxing industry. I think it?d be great if we had more like Matt Lindland across the country.

DH: Your bout is the main event. How much are you bothered by the "Couture vs. Fedor" talk -- as if it?s a forgone conclusion that Fedor is going to beat you and then move on to a superfight with Randy Couture?
TS: If I lose this fight, it will be Couture and Fedor. But I if I win, it's going to be Couture and Tim.

DH: It?s as simple as that?
TS: Yeah, it doesn?t bother me at all. I want a rematch with Randy, so.

DH: Let me know if this is too sensitive to answer, but only five months ago (March 28, 2008) you moved from UFC to Adrenaline MMA, formerly M-1 Global. I read recently that the UFC is hoping to expand in Europe and they're also going to make UFC action figures. So now, how bummed are you that you are missing out on you getting your own action figure?
TS: I?m not missing out at all. I signed a contract last night. My action figure will be in stores for Christmas. How do you like me now?

And I?m gonna be making a lot of money too. If I was making actions figures with UFC, we wouldn't make any money off it. UFC would make all the money because they owned the rights to us.

DH: Is that why you left?
TS: No not at all. I left UFC to explore other options and to fight overseas. I wanted to fight Fedor, and there?s just a couple things out there I?d like to do and I thought this was a better opportunity for me.

DH: Like a better opportunity for your own action figure.
TS: Precisely.

Dave Hollander is the author of 52 WEEKS: Interviews with Champions! and blogs for The Huffington Post. Info at: www.davehollander.com

2008-07-17 15:21:18