In connection with my previous post revolving around my thoughts on M-1 Global going down the drain and likely going to fold by the end of the year, I wanted to touch on a comment that was highlighted by much of the MMA community in regards to Sherdog's article about Fedor's status. Here's the quote:

Once Emelianenko is clear of his M-1 obligations he is expected to field offers from several MMA promotions. The early leader, according to the same source, comes from the purported partnership between Affliction and Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, which Sherdog.com has learned could debut on June 28.

"Right now we don't have any comments," Golden Boy Promotions Public Relations Director Romiro Gonzalez told Sherdog.com. "[Oscar] is in the sports business. He is loading up on all the fields, especially boxing. We're moving into soccer, MLS. There is nothing official we can say."

Give me a break... honestly. I've grown tired of hearing about the possibility of Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy promotion entering the MMA scene. Haven't they done their analysis? Haven't they researched what has happened to other promotions in the game? It's bad news for anyone coming into a market in which one promotion holds exclusive rights to some of the best fighters in the world. M-1 Global, BodogFIGHT, and other promotions have had major problems attracting talent. M-1 Global will probably succumb to this problem alongside bad business practices. BodogFIGHT is essentially finished in creating their own headlining events and now sponsors other promotions, and even EliteXC has problems attracting big name for their other divisions.

Can Golden Boy/Affliction really matter even if they produce Couture vs. Fedor? I don't think so. Even with HBO backing them because of De La Hoya's ties from boxing, the promotion would have huge problems producing opponents for Fedor that are relevant unless guys like Barnett, Sylvia, or Arlovski either signed on with HBO, or left the UFC to sign on with HBO. The UFC has a huge edge in attracting fighters, and even EliteXC has more of an advantage with the new CBS deal. HBO is still a premium channel, and I don't think it's likely that it will produce a complete card that matters with the exception of creating one fight in Couture vs. Fedor.

Things would have to change drastically in the industry for Golden Boy to have a chance.