Pro Elite/EliteXC Days Away From Folding; Nov. 8th Show Cancelled
(Well, it was fun while it lasted. Photo courtesy of Esther Lin.)
Multiple MMA news outlets are reporting that due to its insurmountable debt and failure to find a buyer or major funding, EliteXC will go out of business this week, and their Showtime event scheduled for next month has already been canceled. From Sherdog:
Joey Villasenor, who was slated to challenge Robbie Lawler for the EliteXC middleweight crown in Reno, was informed of the show's cancellation Monday evening.
[Icon Sport founder] TJ Thompson, a Pro Elite executive, said he'd been informed Monday morning by the company that it was closing its doors for good this week and that bankruptcy paperwork had already been filed...
A notice posted Monday evening at graciefighter.com read, “We are confirming that EliteXC has folded. What this means for our fans and supporters is that there will not be a Nick Diaz vs. Eddie Alvarez fight on November 8th.”
In an interview with MMA Weekly, Thompson said that Showtime's rumored deal to buy EliteXC was sunk by the controversy of their last event — and the controversy was more than warranted:
"I think (CBS) got cold feet watching. The way the Ken Shamrock pullout was handled, all the way from the beginning to the end with Seth Petruzelli. Watching Jared Shaw jumping up and down and screaming as a representative of the company, I think was disgusting and embarrassing...
I don’t have a smoking gun, (but) I’ve been around long enough, I’ve talked to enough people that were there, I won’t name names of executives in the company that I know — Seth was paid to stand up. I’m confident of that. If the commission wants to talk to me, I’ll tell them what I know."
Thompson believes his company and other MMA promotions under the Pro Elite banner are destined to languish in bankruptcy court, along with EliteXC’s fighter contracts. On Tuesday, he will meet with his lawyers to determine whether it’s possible to free Icon Sport from its parent company. He’s not overly optimistic.
"(The promotions are) there for creditors to go after, really," he said.
MMA Weekly also reports that EliteXC has already begun laying off employees, cleaning out its corporate offices, and trying to sell off their fighter contracts and satellite promotions. According to one prevalent rumor, CBS may try to form a new relationship with Affliction in the wake of EliteXC's implosion.
And finally, FiveOuncesofPain adds a new wrinkle to the Seth Petruzelli knockout bonus scandal that may still come to light if the Florida Boxing Commission continues their investigation of EliteXC:
[S]eparate sources informed Five Ounces of Pain last week that there was also a possibility that a deal had been struck preventing Petruzelli from using “Thai-style kicks on Slice, since he had not prepared for them leading up to the fight.”
Many more details should emerge soon; we'll keep you posted
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Comments
Anonymous Says:
finally, EXC was a joke.
Seamus Says:
I am glad it looks like they will not get away with their attempt at match fixing. It cements even further the obvious difference and realism between MMA and boxing.
Keep the fixing for the ring and the fighters for the cage.
Rob J Says:
It would appear that Kimbo didn't train for the flailing hand slaps of Petruzelli either.
ozkrow Says:
lol....Jared Shaw, u freaking moron! big mistake pushing kimbo slice. all i wanted was some good mma fights. not a wwf sideshow. hopefully the fighters can find a new home.
douchebaggery Says:
this sucks man. I enjoyed all their events on Showtime and the Nov 8th event was a really good card. disappointing for mma fans
MrFeexit Says:
Given how EliteXC was marketed it's no big surprise that it will be, or already has folded. The early days of MMA were for sure exciting but we as fans have for the most part become more informed and even sophisticated. We wanted authenticity and more a show of skills over pure brawn. Guys like Tank Abbott or Dan Severn were great to watch in the early days but just like anything we grew past it. Then ELITE comes on the scene and trys to shove this old school junk down our throats in the guise of true MMA. Thanks but no thanks. I'm happy with watching the Dream Fights and most of what the UFC has to offer. Some of the smaller venues really do put on great shows with tough up and coming fighters. Maybe the Shaws can get jobs as used car salesmen in Vegas.
Derekrva Says:
All I can think of is Kimbo playing Bruce Banner during the end credits of The Incredible Hulk television show. Such a lonely backpacker.
norremo Says:
Thank you Bimbo Spice for putting the nail in the coffin on this corrupt bs organization. EliteXc tainted the MMA image and set us back a few years.
Now can we all agree to support one organization that has the best fighters? The boxing model DOES NOT WORK
yo Says:
This was a big step for MMA, a giant step for Dana White.
Wow...wow... Dana proves again that he's the best business man in this sport and anyone that tries to compete gets turned into dust
justin Says:
Does this mean we get to BJ Penn fight Kimbo?
Doc Roc Says:
This is old news.. CNNSI reported this last night already..
Ape Says:
I've always thought of Elite XC being the strongest competitior to UFC. Affliction feels like a flash in the pan sort of organisation. DREAM will not bother taking on UFC in america.
I think we'll hopefully out of this see a UK based UFC (hopefullly they'll take over Cage Rage). This will prove a good place for UFC to house the euro tallent which they can tap into when ever they want a UFC vs. Cage Rage event.
Anonymous Says:
With the exception of putting all of its basket into one freak show, They did have some good fights as well as fighters. Its too bad for MMA as a whole. With one company monoplizing the sport it will not be as good for fans. Too bad really in my opinion if they hadnt have fucked eerything up tryin to baby this untalanted fighter i bet they could have done some good!
mayhem420 Says:
Its about time..... now Kimbo can go back to being a bouncer for a porn company.
Just as long as they are paid to stand and trade and not to take him down and go for the mount.
Anonymous Says:
Maybe now Gina will have to pose for playboy? YESSSS!!
Olie Says:
I can hear Dana White's laugh from across the pond!
Nobama Says:
"This is old news.. CNNSI reported this last night already.."
Lol, good for you, you're one of the 10 people who watches that channel, you got the news a whole 10 hours before us, what a lucky guy...
Assnonymous Says:
Yes, more Gina asses for the masses.
Karmaatemycat Says:
I'll join the haters for today and say.. Thank FUCKING God I can't stand EliteXC @ all it's to bad though that new comers are gonna have to find another low budget side show to make a name for themselves in. :( LOL Kimbo btw i called that fight as well.
Porkmore Says:
How about that Tito Ortiz record breaking Elite XC deal now??
Anonymous Says:
ewwww dana white just came in his pants
neon Says:
hopefully gina finds a good home! she is a positive 4 womens mma and the sport in general!!!
ksgbobo Says:
good one Porkmore...where is Tito going to fight now...rofl...sucks to be him...
I know it wouldnt happen, but it would be awesome if DW signed Kimbo to fight in the UFC just to watch him gets his face pounded in...
Jared Shaw Says:
BACK OF THE HEAD!!!!!!
Jared Shaw Says:
HE POKED HIM IN THE EYE!!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Tpark Says:
Guess Tito can always make a porno with Jenna if he ever needs a few bucks...
Jarred Shaw Says:
NOOOOO!!! STOP!!! BACK OF THE HEAD! BACK OF THE HEAD!!!!
Josh Says:
lol Pork! This is true! Obviously he asked for too much money from Affliction, they aren't going to want him.
How long until you guys thing Tito will come crawling back to Dana? The man just had twins (or so to be?), he needs to get beat up to make more money.
BigBellyMMA Says:
Gina was the star of the show! man i wanted to see her and Cyborg hook it up...Hopefully they will sometime soon. Fuck Kimbo...Elite XC should have not put all there eggs in one basket with that clown.
Josh Aint Thug Says:
so maybe shields v. gsp wasnt as crazy as everyone though
none Says:
theres only two orginizations committed to true mma
- Zuffa (UFC, WEC)
- Dream
everybody else who claims to be big basically sucks. exept for the fact that now there isn't anybody else
Fenix Says:
GRIPES!!! I added Showtime just for that Nov show! The one show that looked to be stellar. FUCK YOU EXC, BURN IN HELL!!!
theKnappyOne Says:
I'm pumped to see some of the EXC fighters come to the UFC. But I'm upset that there won't be a mainstream women's division..
McGraw Says:
back to youtube.com for kimbo
Old, Bald and Irish Says:
What does this mean to Strikeforce? Are they linked finacially to EXC, or were they just partnering with them?
"Hey, Cung Le! Pick up the phone!"
"Some guy with a chick name, 'Dana', wants to talk to you!"
geoff Says:
hopefully affliction jumps on this like they did with the IFL and take some of the good fighters. im gonna go ahead and guess kimbos mma career is done!
Anonymous Says:
There's nothing like going massively into debt to overpay an unproven fighter and then not be able to make good on that loan while the washed-up fighter is rolling in his money.
Massiveamounts Says:
Anyone could see this coming a mile away...fuck the Shaws with their promoting tactics along with the financial understanding of M.C Hammer have sunk a great idea...getting MMA on network t.v....don't think CBS is looking to swoop up Affliction anytime soon, and they don't have that long without other financial backers. This is insane for anyone to think this was something good for mma, sure we're rid of kimbo and his hype train, rid of $kala the douche, rid of elite....but we're also rid of the possibility of seeing great fights on network t.v....this episode of complete stupidity will scare the shitcakes out of any network thinking of singing a contract with any mma promotion. It's a sad sad day in the world of mma, not because elite's gone but the way they wiped their feet on mma and network t.v on the way out.
trey Says:
Good for you guys.
Now you can put all your effort into sucking Donna White's cock for all its worth.
Acrocerid Says:
Dear Gary and Jared Shaw,
I hope (though I doubt) that you will see this. If you do, just know that I...a nobody who posts on MMA blogs is laughing at you. A lot.
Later bitches.
Olie Says:
What do you gents think of Cage Rage?
sarcasm Says:
how in the fuck could this happen?
Doc Roc Says:
Lol, good for you, you’re one of the 10 people who watches that channel, you got the news a whole 10 hours before us, what a lucky guy…
I'm lucky alright.. Your mom gave it up after 1/2 a beer!! The bitch wasn't even worth it!
pookysdabomb Says:
Nick Diaz to the UFC.....put him in there VS. Kos, Karo, or Sanchez again!
Alex Says:
This shit is crazy!!!
BDIZZLE Says:
UFC is about to grow much larger.
Ready for Kimbo Slice vs Brock Lesnar?? Well I guess that match will suck if Lesnar gets Randy.
So much for good ol Tito.... lol lol lol
Dana White has to love this.
UFC fan Says:
"another one bites the dust..and another ones gone, and another ones gone,...another one bites the dust, yeah!"
dana white Says:
elite down, one more to go
the agressor Says:
Any corp that would want to market around a guy like kimbo deserves there demise. ring, cage fighting all is formed around some martial arts style or many and they all have many common attributes and respect is one of them. gettho, thug and backyard brawling isn't part of that form.
its time for the elite group to stand up and face a higher caliper talent pool. i like gina but i would like to see her matched up with cyborg. i fight amateaur and i always want to fight guys with the same record or better so that i can be pushed to the limits.
OSU!
Mikill Says:
Tito is now scheduled to fight his next opponent, cumming soon!!!
Tito has now confirmed he will fight the hideous ,alien-faced Jenna "The Leashmaster" Jamison" on Affection ppv.It's a fight to the death with the winner getting half of her ASSets.