Promoted from the FanPosts by Kid Nate

A few days ago, I made a couple of posts on the conversations I had with Tom Atencio on twitter. I figured that he must've read these posts, because a few hours before UFC 98, he sent me a private message asking me if I wanted to do a real interview this time. Of course I obliged, and this time, i got to speak to him on various topics such as his fighting career, Affliction 3, WAMMA, Fedor, Kimbo, and a possible fourth show at NYE.

Here's how everything went:

Anton Tabuena: How's Affliction 3 coming along? I've heard that Hieron/Daley has been signed, and Fedor/Barnett has been verbally agreed on. Is it close to being finalized?

Tom Atencio: We are very close to getting things finalized ! event contracts have been handed out to some fighters, we are progressing for sure !

Anton Tabuena: What other fights are you trying to setup? I've also heard about Buentello/Sylvia being made if tim wins against mercer, any truth to that?

Tom Atencio: Sylvia/Buentello would be a fight i would also like to see ! there is truth to it ! ha ha ! thats how far i will go with that !

Tom Atencio: I'd also like to make Chris/Dan lauzon but you know chris is fighting in July so that makes it a little bit hard on that !

Anton Tabuena: I know u are taking it one show at a time, but after the fight with Josh Barnett, the line of HW challengers for Fedor gets shorter. Do you have any ideas on the next possible contenders?

Tom Atencio: Trust me, his opponents are endless.. he can head over to japan, he can fight here, trust me there is and will always be a contender for him.... While he is the champion that is.

Anton Tabuena: With the top WAMMA officials like Sam Caplan and Pat Miletich stepping down, it seems like the company is in trouble. Would you still continue using their belt? or would you consider putting up your own promotional belt in the future?

Tom Atencio: We'll talk with them and see what happens with that issue, im not going to say much about it now.

Tom Atencio: That is also a possibility, we'll see what happens with WAMMA first.

Anton Tabuena: How about the other weight classes? Are you guys planning to build up contenders to fight for an "Affliction Championship"?

Tom Atencio: I haven't even thought about that to be honest. It could be a possiblity I would say.

Anton Tabuena: aside from the ones you mentioned, any other fights youre trying to put up?

Tom Atencio: I'm not going to tell you the fights, but Vitor is in talks with us right now for august

Anton Tabuena: have you read about the things Dana White said about not wanting to fight you?

Tom Atencio: What do you want me to say ? Typical Dana, what about do you want to know what i think?

Anton Tabuena: Well he said, "why would I fight this goof? He’s neither a fighter nor a promoter. He’s a fuckin’ loser. That’s all he is." Any thoughts on that?

Tom Atencio: lol that is typical Dana, not much to say about it.. im a promoter..im a fighter.. some things he says just makes you think and wonder

Anton Tabuena: What can you say about the people who are saying that you guys have the wrong business model and that you wont last another show?

Tom Atencio: we arent going anywhere ! we have great support.. we have billionaires supporting us... how can you go under like that?

Anton Tabuena: But if you keep on losing money their support certainly wont last long right?

Tom Atencio: Obviously you got to make money at some point but when you have billionaires supporting you.. its very hard to go anywhere .... !

Anton Tabuena: Cause that's what some people are saying, that affliction spends too much and is burning millions, while guys like strikeforce do well cause of their business model. Any thoughts on that?

Tom Atencio: Everyone has a different way to do things... we do it the way we want, thats what it comes down to really

Anton Tabuena: Yeah, and it wouldn't hurt business that you guys have the best fighter in the planet right? haha.

Tom Atencio: ha ha

Anton Tabuena: Also, I heard that Kimbo Slice is officialy a free agent. Would you guys be interested in signing him?

Tom Atencio: Hard question to answer.. I admire the guy, elitexc toyed with him.. but would i sign him? Who is there for him to fight right now ?

Anton Tabuena: I dont know.. I think he costs too much, and he doesn't fight that well, but he could be a draw for sure and he could help get more fans in..

Tom Atencio: Right now, if I signed him, who could he fight? He needs more fights and experience before i place him in with arlovski or a fedor type !

Anton Tabuena: You could just put him against people his level to begin with and of course, not on the main event.. He'd still draw ppv buyers no matter what right?

Tom Atencio: Yeah your right, but again, who is there for him to fight in his career right now in affliction? ...We have some of the top HW's in affliction, putting kimbo in the mix wouldn't be a good idea... not at all ha !

Anton Tabuena: The second show got moved, and plans to have it in vegas got scratched.. What happened there really?

Tom Atencio: Rushed the gun a little bit i would say with that, thats really about it.

Anton Tabuena: You said that the third show would be in Anaheim, what venue are you guys planning to use?

Tom Atencio: It will probably be the venue we used for the past 2 fights... (honda center)

Anton Tabuena: How's the financial part of the business going for a possible fourth show?

Tom Atencio: I'm not getting into financial info with you ofcourse, but if things go good in aug, maybe december NYE could be an option.. wait and see !

Anton Tabuena: Okay, i've got to ask again, any other participants youre planning to add to the third show aside from those you mentioned?

Tom Atencio: I'm not going to release anymore information.. I gave you a bit already ! ha ha! it will be good tho ! trust me

Anton Tabuena: okay, sure. i hope its really good too. so far i've got Josh Barnett, Fedor, Tim Sylvia, Paul Buentello, Vitor Belfort, Jay Hieron, Paul Daley, Dan Lauzon, and Chris Hordecki (if he doesn't get hurt)? correct?

Tom Atencio: Like i said, nothing is official until contracts are signed, but its looking that way..

Anton Tabuena: Cool. If that pulls through, it would certainly be a stacked card again. :)

Tom Atencio: We aim to please the fans everywhere ... that's what affliction is about!

Anton Tabuena: With the busy schedule you have, I'm surprised that you still have the time to train for a fight. How do you manage that? and who do you train with and where?

Tom Atencio: tracey hess trains with me.. Rafael Cordero helps me out.. some good guys for sure !

Tom Atencio: About making time.. it's hard but i manage to do it.. There's always something going on.. so it's not easy but doable!

Anton Tabuena: That's good to hear. Do you plan to continue fighting after this one? or is this the last time we get to see you step in the ring?

Tom Atencio: I'm getting older so it just depends.. win maybe i can fight a few, lose, yeah, will probably be my last...

Anton Tabuena: Thanks, yeah, i actually got a lot of good stuff. okay last two, what round will you beat your opponent and how? ....and Evans or Machida?

Tom Atencio: Machida/Evans not sure, if i had to pick, i would go with machida, my fight? im not prediciting it.. good fight tho for sure !

Anton Tabuena: Okay, thanks for making the time to speak with me. I hope you do well on your fight, and i hope we'd get to see more Affliction shows. :)

Tom Atencio: we arent going anywhere.. no problem ! thanks ! ignore the rumors too ! ha ha !  

Anton Tabuena: Thanks again! it is really appreciated. 

The whole interview happened via direct messages from twitter. 

I had to squeeze in all my questions into 140 characters, so doing it on twitter probably wasn't the best idea. But it must've been a hassle for Tom also, so I'm not complaining. I'm just thankful he made the time and I was able to get a lot of questions in.