Official Jeremy Lappen Statement on Petruzelli Bonus

by Luke Thomas on Oct 9, 2008 9:48 AM EDT in News Comment 32 comments

PR from EliteXC wanted to make sure I saw this and in fairness to their position, I am running their comments here without opinion in their entirety. Here's Jeremy Lappen, Head of Fight Operations at EliteXC:

STATEMENT FROM JEREMY LAPPEN,
HEAD OF FIGHT OPERATIONS, ELITEXC

             "Press reports that EliteXC suggested or paid money to heavyweight fighter Seth Petruzelli to keep his fight against Kimbo Slice off the ground are false. Let me be perfectly clear with no ambiguity
-- that did not happen.

             "Seth Petruzelli was offered a fee to fight Kimbo Slice, plus a knockout bonus, a common practice throughout the industry. EliteXC organizes and promotes fights. We have not...do not...and will not suggest or dictate fighters’ strategies or tactics. How the fighters perform in the cage is at the sole discretion of the athletes involved.

             "The circumstances leading up to the Petruzelli/Slice fight were unusual. Ken Shamrock was declared medically ineligible less than three hours before the fight. As an organization, we made a decision to serve the paying audience in the arena and the prime time audience at home by delivering on a Kimbo Slice fight, which we had promised. This was done simply and solely with a standard fee and bonus offer to Petruzelli and by increasing the purse to Slice. Elite XC is grateful to both Seth and Kimbo for taking this fight against an opponent they didn’t train for and on such short notice.

             "In addition, reports that Frank Shamrock volunteered that evening to fight Kimbo Slice are true. Frank is a competitive fighter and he was willing to step up for his organization and the MMA fans. His offer was very greatly appreciated, but everyone in the room knew when he made the offer that it wasn’t a realistic possibility on such short notice.

             "Despite all the craziness leading up to and in the aftermath of the event, the evening was a resounding success. The fights were diverse, impressive and entertaining, and I think the Seth/Kimbo fight speaks to the excitement and unpredictability of the sport. Great potential match-ups lie ahead for all the fighters involved that evening.

            "And, the television ratings exceeded everyone’s expectations. In fact, the broadcast on CBS was the #1 entertainment and sports program of the night among the adults 18-34 and male 18-34 demographics, topping competing MLB Baseball Divisional games on TBS and college football games on both broadcast and cable. These ratings, and the intense discussion that has followed, speak volumes to the interest and future of this growing sport.''

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Are these mother f-ers

just going to continue basically contradicting each other? Shaw says “he would not hesitate to do it” and Lappen says “they have not, would not and do not do it.”

by dnevil001 on Oct 9, 2008 9:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Too many chiefs, not enough Indians.

Everyone complains about Dana and how he’s a dictator, but it’s a lot easier when the people running the show are on the same page and say the same things.

by Phildo on Oct 9, 2008 10:12 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Is it a “common practice” to offer only a knock out bonus in MMA? If it is then the whole sport has some real issues. What’s really sad here is that Lappen (and Gary Shaw before him) just doesn’t seem to get what is wrong with that. Either they are doing it to influence fighter game planning or they are just plain clueless about the sport of MMA, either way it’s just sad.

by who me on Oct 9, 2008 10:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wonder why they didn’t offer a submission bonus when he was facing Kimbo…

by Eugene Schelfaut on Oct 9, 2008 10:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Because no one wants to see that shit.

Admitting what you did doesn’t change it.

Going into a promotion and offering a KO of the night and sub of the night TO EVERY FIGHTER is a perfomance incentive. Offering ONLY ONE of the bonuses to ONLY ONE of the fighters is incredibly fucking crooked.

by subo on Oct 9, 2008 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The real question I have is, Was Seth under the impression that if he lost he would have gotten more money for standing then for a ground loss or possible a boring win. It doesn’t really matter what he was paid for and if he was paid at all. If someone with EXC told him he would get more money for standing and gave him the impression that his bonus was not depentant on a KO, but only the fact that he kept the fight standing then that is wrong. That is shady dealings. A fighter should not be able to make more money with a loss then with a win. That would be wrong. An org pushing a guy to not bring his A game is not right. It would be real easy to release the contract and show the bonus laided out. It would be hard to prove something somebody told Seth. This is a sticky situation now.

by szucconi on Oct 9, 2008 10:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Press reports that EliteXC suggested or paid money to heavyweight fighter Seth Petruzelli to keep his fight against Kimbo Slice off the ground are false.

Seth Petruzelli was offered a fee to fight Kimbo Slice, plus a knockout bonus […and that’s it. No other bonus].

How can a bonus for knocking someone out not be a “suggestion or paid money… to keep his fight against Kimbo Slice off the ground”?

by Eugene Schelfaut on Oct 9, 2008 10:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A knockout bonus isn’t the same thing as keeping the fight standing.

Or have we all forgotten what “Ground and Pound” is? People get knocked out on the ground ALL the time.

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones

by jemaleddin on Oct 9, 2008 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you think that if Seth had taken Kimbo down, mounted him, and pounded him out he would be subject to this knockout bonus?

by Eugene Schelfaut on Oct 9, 2008 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gary Shaw would not think so.

Elite XC consultant Gary Shaw said he wouldn’t hesitate to “go to a fighter and say, ’We’re looking for a stand-up fight.’ You’re not asking him to throw a fight. You’re talking about a fan-friendly fight, not about protecting Kimbo.”
Shaw said he has urged MMA fighters in the past to maximize the action, to avoid an abundance of yawn-inspiring wrestling.
“Do I think that’s unethical? No,” Shaw said. “Because in MMA, you get bonus money for a knockout. I don’t see it as unethical . . . asking him to be TV and fan friendly.”

LA Times

by Eugene Schelfaut on Oct 9, 2008 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course not. I’m just saying that we should all know better than to draw that distinction – I wasn’t directing that at you specifically, BTW.

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones

by jemaleddin on Oct 9, 2008 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No worries.

by Eugene Schelfaut on Oct 9, 2008 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is a contradiction, but also shows a lack of education about the sport. If you are going to release a doc to put out a fire you first must make sure it doesn’t include any gasoline. What should be standard in fighting orgs is having a bonus for finishing fights. They should do away with the finishing type. Like UFC 76: Knockout had no knockouts so just give two finishing bonuses.

by szucconi on Oct 9, 2008 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well said.

by asa on Oct 9, 2008 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

To Sum Up Lappen's Comments

“We didn’t do anything wrong, we all had a good time and we will continue to do what we do. Hey! Look over there its a duck smoking a cigar!”

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Oct 9, 2008 11:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Exactly: ALL of this crap is distracting from the fact that the cornerstone of their organization just got the shit beat out of him by a smaller, low-to-mid-level fighter who had washed out of the UFC.

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones

by jemaleddin on Oct 9, 2008 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just wonder

why they continuously come back with more & more statements instead of letting this die down. It seems that they are just trying to ensure that they maximize their 15 minutes on this issue. It may be that they consider any major coverage of their organization, negative or not, a bonus.

by dnevil001 on Oct 9, 2008 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There’s no such thing as bad publicity, I guess.

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones

by jemaleddin on Oct 9, 2008 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is what I was thinking,

it seems like these guys do not care what kind it is, so long as they get it. They each come out & directly contradict the others statements like they know what kind of shitstorm it is going to stir up. The Shaw’s know everyone thinks they are douchebags & their “PR” guy comes out & defuses it

by dnevil001 on Oct 9, 2008 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Frank Shamrock vs. Kimbo

One of the most interesting disclosures for me was this:

In addition, reports that Frank Shamrock volunteered that evening to fight Kimbo Slice are true. Frank is a competitive fighter and he was willing to step up for his organization and the MMA fans. His offer was very greatly appreciated, but everyone in the room knew when he made the offer that it wasn’t a realistic possibility on such short notice.

In retrospect, I bet they wish they took Frank up on his offer, cause then Kimbo would have been protected in the loss.

"It's like a flying knuckle sandwich.--Rogan
"And many men have eaten it." -- Goldy

by thetakeover on Oct 9, 2008 11:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pfft.

That would’ve been smart and required balls. Never gonna happen.

by asa on Oct 9, 2008 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I heard that it was more an issue of impossibility re the athletic commission sanctioning a Kimbo-Frank fight.

by Day Man on Oct 9, 2008 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think Frank had been medically cleared from his broken arm there was no way they could get him licensed and weighed in(could he make heavyweight?) in just a couple of hours.

by who me on Oct 9, 2008 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Should have took Frank up on his offer EliteXC. I don’t doubt they offered him $$ to stand with Kimbo. I think EliteXC didn’t think Petruzelli had a chance in hell of winning.

by www.thesportsdump.com on Oct 9, 2008 12:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I bet they put a stop payment on that 6 figure check they gave Petruzelli to stand with Kimbo after that radio interview!!!!!!!

by www.thesportsdump.com on Oct 9, 2008 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As time goes by, and I hear new contradicting statements, it looks more and more like EXC is guilty of something. If they have nothing to hide, they should come out and say, “We welcome an investigation by the Florida Boxing Commission and/or CBS.” That’s the only way I can see them clearing the promotion’s name at this point. Instead, they seem to be playing a game of misdirection by implying that this KO bonus is equivalent to that of other promotions. In other words, they’re saying what they’re doing is no worse than anything the UFC does. Anyone paying attention realizes it’s bullshit. CBS doesn’t look very good to me with their disinterest in this debacle.

by Cannon Jacques on Oct 9, 2008 1:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

FOR EVERYONE QUOTING GARY SHAW!

He was DEMOTED withing EliteXC for a reason and LAPPEN took over his job.
Gary Shaw is NOW A CONSULTANT, while LAPPEN runs everything.

What Gary Says is bad, but has no bearings to what happened on Oct. 4 since he is ONLY A CONSULTANT NOW.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 9, 2008 2:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Consultants have a say. He is still the creator and employed by EXC. I work with consultants and they do have a finger on the pulse of the business. To say he has no bearing is a little mistaken.

by szucconi on Oct 9, 2008 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and his son runs the company.

That too. The stupid things he says still hurt EXC.

by subo on Oct 9, 2008 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is that too

also he was on the radio reping EXC, so I don’t really know what else to say.

by szucconi on Oct 9, 2008 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It has everything to do with how EliteXC runs because he is the one who set it up to run that way. It’s a heck of a lot bigger than just what happened on Oct.4th if this kind of crap has been going on since the start. It’s not like Gary Shaw as demoted to consultant because of knock out bonuses and Lappen came in off the street to change things, heck Lappen himself has said that they offer knock out bonuses but no submission bonuses. Why would you offer knock out bonuses to specific fighters but not offer a bonus for submission finishes unless you were trying to get them to change their fight strategy?

by who me on Oct 9, 2008 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wrong Focus, Lappen...

And, the television ratings exceeded everyone’s expectations. In fact, the broadcast on CBS was the #1 entertainment and sports program of the night among the adults 18-34 and male 18-34 demographics, topping competing MLB Baseball Divisional games on TBS and college football games on both broadcast and cable.

That isn’t the number you should be focusing on, Lappen. The important rating is for the NEXT fight.

by Therewolf on Oct 9, 2008 5:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs