What's Next for Affliction/Golden Boy?

Unlike some writers, I'm not going to wax poetic and tell you how big of an impact Affliction/Golden Boy will have because didn't we just learn our lesson with M-1 Global? However, according to people I've spoken with, they are making big-time offers to the top unsigned fighters and I'd be shocked if the first show from the new promotion didn't air on HBO. While HBO has not signed a deal with Affliction/Golden Boy, talks have been going on for a long time and I'm willing to guarantee you that HBO will be getting into the MMA business. It's not a question of if, only when and who and I'm betting the house on Golden Boy/Affliction in June.

In addition to having already signed Matt Lindland and being a leading contender to ink Fedor, I've also have heard from multiple reliable sources that the promotion is pursuing Aleksander Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Josh Barnett, and Ben Rothwell. With the way the company will be structured, it is also very possible that Randy Couture and Mark Cuban's HDNet will also be involved.

Based on the names mentioned above, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see where things are headed; Golden Boy/Affliction is going to focus on the heavyweight division. With HBO's potential involvement, that makes a lot of sense considering that the premium cable channel's roots are in boxing with the heavyweight division having long been been the marquee mainstream attraction.