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Strikeforce to Announce Purchase of Pro Elite Tomorrow?


(Everybody with talent, get on the bus to San Jose! Not so fast, Skala. Photo courtesy of NapkinNights.)

Keep your fingers crossed, because the EliteXC fighters whose contracts have been in limbo since late October — and who have been legally barred from competing for functioning organizations — may be free to move on with their careers. We were first alerted to the news by Mad Xyientist on the UG, who listens to Sherdog Radio so we don't have to:

Just reported on Sherdog Radio that Strikeforce will be buying EliteXC out of bankruptcy, to be announced tomorrow.

BloodyElbow follows this up with more details:

After a number of deals falling through at the last minute, it appears Pro Elite has either been sold or is in the very final stages of being sold as of this morning. Under the terms of the sale, the buyer would likely return to CBS television with live events this year.
 
The most likely buyer is Strikeforce. The other leading contender was King of The Cage, but industry sources have suggested that Pro Elite fighters are much more willing to fight for Strikeforce than KoTC, and the ease of signing new contracts may have played a part in finalizing this deal...
 
If Strikeforce is the buyer, every fighter will have a choice to either move over to the new organization or pursue free agency. As the UFC learned when they bought Pride, personal service contracts are generally not transferrable, especially in a right to work state like California.

A lot has been said about Scott Coker's incredible business sense, and how he's been able to build what's basically a regional outfit into a legitimately profitable operation that still manages to pay its fighters well, all while miraculously staying on Dana White's good side. And yet we're still shocked that Strikeforce has enough cash on hand to purchase as large a property as Pro Elite. Or maybe they're just assuming some of Pro Elite's sizable debt, and no actual money is switching hands. We'll let you know when more details emerge. But for now, it seems like Gina Carano, Jake Shields, Robbie Lawler and the rest are one step closer to working again, and that's great news.

Tags: EliteXC, MMA, Pro Elite, Strikeforce
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Comments

iron helps us play Says:

Wed, 02/04/2009 - 13:44

this is good news.
i'm for anything to loosen up the chokehold the ufc has on mma.

Clozer Says:

Wed, 02/04/2009 - 13:55

Finally! Robbie Lawler for no good reason. Go free agent and make your return!!!

Gina Carano Says:

Wed, 02/04/2009 - 14:02

any wanting to meet me, all you have to do is send me your bank deatils

Gina Carano Says:

Wed, 02/04/2009 - 14:05

Eat my pussy!

Bob Says:

Wed, 02/04/2009 - 14:12

Does this mean we might see Kimbo again sometime soon?

$Kala Says:

Wed, 02/04/2009 - 14:35

Kimbo is coming back baby! Coming back real soon!

oo718oo Says:

Wed, 02/04/2009 - 14:39

this stinks!

I hired kimbo as mr. T for my kids party.

agentsmith Says:

Wed, 02/04/2009 - 14:39

Both Strikeforce and EliteXC had pretty shallow talent pools, so this is perfect. If this goes through, Strikeforce just may elevate itself from its current top-of-the-minor-leagues/bottom-of-the-major-leagues status and become a serious big-league promotion. Which would mean tougher competition for Affliction and the UFC, but good news for everyone else.

FreddyFangers Says:

Wed, 02/04/2009 - 15:08

Unless there is a massive overhaul of how the CBS shows are done and Strikeforce stays as far away from the "Pro-Elite Model", I'm afraid this might end in a similar fashion as Elite XC did, except this time dragging Strikeforce's original stable down too. I hope it works, and I hope the debt accrued by Elite and now, I suppose, taken over by Strikeforce is not impossible to turn around. I still don't think the UFC or even Affliction have to worry about them yet. Having said all of this, more free fights make me happy, so at least we will get that for a while.

Spank Mir Says:

Wed, 02/04/2009 - 15:23

Doesn't Strikeforce have an agreement with NBC for television already? How would that work if they bought Elite XC with an idea of having events back on CBS?

matt serra Says:

Wed, 02/04/2009 - 17:10

can i buy pro elite and then have gina carano take care of my every sexual need?

riverdog Says:

Wed, 02/04/2009 - 17:40

could it be some one from the past say like..... AOW

Aussiejosh Says:

Thu, 02/05/2009 - 02:41

Stop giving Kimbo Shit! He is a good street fighter and could be a very good MMA fighter! He just needs more training. I wish him the very best of luck in his career. and all the former Elite Xc fighters.

My Wang Be Swanging(HITMANBERT) Says:

Thu, 02/05/2009 - 06:40

@ Aussiejosh
Are you serious? Fuck Kimbo thanks to him and his team of nutthuggers every random idiot fan who thinks he knows shit about mma sees Kimbo as the greatest fighter of all time fuck him!
You probably support Kendall Grove as well.