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Bloody Elbow Exclusive: Michael Cohen, Executive VP & Special Counsel to Donald Trump, Talks Affliction, Arlovski and the UFC

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via www.move2highrise.com

I had the opportunity to speak with Michael Cohen, Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization and Special Counsel to Donald Trump, about his boss' efforts to get involved with Affliction and into the mixed martial arts business.

Mr. Cohen stated Mr. Trump and Affliction plan to go head to head with the UFC, that former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski's compensation from Affliction "far exceeds" what the UFC was paying him, the role Tito Ortiz played in getting Trump involved and more.

Luke Thomas: Why is Donald Trump getting involved with mixed martial arts?

Michael Cohen: Well, as it states in the press release, Mr. Trump has been a fan of combat sports – boxing, football – his entire life. It’s not uncommon to see Mr. Trump at a boxing match, at a championship match.

He also became interested in mixed martial arts as a direct result. You may be aware that Tito Ortiz was a contestant on "The Apprentice". So while he has been following the sport as its progressed over the last X number of years, in reality he became very interested in the sport after spending quite a bit of time with Tito Ortiz. And one of the issues that came up, of course, is, "how much do you fighters actually make?" In conjunction with Affliction, which is a company where there’s mutual friends, they approached [Trump] with the prospect of becoming an equity partner in Affliction Entertainment. And after approximately a month of talks and negotiations, a deal was inked this past Monday. The press release went out and we have the press conference [today].

Luke Thomas: The press conference, from what I understand, is going to be announcing the signing of Andre Arlovski.

Michael Cohen: Well, that’s just one of many things that’s going to be discussed tomorrow.

Luke Thomas: Can you tell me what else is going to be discussed?

Michael Cohen: I cannot.

Luke Thomas: Was [Trump] at all instrumental in the signing of Arlovski?

Michael Cohen: The answer to that would be yes. The one thing that Donald Trump brings is a mark and himself as the persona. There is no greater promoter in the world than Donald Trump. Whether it’s real estate, whether it’s luxury items, whether it’s going to be mixed martial arts, there is no better promoter in the world than Donald Trump. And what he brings to the table are contracts that are fair to the fighters; he brings the ability in which to sell out events; and he brings a love for the sport.

Luke Thomas: Obviously he’s had many seasons of "The Apprentice" on NBC, but they currently carry Strikeforce, a rival but different promotion. Does Mr. Trump plans to use his business leverage to get Affliction beyond the Pay-Per-View landscape?

Michael Cohen: Certainly one of the benefits of having Donald Trump as your partner is all of the individuals he has access to via his rolodex, which is immense. So the answer is it’s something that’s being considered. We certainly do believe that mixed martial arts has a place on primetime television. As you know, he certainly has strong ties and connections to NBC. He was the number one show with "The Apprentice". It is something that is being considered.

Now here’s the interesting thing when it comes to primetime television: because he has the reputation of being able to get viewers and coupled with the fact that the Affliction family has the best talent in mixed martial arts that currently exists – guys like Fedor [Emelianenko], guys like [Tim] Sylvia, guys like Matt Lindland, guys like Babalu, [Andrei] Arlovski, potentially Tito Ortiz – the entire fight card for the July 19th event is without exaggeration the greatest fight card ever put together and that was done only by and through the power of the Trump mark.

Luke Thomas: Let me follow up on that. It is true that the July Affliction card is stacked top to bottom, but what does Affliction plan to do from there on out? We haven’t heard about any signings beyond those [fighters] competing on that July 19th card.

Michael Cohen: Wait and see. That’s the beauty and the power of the Trump mark. Mr. Trump has already received – and the announcement only went out yesterday - more than a dozen calls from mixed martial arts fighters – some who are fighting for the UFC, some who are no longer fighting for the UFC and some who are interested in getting into the sport.

Luke Thomas: Speaking of the UFC, does Affliction vis a vis Donald Trump – these two together, this mixed martial arts effort with Affliction – do they plan to go head to head with the UFC?

Michael Cohen: I think you have no choice but to go head to head with the UFC. I believe that the UFC right now is the only game in town. So the answer is any company that enters into the arena of mixed martial arts certainly is going up against the UFC. The UFC has the longest track record and they have certainly been the premier company. We anticipate that will change. And that it will change very quickly.

Luke Thomas: I have one last question for you. Can you tell me the terms of the deal that Affliction signed with Arlovski. I’m not concerned with the money, but how many fights has Affliction signed with Arlovski?

Michael Cohen: I don’t believe there’s a specific number onto it. Arlovski is now part of the Affliction family and you can rest assured that his compensation for this and other fights will far exceed what he was receiving from the UFC.  

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LOL@ there is no specific number to the contract…but it’s more than he was getting…

by Tha Realness on Jun 5, 2008 1:55 PM EDT reply actions  

Think you misunderstood...

there is no specific number of fights on the deal. but he is being compensated more than he was in the UFC. Two different things

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison

by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 5, 2008 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

Call me a Trump Nut-Hugger,

but he is going to add a tremendous amount of credibility to any organization. He hasn’t half-assed anything in his life. You can bet your bottom dollar that he won’t let this company fail.

This may not be a sport he is all too familar with, but Gary Shaw couldn’t manage a turd out of his ass.

For whatever reason, this plug has me pumped up about affliction. I wasn’t feeling that 2 weeks ago.

by Heenan on Jun 5, 2008 3:23 PM EDT reply actions  

Call me crazy here, but in the real world, does the “Affliction” name have more recognition and value than “UFC”? I believe it just might.

by Heenan on Jun 5, 2008 3:26 PM EDT reply actions  

Real World

My mom and stepdad (62 and 53) both know afflictions brand. When I say “UFC” they respond with “is that that fighting thing?”. I just think the brand combined with trumph may pull the shades on UFC.

Be honest. If you had 50 dollars to spend on a pay per view event, would you use it to watch UFC this weekend, or the Affliction card? I know its awful presumptious of me to assume that you like the fights on the Affliction card more.

With that being said, I think that Affliction and Trump will have a marketing advantage based on brandname.

Call me crazy.

by Heenan on Jun 5, 2008 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

Not calling you crazy

Just wanted to see what you meant.

by Luke Thomas on Jun 5, 2008 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions  

if it’s marketed correctly I’d agree with you. Without some SERIOUS advertising, paper, radio, TV it won’t matter who puts their name behind it if no one knows about it.
The Don knows all about that so I presume he’s going to help get the word out.
The UFC already has a core group of people that regularly / religiously buys their PPVs, it’s Affliction’s job to encourage these people to buy another PPV, or skip the UFC PPV and buy theirs (more difficult) or to get new viewers to shell out $50 to watch a lot of people they likely have never heard of (the most difficult proposition yet).

by pr0cs on Jun 5, 2008 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

I just did an office straw poll...

I walked from department to department at my work asking people if they are familiar with Affliction and then asking if they are familiar with the UFC. 85% (17 of the 20 asked) knew what the UFC is. 15% (3 of the 20) knew what Affliction is.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison

by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 5, 2008 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions  

umm, I would say NO.

"They said you was hung!!"

"And they was RIGHT!"

by BJJDenver on Jun 5, 2008 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions  

Nope...

UFC is a major established brand name that transcends age groups at this point. Affliction is a kind of trendy clothing line that only really matters to people between the ages of 16-25. And most of those people just see it as “expensive ass t-shirts”

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison

by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 5, 2008 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

And I want to see Trump wearing an Affliction shirt!

"They said you was hung!!"

"And they was RIGHT!"

by BJJDenver on Jun 5, 2008 3:42 PM EDT reply actions  

The Fall of the UFC

The time of Dana White and the UFC are over.

A new age has begun.

MMA has come out into it’s own, and the old players are no longer comfortable with the radically changed landscape.

Dana White, TUF noobs, say your prayers, because with the Don on it’s head and the best Heavyweight roster since PRIDE, the UFC is getting a run for it’s money !

HDNet, Affliction, Dream, EliteXC Super-bowl of MMA, that’ll leave UFC in the dust where it belongs.

WARRRRRR AFFLICTION !

WARRRRRR DREAM !

Sincerely,

Sheikh Zubeer
CEO
Cameldog Enterprises
www.cameldog.net

by Sheikh Zubeer on Jun 5, 2008 3:47 PM EDT reply actions  

oh geeze. please keep those sherdog-esque comments out of BE please.

by pr0cs on Jun 5, 2008 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions  

Please don’t do this. We get enough rhetoric and hyperbole elsewhere.

by AJB on Jun 5, 2008 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

Your thoughts...

would carry a lot more weight with this crowd were you to explain why you feel the way you do…not an attack. Simply saying that hit and run “rah rah” comments are usually best served with a side of reasoning.

How does Trumps involvement advance the position of the promotion aside from giving the public a recognizable face?

How does competition automatically lead to the most visible and credible organization in MMA crumbling?

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison

by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 5, 2008 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

In the spirit of debate (and my personal biased towards Affliction), if you could design the perfect MMA company, what would it involve?

Plenty of money for promotion, the best fighters, rank changing fights, and Bill Goldberg (hardy har har) would all be available.

If (al beit a major “if”) Affliction puts another major card on, the hardcores will all ready be interested. Then you take a network like NBC and add one of the best self-promoters of all time, and you can have a challenger. The quality from EXC to WEC is not comparable. Take a couple nasty cards and a smidge of professionalism, and you have a solid plan.

In summary, they shouldn’t be dismissed as a company that will go bancrupt or have a one hit wonder card.
—-—-—-——-

And damn you are fast Brookehouse.

by Heenan on Jun 5, 2008 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions  

Fast?

huh?

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison

by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 5, 2008 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

You forgot to mention that Manhattan has been turned into a maximum security prison, housing all of the United States’ criminals!

Seriously, your post sounds like a post-apocalyptic opening of a movie.

please save the war cries.

"They said you was hung!!"

"And they was RIGHT!"

by BJJDenver on Jun 5, 2008 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions  

I’m very impressed because you’re a CEO.

by Michael Rome on Jun 5, 2008 4:34 PM EDT reply actions  

Nice, Michael. Made me laugh.

by Jiiri on Jun 5, 2008 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yup

People sleep on it, but Rome is a salty dog. I love it.

by Luke Thomas on Jun 5, 2008 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions  

WAR PANDACAT

I’m more impressed by what he’s the CEO of – his TigerFish mma forum has 11 entire threads going!

by asa on Jun 5, 2008 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions  

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