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IFL standout Horodecki gets deal with Affliction
by Ariel Shnerer, The Fight Network
He could be making his Affliction debut as early as Oct. 11 at Affliction: Day of Reckoning in Las Vegas.
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The London, Ontario-based fighter trains with kickboxing instructor Shawn Tompkins. Horodecki recently became a trainer at Xtreme Couture in Toronto, along with another Team Tompkins standout, Mark Hominick, a top 145-pound striker who was victorious in his Affliction debut by submitting Savant Young.
Horodecki's only loss was a grudge match against Ryan Schultz (20-9-1) at the IFL: World Grand Prix Finals in December. The TKO win for Schultz was deemed an upset by many as Horodecki won their first fight at an IFL event just over a year earlier.
Schultz has since signed a deal with the Japanese Sengoku promotion and will be debuting Aug. 24 in the first round of an eight-man lightweight grand prix. His opponent is Shooto veteran Mizuto Hirota (9-2).
While Schultz is heading overseas, Horodecki plans to make Affliction a new proving ground. The young prospect will get more exposure fighting in front of a larger audience and before his time is up, he could become a legitimate top-10 contender.
The Polish-born kickboxer has not seen action since April and is hungry to get back. Horodecki is Affliction's most notable lightweight signing and they are likely looking to build the division around him.
No official opponent has been named, though Affliction may be wise to look overseas. Many of the top-ranked lightweights compete in Japan for the DREAM promotion, such as Shinya Aoki, Gesias Calvancante, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Mitsuhiro Ishida, Joachim Hansen, Caol Uno and Eddie Alvarez. Meanwhile, Takanori Gomi is signed with World Victory Road.
UFC lightweight Roger Huerta has been openly addressing concerns with his current employer, which could open a door in the near future, though the Zuffa-owned organization would be wise to re-sign the young 155-pound force regardless of if he is victorious in his fight against Kenny Florian this Saturday at UFC 87. With ProElite promotions also looking to expand their rosters, namely EliteXC, Affliction must make a move soon and find a suitable opponent for Horodecki.
Member Comments
I dont give a damn one way or another. UFC, WEC, IFL, Dream, I am an MMA fan, and I will spend my money on whoever has the best card.
usmc17758/12/2008 21:08:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Affliction knows what they are doing...losing a few hundred grand on the first event will be made up quickly in the long run with clothing sales and future event sales. Trump won't even blink about losing that much.
SoPoliticallyIncorrect8/11/2008 12:39:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
This thread may already be dead, but I'm posting anyway.<br /><br />I remember a couple of years ago when UFC had a fight at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, They threw the camera on the Donald. And the donald was impressed.<br /><br />Now the Donald was no newbie to the boxing game, but this seemed to be the first time that he had dealt with MMA. <br /><br />Trump was CLEARLY impressed. His exact words were something like " This is great. The place is full, the ppv is huge, and we have to pay boxers a ton more money than these guys". <br /><br />I always thought this is when he smelled the blood in the water. Next thing you know, Tito shows up on the Apprentice? Then fast-foreward and Trump is getting into bed with Affliction? <br /><br />I think it all goes back to Dana White putting on a good show in the Taj Mahal, and an ever vigilant billionaire taking notice.<br /><br />Paying the headliners big $ isn't going to hurt the bottom line as much as it will help attract the big names to the big checks. Trump gets it, you gotta pay out the $ to make the $. <br /><br />Dana White and Zuffa have no clue about free market forces and their effect on supply of fighters and the demands of consumers. They're more interested in locking up fighters in Don King style contracts.<br /><br />TUF helped put MMA in the spotlight, but if UFC doesn't change its philosophy, It'll be heading back to the small circuit.
TRUBBLE8/9/2008 16:08:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Donald Trump is Affliction's partner so I don't think money is too much of an issue.<br /><br />Did Affliction sign Tito Ortiz also?
yankee6068/8/2008 17:11:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Not sure what they might offer Hordecki but the payouts for Banned were high compared to UFC. Sylvia
8/8/2008 12:24:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Anyone know what kind of money a 3 fight deal would amount to for Hordecki?
CJ1778/8/2008 9:01:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
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