By Chris Howie
October 3, 2008

First it was the UFC that banned the Affliction line of clothing on fighters before, during and after fights in the Octagon. Next up was EliteXC who would not help promote Affliction on their shows.

Fast forward a few months and now Affliction has helped EliteXC put together a solid heavyweight tilt for their CBS card on Saturday night that will see Andrei Arlovski face off against Roy Nelson.

"We don't have any hard feelings with anyone. It's basically buisness and they couldn't promote a company at the time that was, I don't want to say in direct competition but in the same realm of business." Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio told MMANews.com this week. "Some of their fighters wore Xtreme Couture which is another of our clothing lines but at the end of the day I understand because it is business. (The banning of the Affliction t-shirt on fighters)."

When Affliction postponed their October 11th card until a later date, it left a slew of fighters with no where to go and the company went out and found places for some of the fighters to go. That is how the Arlovski/Nelson bout came to be on EliteXC: Heat.

"It was supposed to be Josh Barnett and Arlovski but Barnett's people were not available to set something up so we made it Nelson and Arlovski and it is set for this weekend."

Atencio and Affliction have one ultimate goal and building partnerships along the way is how he feels is the way to reach that goal.

"The ultimate goal is to have one undisputed champion in every weight class." Stated Atencio "We have been building relationships with companies and trying to come together to do this and to build homes for fighters."

After announcing a partnership with Golden Boy Promotions that will kick off in 2009, it is a safe bet that Affliction will be around much longer than some thought according to the Vice President.

"Well yeah for sure, you are going to be seeing us in the New Year and I know there is somebody out there that said you wouldn't"

Dana White?

"I'm not saying a thing" he joked.

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