EliteXC Wants Noons/Diaz For CBS, Noons Doesn't Respond

by Kid Nate on Aug 20, 2008 9:55 AM EDT in News Comment 26 comments

According to EliteXC vice president Jared Shaw, the promotion has tried to make the fight happen and wants it to happen as part of the Oct. 4 event, but to no avail.

“Nick Diaz is the No. 1 contender. K.J. Noons should step up and be the champion that we think he is and take this fight. Nick Diaz will take this fight any place, anywhere,” Shaw told MMAWeekly.com. “(Noons’ management) won’t even return our calls.

“I don’t understand it. This fight on CBS is maximum exposure and the opportunity for maximum sponsorship dollars, way more than he could make on Showtime. At this point, I question his management.”

Noon's management has been squirrelly about letting him fight on CBS for some time. As I said then:

I don’t really care how one sided the deal was — if it gets Noons on CBS during primetime defending his belt, then he should be prepared to give up anything up to 18 months, his first child and his left testicle to make the deal.

Noons' has to realize that his window to reign at EliteXC is a very short one and he should be working to maximize the exposure while they have the CBS window open. But his management team isn't so good.

MMA Payout has more:

Dion seems to be burning bridges and must be looking at boxing as being the other option for KJ, because I can’t imagine him going back to the bargaining table with the Zuffa folks.

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Very odd, Noons has talked some good smack towards Diaz on Inside MMA. He seemed very confident he’d beat Diaz again. And yes, the company needs this…not that that’s a reason for Noons and company to take the fight.

by dmayeda on Aug 20, 2008 10:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

the company needs this

I’m guessing that’s why. Noons holds the cards now. He’s probably pissed at EXC for the post-fight crap last time, and he wants more money.

by mythbuster on Aug 20, 2008 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed 100%. This is Noons flexing his negotiating muscle.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Aug 20, 2008 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

dion taking notes from finky…

by mmalogic on Aug 20, 2008 10:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rome is right, Noons needs as much brand equity as possible once elite goes under so a CBS fight would make alot of sense.

I think the problem is they want to lock him down if he goes on CBS to an even longer contract thus nullng the effect of the exposure short term.

by mmalogic on Aug 20, 2008 11:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I also agree with this. Noons does need the exposure of EXCBS, for his negotiations after EXC becomes_____.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Aug 20, 2008 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Paper Champ?

Noons is acting like the paper champ that alot of people think he is…..he should step up and fight the only top flight competition that elite xc can offer him. If he does not take the fight, you have to wonder if he knows he really can’t beat a healthy Nick Diaz.

by Nick Travaglini on Aug 20, 2008 11:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

C’mon, i like Diaz ok, but what has he done since Gomi, to make anyone think he would be to much for Noons?

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Aug 20, 2008 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, just wow

Fighters talk alot of smack about how competition is good, how pay should be higher, etc. However, when it comes to walking the walk, all they want is money, money, money. Don’t they know that if the promotion they fight for survives, that they will end up making much more money in the long run? Once Noons become a star and EliteXC survives, he will stand to make much more money as the organization’s premiere superstar.

First Ortiz extorts money from a promotion that’s bleeding money, and now Noons does the same. These guys are stupid. If they let the competition fail, they will have to crawl back to the UFC for the much more restrictive contract and lesser pay because there won’t be any competition left. I believe other than the UFC, MMA are run by a bunch of morons.

by cyph on Aug 20, 2008 11:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

man, you said it. Nothing wrong with wanting to get paid though. I’m just really tired of fighters and their hardcore fans, always saying it is about respect, honor, patriotism, etc..

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Aug 20, 2008 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can only demand what the market will bear. If EliteXC were the NFL, flush with money, they should demand the maximum possible. If the NFL had no viewers, no fans, and bleeding money, do you think these athletes would be getting multi-million dollar deals?

It’s supply and demand. These fighters are looking for NFL money from Arena Football leagues. The world doesn’t work that way.

by cyph on Aug 20, 2008 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep. No doubt, guys like Noons and Huerta have bright futures, but they need to be paid according to their levels at the moment. Sometimes that means they need to be paid a little more, other times a little less. For instance, Huerta wanting more than BJ.

One of the big problems in the NFL right now, is the rookie pay scale. These guys are coming into the league with no pro accomplishments, and getting paid more than the top guys at their positions.

While I think overall, fighters should be paid more, I certainly don’t want mma to end up like other pro sports, where the salaries are impacting the stability of the leagues.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Aug 20, 2008 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Please let me know how it could be for money when he is already signed to a contract ? So whatever his contract says is what he will get poaid bottom line.So him and his manager Mark Dion can hold out for as long as they want and won’t get anyhting extra. A little advice KJ your manager Mark Dion really fucked up with Brandon Vera.He only cares about lining his own pockets and 2 shits about what the fighters reputation looks like. He over playerd his cards with Vera you don’t want the same shit happening to you now ????

by Shocbomb on Aug 20, 2008 12:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed, BUT, there is a difference with overplaying your hand when dealing with the most powerful promotion and dealing with a struggling one that desperately needs to have their best fighters in the cage.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Aug 20, 2008 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah but how many bridges can you burn as manager before your out of business?

There are only a hand full of places a manager can place his fighters and the fingers on the hand are falling off day by day.

by mmalogic on Aug 20, 2008 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

not only in fighting, but all the major sports.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Aug 20, 2008 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

in baseball, basketbal, football, agents can be the biggest dicks as they want because there are so many outlets/teams.

In MMA there is 1 solid one, local shows and the ones the come and go (these are shrinking).

So you screwed yourself with the one solid one… Then what? How many more fighters will want you to represent them when they know your black balled from the UFC and now other shows?

Not only does the UFC have the fighters by the balls they have the managers by the balls also.

by mmalogic on Aug 20, 2008 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For sure, what i was commenting about was the way things are changing, A-Rod and Boras for instance. I think the agents have been so slimy, that not only are teams avoiding them, but the players are getting wise as well. You are seeing players even represent themselves. I don’t think agents will change, but i do expect some of the jackassery to subside in the future.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Aug 20, 2008 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good point BJ but that says to meeven more reason why Elite can’t give in. Ounce they give in to one fighter giving him more $$$ while under contract they will open the dam flood gates up,every fighter who has any drawing power and pull will want more $$$ in the the middle of there contract and hold Elite hostage. So they won’t and can’t give in. If Noons does not fight on the Oct show Elite is going sit him out and might even strip his title down the road ? They need this fight bad if he screws them it will hurt him more in the end.

by Shocbomb on Aug 20, 2008 12:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Can anyone elaborate on that last blurb?

I’m assuming it has everything to do with Dion and the Vera situation, but did Noons at one time try signing with the UFC? I’m sure it’s the former, but if someone knows otherwise, I’d appreciate some info..

by Blackout612 on Aug 20, 2008 12:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I know for a fact that the UFC don’t like dealing with Dion. EXC can’t be much different.

by Luke Thomas on Aug 20, 2008 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here’s what Noons is probably thinking:

“I already beat this guy this year and then he comes in and disrespects me and my family (at the behest of the Shaws). This promotion is about to go under, why should I give this (dangerous) fighter a shot when there are other (safer) guys who I haven’t beaten yet. When this place goes bankrupt I am much more valuable to the UFC as a visible champion with a winning streak ,so why should I risk my neck to help out a guy who I hate and a promotion that disrespected me? If they want the fight so bad they can pay me more to get it.”

Not saying its right or wrong but I’m guessing thats pretty much what’s going through his head right now. How much Dion is whispering in his ear to bring about this thought process, I have no idea.

by Day Man on Aug 20, 2008 1:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs