MANHATTAN, N.Y. – Affliction will pull out its Trump card Thursday when the company announces its partnership with Donald J. Trump at a press conference in Trump Tower at noon. Trump will take the podium to address the press and outline his involvement with Affliction and its entry into the world of professional mixed martial arts, with its first event, Affliction: Banned slated for Saturday, July 19 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

“We are very excited to be partnering with the most recognized and accomplished business mogul in the world, “ said Tom Atencio, vice president of Affliction. “Trump is a true visionary who shares our belief in the future of MMA.”

“I have been a fan of professional sports since childhood, and I am particularly impressed by the athleticism, courage and strength of these disciplined athletes,” Trump said. “This particular sport resembles my business style of being fast paced, strategic and aggressive … remembering to never give up. I am particularly excited to partner with Affliction and become a major player in promotion of MMA, the youngest and fastest growing sport to emerge in the last century.”

Affliction: Banned features a star-studded fight card, with former Pride Fighting Championships titleholder Fedor Emelianko (27-1) taking on two-time UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia (24-4) in the main event.

The exciting four-fight undercard also includes a heavyweight match between former UFC champion Josh Barnett (22-5) and Pedro Rizzo (16-7), the only man to ever knock him out. In other action, three-time All-American Mike Whitehead (20-5) will battle Brazilian submission specialist Renato "Babalu" Sobral (29-7), and Fabio Negao (8-3) will lock horns with 2000 Olypmic silver medalist Matt Lindland (20-5). Former International Fight League standout Ben Rothwell will also compete, though no opponent has been named.

Affliction: Banned will be distributed on pay-per-view and air live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.