Equal to Tapout as a recognizable clothing brand, Affliction has been around for less time but has the same following. Selling product outside of t-shirts and board shorts, the company has gone into a more designer approach with polos, long sleeves, leather jackets, jewelry and accessories.

Formed in 2005, they have started as another brand to sponsor fighters and have become one of the most successful and noticeable MMA brands, sponsoring champions like Georges St. Pierre, Randy Couture, Rampage Jackson as well as boxers like Oscar De La Hoys, Zab Judah and many others.

Tom Atencio has been the face of the company to the industry and has been involved with MMA since the sport came onto the scene. A student of numerous disciplines (BJJ blue belt; Muay Thai; MMA w/ Rafael Corderio) he has been a fan and participant in the sport he sponsors.

“I have watched and followed MMA since UFC 1," Attencio told US Combat Sports. "Having been in the clothing industry since I was 15, I have worked with a lot of companies and there have not always been brands that have made it.”

Partnering with Eric Foss and Todd Beard in 2008, their new brand saw success. “I was involved with four to five brands before Affliction and this is the one that has grown the most.” As sales increased and product became more visible on more fighters and fans, they took the business in a new direction.

Forming their own promotion that shared the brand name, Affliction was not met with open arms by all. Zuffa put a sponsorship ban on the brand once they began to put their promotion together and then received help from a powerful investor, Donald Trump.

“We started to put the promotion together after the ban from UFC and it went from there.”

Hosting only two events in their promotion history, it made a key impact introducing casual fans to world renowned fighters. Signing the PRIDE champion and then phenom Fedor Emelianenko, Affliction had put cards in place that showcased high caliber opponents from UFC and PRIDE. Fedor finished two former UFC heavyweight champions in the first round of each fight and was slated to go against top ranked heavyweight Josh Barnett.

Ultimately the company folded as a promotion before their third event was held. Barnett had tested positive for anabolic steroids and was unable to become licensed by the CSAC; no opponent replacement could be done in time for the card. “We were planning on finishing this card, it didn’t work out in the end. There would have been more events held if we broke even from that event (Affliction: Trilogy.)”

Back to doing what they do best in sponsoring fighters and making high end MMA fashion, Atencio isn’t going anywhere.

“We will continue to be involved with MMA and the UFC as well as other sports and lifestyle events.” The idea to branch out past one genre shows the mindset of Atencio and the company, which is growth and an always growing fan base.