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[MMA] EliteXC / Pro Elite (Kimbo,Gina Carano) is no more

Discussion in 'Other Sports' started by MrRolo, Oct 20, 2008.

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  1. MrRolo

    MrRolo Member

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    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/josh_gross/10/20/elitexc/?eref=sircrc

    ProElite, EliteXC out of business

    Less than two years following the formation of ProElite, Inc., the group notified employees and fighters Monday it was shutting its doors effective immediately, multiple sources confirmed to SI.com.

    ProElite was an entertainment and media company founded in partnership with Showtime Networks and spearheaded by the mixed martial arts promotional brand EliteXC.

    Representatives for ProElite, EliteXC and Showtime did not return calls for comment.

    Through its partnership with Showtime and later CBS, which in 2008 agreed to broadcast four live EliteXC events in primetime, EliteXC gained a tremendous amount of visibility. The company, however, hemorrhaged tens of millions of dollars during its 22 months in operation.

    In September, Showtime, which owned a 20 percent stake in ProElite, entered into preliminary negotiations to purchase a controlling interest in the company. When those negotiations failed, said a source inside ProElite who asked not to be identified, funding dried up and the company was forced out of business.

    Beginning with Rumble on the Rock, ProElite purchased numerous MMA promotional brands around the world, including King of the Cage, Cage Rage, ICON, and Spirit MC. While these companies remained in operation, the focus was EliteXC, which held 17 events starting with its first card Feb. 10, 2007.

    EliteXC's third card with CBS on Oct. 4 was also its last as a promoter. Headlined by the controversial Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson, the event made headlines with discussion surrounding the legitimacy of the main event between Ferguson and Seth Petruzelli. The bout is currently under investigation by the Florida State Athletic Commission.

    After debuting on May 31 to an audience of 6.5 million viewers, EliteXC's ratings on CBS fell significantly in its second effort drawing just 2.7 million in July. In its last event the numbers appeared to bounce back nicely, with an average audience of 4.5 million.

    Kelly Kahl, senior executive vice president of programming operations at CBS, declined to comment on ProElite's demise.

    EliteXC was scheduled to promote its final event of the year Nov. 8 on Showtime, however the manager for lightweight Nick Diaz, who was scheduled to fight Eddie Alvarez that night for the organization's 160-pound belt, said he was told the event would not take place absent a last-minute "miracle" investor.
    ---------------

    I can see the huge smile on Dana White's face.
    I see this as a good thing for MMA. Hopefully UFC will scoop up some elite xc fighters and Affliction scoops up carano, cyborg and other female fighters. Or I can see WEC creating a female division...
     
    #1 MrRolo, Oct 20, 2008
  2. thech0senone

    thech0senone Member

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    Yeah EliteXC fixed the Kimbo fight so they could go under... :rolleyes:
     
    #2 thech0senone, Oct 21, 2008
  3. rocketsjudoka

    rocketsjudoka Member
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    Its too bad as it would be good to see UFC get some serious competition but I still don't see MMA as being a primetime sport, and I like MMA. At the same time too I've never understood the popularity of Kimbo Slice and if I was promoting a major MMA event wouldn't make him the focus. IMO the guy never was that good considering most of the fights he had were against untrained lard @sses and it was only a matter of time before he got beat badly.
     
    #3 rocketsjudoka, Oct 21, 2008
  4. peleincubus

    peleincubus Member

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    it was because a ton exposure he got from youtube name recognition I still think it was dumb of them to focus on him though
     
    #4 peleincubus, Oct 21, 2008
  5. aghast

    aghast Member

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    The fix was in? They dare question the integrity of a former (and future) p*rn industry bouncer? That phantom punch was dead on.
     
    #5 aghast, Oct 21, 2008
  6. farrisdabis

    farrisdabis Member

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    Finally. Now it will be Affliction vs. UFC. It will be interesting to see if Affliction lands a Fedor/Couture fight so they can really make it interesting.
     
    #6 farrisdabis, Oct 21, 2008
  7. worzel gummidge

    worzel gummidge Member

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    [​IMG]
     
    #7 worzel gummidge, Oct 21, 2008
  8. bladeage

    bladeage Member

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    As long as we get to see Carano somewhere else, I am ok.
     
    #8 bladeage, Oct 21, 2008
  9. dskillz

    dskillz Member

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    Affliction won't be in business for long either. The finances just don't jive for them.
    They don't have regular PPVs, they pay the fighters a ton of money, they had to piggyback EXC to get exposure. I think that once Trump sees that he is not getting a profit, he will pull out sooner or later.

    As much as I want UFC to have competition, I think the MMA pie is so small that a 2nd company would have to run their business just like the UFC does. For all the talk of MMA EXPLOSION, you still have to penny pinch to make a profit in the business. I know alot of MMA purists hate hearing this, but to keep MMA growing, UFC is doing the right thing. They have to create a strong foundation and you don't do that by losing money.

    When EliteXC signed that deal with CBS you knew it was doomed. They were basically paying to be on the network in hopes that the exposure would generate enough interest for a PPV.
     
    #9 dskillz, Oct 21, 2008
  10. RedRowdy111

    RedRowdy111 Member

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    Slice is so over-rated, and got exposed. In mma, you have to have more than just a punchers chance, which lead to Slice's early knockout. I doubt the UFC goes for him. He isnt nearly as big of a draw after the last elitexc fight....back to youtube'n.
     
    #10 RedRowdy111, Oct 21, 2008
  11. Royals Ego

    Royals Ego Member

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    hop on the WWF bus fellas, especially you Gina *purrrrrr*
     
    #11 Royals Ego, Oct 21, 2008
  12. robbie380

    robbie380 ლ(▀̿Ĺ̯▀̿ ̿ლ)
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    there is no doubt about kimbo and the ufc being together. dana white hates what kimbo represents to mma. kimbo will get some play at the smaller orgs but he won't get near as much money. kimbo's 15 minutes are up.
     
    #12 robbie380, Oct 21, 2008
  13. robbie380

    robbie380 ლ(▀̿Ĺ̯▀̿ ̿ლ)
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    at least sapp is a fun personality. kimbo doesn't even have that going for him. oh yeah and sapp is about 100 lbs bigger than kimbo.
     
    #13 robbie380, Oct 21, 2008
  14. Angkor Wat

    Angkor Wat Member

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    Sucks that we can't see Gina no more any time soon. I actually due agree that Kimbo would be better suited for pro wrestling. The problem that EliteXC did was try to build their own star. In Pro Wrestling, that can work because everything is scripted. In real life fighting, not so much. You have to let the "stars" or fighters, build themselves. They pushed Kimbo like crazy and now look at them.

    But yeah, Kimbo has the look and everything for pro wrestling. Luckily for Kimbo, he wouldn't be losing in 14 seconds.
     
    #14 Angkor Wat, Oct 21, 2008
  15. Royals Ego

    Royals Ego Member

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    Kimo has the look and everything......

    everything excluding a personality

    if ya smell what i'm cookin'~
     
    #15 Royals Ego, Oct 21, 2008
  16. DaDakota

    DaDakota If you want to know, just ask!
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    More pics of Gina please.

    DD
     
    #16 DaDakota, Oct 21, 2008
  17. robbie380

    robbie380 ლ(▀̿Ĺ̯▀̿ ̿ლ)
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    [​IMG]
     
    #17 robbie380, Oct 21, 2008
  18. bladeage

    bladeage Member

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    Yes!!!
     
    #18 bladeage, Oct 21, 2008
  19. farrisdabis

    farrisdabis Member

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    Yeah, if I were Kimbo I would be calling the WWE right about now.
     
    #19 farrisdabis, Oct 21, 2008
  20. Lady_Di

    Lady_Di Member

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    How can a girl bulk up like Gina?

    Lots of protein shakes and weight training?
     
    #20 Lady_Di, Oct 21, 2008
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