Some Upside From ProElite's, EliteXC's Demise

by Luke Thomas on Oct 21, 2008 9:32 AM EDT in News Comment 23 comments

Another thing you will see with the fall of ProElite is the rise of regional MMA. With MMA on the downturn in Japan, a lot of talented fighters could be stuck in a state of purgatory. Granted, Strikeforce will be very interested in a lot of the aforementioned names, but the reality is that the WEC, UFC (which will likely have to purge some of its roster if it pursues a significant amount of ex-EliteXC fighters), and Strikeforce can only have so many fighters under contract. A lot of fighters who were fighting and winning on the national level are suddenly going to find that their only options will be to fight for less for U.S.-based regional promotions and improve their market value with the major national promotions that remain, or retire.

Existing regional promotions will look to secure talent that falls through the cracks while several promotions will form out of the void that has been created by the collapse of so many national promotions. A fight such as Rogers vs. Herman, which had been discussed as a strong possibility of taking place for EliteXC in 2009 for the promotion’s heavyweight title, might now be contested on a regional show. And once these regional promotions sign a few significant names, they will become immediate candidates to land a broadcast deal with HDNet.

I've been discussing this in detail on MMA Nation, but the truth is the MMA landscape was already reorganizing itself this way. ProElite's demise will only catalyze the process. As the sport builds itself and the infrastructure it needs to grow in various meaningful geographic regions, local brand leaders act as formalized top-tier feeder systems for the national promotions. Now with more talent on their hands, they can polish their image and improve the quality of their experience for local MMA fans.

I'm not necessarily ecstatic about ProElite's demise, but it's simply a lie there is no upside to it.

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Comments

Its terrible news. Now, this means that some of the fights we wanted to see MAY NEVER HAPPEN. This sounds like someone trying to find some optimism in this situation, but I don’t think anyone will buy it.

Also, for those that think that the UFC will get these fighters, um, I think you are dearly mistaken.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 21, 2008 10:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You won’t buy it, that’s true. Plenty others will including staff of regional powerhouses.

by Luke Thomas on Oct 21, 2008 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s not terrible news. It’s been explained to you several times already why it’s not, so I won’t do it again. Consider not making the same post in every comment thread about this topic.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Oct 21, 2008 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If MMA supremecy had his way we would all be on tablets writing to each other… instead of the computers we are on.

by mmalogic on Oct 21, 2008 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Zuffa will pick up a few of the fighters. Possibly some of the Smaller guys will be brought in to bulk up the WEC.

by asmiley420 on Oct 21, 2008 10:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What people don’t understand is that many of EliteXCs fighter’s have non-exclusive contracts, meaning they are signed with other orgs, or are not with the UFC in the first place because they don’t like the exclusive contracts. Affliction and DREAM or WVR sound like better options, to tell you the truth.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 21, 2008 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Which fighters?

by asmiley420 on Oct 21, 2008 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eddie Alvarez and Nick Diaz want to fight in Japan.
Khalidov and Shlemenko want to fight in their homeland as well.
Jake Shields has never been a fan of UFC contracts.
Lawler is not necessarily in favorable terms with the UFC.
For the females, the UFC doesn’t believe in Womens MMA.
Feijao could go to the UFC, but only after Silva retires, and I doubt he will ever fight Machida either.
KJ Noons is managed my Dion, who the UFC hates and will not work with again.

Just a few examples.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 21, 2008 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Talk about gross exaggeration. Shields told me personally he would be willing to fight in the UFC, Lawler could easily secure re-entry as could Feijao. Alvarez is doing just fine in Japan and Diaz is too valuable to bottom feed.

The correction we are witnessing is painful now, but the sky is not falling.

by Luke Thomas on Oct 21, 2008 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just gave an example of why fighters were signed to EliteXC in the first place.
Which is true, a few can go to the UFC, but with Affliction and Strikeforce as competition, who is to say that they won’t go with them.

I agree that Feijao and Shields (maybe Lawler) are the most likely to go to the UFC.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 21, 2008 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news;_ylt=AkJzHFu.rZXDbVtXhgpVwB09Eo14?slug=dm-elitexc102008&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Shields wouldn’t want to go to the UFC, eh?

by Luke Thomas on Oct 21, 2008 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was talking about the past, where he got contracts from the UFC but they never gave him a good enough offer.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 21, 2008 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shields would be making a big mistake if he didn’t go to the UFC… He’s always calling out GSP and wanting to fight the best welterweights. Well there’s not better place to do it than the UFC. Who is he gonna fight anywhere else?

by asmiley420 on Oct 21, 2008 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2008/10/21/639548/quote-of-the-day-2-many-fi

“Many Fighters Lose Out” – Your next article pretty much sums it up.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 21, 2008 10:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Guys like Diaz and Alvarez we’re originally signed to Elite XC weren’t they? I always thought they were loaned out to Dream and the other orgs.

by asmiley420 on Oct 21, 2008 10:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I replied above.

Eddie Alvarez want’s to fight for DREAM, though, as well.
Nick expressed the same. UFC would not allow them to.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 21, 2008 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am thrilled that EXC is dead. Now maybe a legitimate, sound organization like Strikeforce can show the rest of regional MMA how it’s done: develop talent and send them to the UFC with your blessings once the UFC decides they’re ready.

MMa Supremacy, I’m really, really sorry to break the news to you, but it’s over. It’s the UFC or bust for the world’s best fighters now, and if your hatred (as a fighter) of UFC is stronger than your love of fighting the best in the world, then fuck you.

by subo on Oct 21, 2008 10:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

and I mean fuck you to the fighter that decides that

not the poster.

by subo on Oct 21, 2008 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Umm, you mean North America, because DREAM and WVR seem to have some of the worlds talent as well.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 21, 2008 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Forgot to mention Affliction as well.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 21, 2008 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Luke..

did shields ever say what kinda contract the UFC offered him a while back?

by asmiley420 on Oct 21, 2008 10:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It wasn’t much money, which is why he signed with EliteXC, who gave him the best offer.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 21, 2008 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sure, it’s tough on the fighters. It’s tough when factories close and people lose jobs there. The problem is that economic pain is unavoidable. Propping up a broken system only makes the situation worse for employees and the industry in question, not to mention consumers. It’s cold, and it’s harsh, but it’s reality. There may not be an apparent next step for some of these fighters at the moment, but I’m confident that things will turn out as long as MMA promotions stick with good, honest products.

ProElite was broken due to an absolutely inept, somewhat corrupt management team. I don’t feel that CBS owning EXC was a good long-term solution for the company or the sport in general. Raising millions of dollars and stringing together assets that have value on there own has never worked without some kind of strategy. I have never been able to identify ProElite’s strategy.

by Cannon Jacques on Oct 21, 2008 11:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs