KJ Noons Tells His Side of the Story: "I Am Tired of Being Bent Over by EliteXC With No Vaseline"

by Luke Thomas on Aug 28, 2008 3:37 PM EDT in News Comment 37 comments

I have received an email from KJ Noons himself. In this letter, Noons tells his side of the story regarding why he won't appear on the October 4th CBS show. In short, he accusses Pro Elite management of strong arm tactics, favoratism, negligence and incompetence. Here are his words in their entirety.

Noons vs Diaz or Noons vs EliteXC?

It is not about being scared to fight Diaz, who I previously defeated, it is about the fight I am currently in with Elite XC regarding my career.

I would first like to address all the false allegations and insults from Jared Shaw, aka $kala, VP of Elite XC. You will see why I am so disgusted of how Elite XC treated me and how it applies to this proposed fight and my career.

$kala says:

Honor my contract. Elite XC wants to talk about honoring the contract. How about when Elite XC honored the contract and my pay to fight Edson Berto went down after I lost my first fight. That was not part of my contract. Or how about the contract Gary Shaw breached by not promoting my boxing career? Gary Shaw only gave me one out of four of the agreed upon fights. I have not boxed for over a year. When I signed with Elite XC, I was promised they would promote both my boxing and MMA careers. I could have signed with another MMA only company, but I wanted to box too.

Elite XC does me a favor after I lose, by putting me on the first ShoXC against Edson Berto? Berto’s father is good friends with Jared’s father, Gary Shaw who wants Berto’s brother on a boxing contract. Berto was the next guy Elite XC wanted to build. But I win that fight and now I am 1-1. Elite XC gives me an opportunity to fight Diaz. Elite XC puts me against Diaz because Elite XC’s roster was so light and there was nobody else to fight him.

Elite XC creates a new weight class for Diaz because he beat Gomi. Giving Diaz a belt and creating a weight division (160) he can make, will make your belt legit. Sorry to ruin Elite XC’s plans and beat him.

Elite XC never promoted or took care of me as their champion.

Examples:

In the Elite XC’s DVD where Diaz and I fought there are two (2) baseball cards of Diaz and Kimbo. Hello! I won the fight and Elite XC’s promoting Diaz after I beat him? Or how about the day Elite XC flew Diaz in to do a signing on the DVD where he lost. Wow, that must have been uncomfortable Nick? Signing a DVD, and it is a fight that you lost. Why wasn’t I flown in for the signing?

Elite XC has never promoted me on either of their websites, EliteXC or Pro-Elite.

Elite XC offered me a fight on the first CBS show, but only if I signed a new long-term contract. Instead of promoting their best fighters on CBS, you have to be on a long term contract for them to promote you. That was not our deal.

Consider when Elite XC gives a couple thousand tickets away at their CBS show in Stockton.

Elite XC gives me a hard time about comping me one extra ticket for my cousin that helped me train for my fight. I only get four tickets per show. I am the main event in Honolulu, my home town! I did not ask for any tickets for my family and friends and they gave me a hard time about one extra ticket!

Or how about when Elite XC brought Diaz into the ring after my last victory in Hawaii to disrespect me and my family.

Chuck Champion (President Elite XC) threatens me, my family and my manager with lawsuits and how he’s going to sue me. HAHA. Pretty hard to sue a guy who does not make jack with your company. I’m glad $kala disclosed how much I make, which breached the confidentiality clause of the contract. I will break down the real numbers for you. I am the defending world champ, I have been the main event for Elite XC three out of four times on Showtime. In almost two years I have made approximately $83,000?

After paying my trainers and managers fee, I have $50,000 thousand. After taxes, probably 30 grand. Divide that by two years for $15,000 thousand a year. Divide by 52 weeks that amounts to approximately $300 a week. I do not know anybody that can survive on that amount of money. My buddies make more money than that in a couple days being a bus boy or bar back. And yes you can argue I should fight more. Elite XC doesn’t give me fights or promote me, they ice me. Gary Shaw Productions only gave me one of the agreed upon four fights per the boxing contract.

And I do not want to ramble on about all the little small stuff that I can keep going on about. But the straw that broke the camel’s back is they want me to fight Diaz for the second time. Diaz is not the number one contender and they are paying Diaz three times more money than me. Diaz complained after the Stockton fight, he was not paid enough. How do you think that made me feel? Yes you can argue that Diaz gets more for the draw, therefore I do not deserve as much compensation. If that is the case, it is a result of Elite XC terrible job promoting me. Instead of promoting me as their champ and upcoming athlete, Elite XC has resented me for ruining their plans to make Diaz their champ. That is just total disrespect. So it comes down to money and what is fair. I am tired of being bent over by Elite XC with no Vaseline.

I am right when I say Diaz is not the number one contender. Elite XC is trying to force this fight for their ratings. Eddie Alaverez is the number one contender and anybody with half a brain knows that a fight with Eddie is a way harder fight for me than Diaz. I will fight Diaz, but Elite has to be fair. I’m not ducking Diaz, why the hell would I be scared of someone I already beat.

With that being said, I am going to focus on my boxing career. I can make more money doing 6 and 8 rounders every other month and make more than I did being the Elite XC defending world champ. At least I will be able to sleep at night and be able to look myself in the mirror everyday. That right there is worth more than $300 bucks a week or fighting a guy I cannot stand for less money than him the second time around.

Will the Diaz fight happen, yes. Will the fight happen on Elite XC on October 4, 2008, probably not. The way things are being run by Chuck Champion, a guy whose history is newspapers, not fighting, and $kala, someone who talks a lot of game, but has never put on a pair of gloves, never stepped in a ring or cage. $kala has had everything handed to him with a silver spoon from daddy. Does anyone else but me think $kala just wants to be famous and stir up all this dirty laundry? I guess any publicity is good publicity. When I think about it, it has been good promotion for their October card since nobody is talking about it until you bring up the Noons vs. Diaz match up.

Before I end, I would like to thank my team, my trainers and workout partners for helping me prepare for my fights hours every day. I would like to also thank my manager Mark Dion for standing behind my decision making. I want to be a fighter who is not doing whatever I am being told like some kind of mindless puppet.

Thanks for hearing my side.

K.J. NOONS

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Comments

I still think working with Dion is bad.

That said, almost everything KJ said, makes a lot of sense. He backs up his points, which are very valid. I can say I agree with him on most of them.

I think KJ has a bright future and hope they can get this resolved asap.

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

by BJJDenver on Aug 28, 2008 3:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed. I kind of guessed that this was his thought process already but its always nice to hear a fighter come out and tell their side of the story, especially in this case, where it seems like he has some very legitimate gripes.

Also, calling “$kala” out over and over again made me laugh a lot.

Have to be honest, after reading this I will be rooting hard for him take out Diaz again.

by Day Man on Aug 28, 2008 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just shows the kind of show they run at EliteXC……

and it is true, everything said about Diaz. They basically hugged onto his(Diaz) nuts and will not let go. Elite made a “special” weight class just for Nick and THEY ARE PISSED THAT Nick didnt do it. They mad all those efforts for Nick to be their champ, not NOONS and he know it.

I am definiely on KJ’s side. Elite and their stable of douchebags need to just call it quits and get out of the business

by fightfan on Aug 28, 2008 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The guy has turned down fighting on CBS twice. That alone makes him one of the dumbest mofos in the history of MMA, even if he’s right about everything else he says.

by andherewego on Aug 28, 2008 3:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We don’t know all the details, but I don’t think it would be smart to sign a long term deal with Elite to fight on CBS. He says that’s why he didn’t fight on the first card, I think that’s legit. If they were dicking him over with his boxing contract, why would he lock himself up to the MMA branch for a long time?

by Phildo on Aug 28, 2008 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He’s complaining about not being promoted enough, but what incentive does EliteXC have to promote him if he’s not interested in signing a piece of paper saying he’ll stick around?

He’s complaining about not making enough money, but refuses to fight on what conceivably is the biggest payday in his career (and with the best publicity).

He’s complaining that EliteXC promotes Diaz too much, ignoring the fact that the Stockton event Diaz headlined got almost zero promotion.

He’s complaining that he’s not a draw because he wasn’t promoted, ignoring the fact that he’s about as interesting as a sugar free vanilla milkshake.

He says he doesn’t want to be a mindless puppet, but still has Mark Dion as a manager.

by George Lucas on Aug 28, 2008 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've gotta say I agree with most of this.

There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.

by misterjonez on Aug 28, 2008 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve never been able to agree with or understand the point of view some people have had concerning CBS/EXC in that every fight should completely “sell their soul” to be a part of these events.

by Simco on Aug 28, 2008 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree.

Fighting on CBS might be big for a fighter’s career, but he or she shouldn’t be expected to sign some kind of long-term deal they’re not comfortable with just to get on network TV. If they believe the exposure is worth it, great. If they don’t like the tradeoff, that doesn’t make them stupid. Speaking of stupid, Jared Shaw seems to always come off looking that way along with Dion. While all promotions have their favorites, EXC shows such blatant favoritism toward certain athletes that this kind of resentment is impossible to avoid. They should try trashing the script sometimes.

by Cannon Jacques on Aug 28, 2008 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm…interesting..

http://mma4real.net/

by Tha Realness on Aug 28, 2008 4:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It seems as though a split between Noons and ProElite is inevitable at this point. I think he would benefit more by staying with EliteXC as a champion, but if he feels they are taking advantage of him he has every right to change promotions.

by Andy R on Aug 28, 2008 4:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is the collateral damage when you try to run your mma org like a script…

The UFC learned this the hardway and now they just allow the cream to rise to the top and promote from their.

by mmalogic on Aug 28, 2008 4:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We know that the UFC pays large bonuses when fighters break through, but they are making millions right now.

Question to everyone: Should Elite have paid Noons above and beyond his contracted pay when he started to break through?

Keep in mind that Elite is losing millions.

by Lynchman on Aug 28, 2008 5:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Better to pay noons than that dirty fat bastard shaw

by mmalogic on Aug 28, 2008 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

still not buying it

A guy usually builds his name in a promotion by fighting, not by signing dvd’s, if your not getting paid enough to survive, here’s what to do, fire that usless agent in Dion, and as a fighter usually you would need to fight to get paid, not turn down fights and cards that pull in 600,000 viewers, a fighter would usually finish his contract then renegotiate whens his stocks are higher, not turn down the exposure CBS offers, and then try and renegotiate well stocks are falling like Maple Leaf

by zionist86 on Aug 28, 2008 5:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He signed the contract...

EliteXC gave him the opportunity for a title fight. He made the best of it. However, he still must honor the contract and renegotiate AFTER the contract is over. In the immediate time frame, he gets paid well through endorsements for exposure through network TV and being a title holder.

Diaz has been around. Noons has got to pay his dues. Build up your name so you can renegotiate. This drama won’t help him in future negotiations with anyone. Noons has got Couture-itis.

Noons is an idiot. His manager is a bigger idiot.

by cyph on Aug 28, 2008 5:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

One more thing...

Diaz has been fighting professionally for just over 13 months longer than Noons. And I should note that he’s been a professional boxer for a longer period than he’s been an MMA fighter. And his record is deceiving, he took 2 1/2 years off from MMA to pursue other ventures. So don’t say that he needs to pay his dues. He’s been fighting for quite some time.

"I have opinions of my own --strong opinions-- but I don't always agree with them."
-George Bush

by B Money on Aug 28, 2008 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I’d say his boxing accomplishments aren’t sufficiently impressive to give him a head start in the marketability department regarding the MMA-scene. Give me Floyd Mayweather and we have something going, but KJ… no. And keep in mind that we’re talking marketability here, not who’ve been putting in more effort in the gym over the course of their careers.

IMO he is very marketable, though. He has that cool name AND the “Gillette-factor”. Spice that up with some spectacular striking and, badabing badabom, a sure shot…? We’ll see. Right now Diaz is the bigger draw, fair or not, and KJ will just have to keep on winning, be, generally, gillette-ish and hope that Zuffa notices by the time EXC goes belly up. Then he’ll just have to do it all over again until Dana and the lot consider him a draw. Or maybe he’d just bomb against top UFC guys. Or something.

by ununkvadrium on Aug 28, 2008 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

noons will never be in the UFC if he is managed by dion…

by mmalogic on Aug 28, 2008 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who has heard of Noons before he lost to Bennett?

Just because he’s been fighting a while back doesn’t mean a thing. Fighting amateurs and guys with losing records for chump change is not exactly paying his dues. Diaz has been fighting top competition in the UFC and Japan for a while.

Noons made his name beating Diaz. Before that, zip. You don’t jump from zero to hero right away.

by cyph on Aug 28, 2008 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree...but

EXC needs to honor the boxing portion of his contract. The fighters make the promotion, and in turn the promotion helps make the fighter. It doesn’t seem like either of them are willing to budge on their respective positions. So I’ll hold out final judgement until all the facts are out.

Except for Dion. That guy is an epic douche.

"I have opinions of my own --strong opinions-- but I don't always agree with them."
-George Bush

by B Money on Aug 28, 2008 5:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

is Gary promoting boxing right now?

i dont see any boxing promotions from Gary, and i dont expect him to make one for KJ, as little of a name KJ has in the mma world, he’s even less known in the boxing one, Gary isn’t dragging him on, or preventing him from furthering his career in boxing, he told him straight out go box for somebody else

by zionist86 on Aug 28, 2008 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

KJ has no Boxing career at all go listen to the Jordan Breen show form last week he will tell you all you need to know about KJ’s boxing skills and future career. Thr bottom line he is a horrible Boxer not even Middle Tier, Plus he will make alot more money in MMA then he will boxing, lower end boxers make alot less then mid level MMA fighters.

by Shocbomb on Aug 28, 2008 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shaw is no longer in the MMA business. EliteXC is no longer in the boxing business. Read the tea leaves.

Noons has no chin. He won’t do well in boxing. In boxing, the guy who can take the most damage to his face ends up winning. In MMA, as long as you knock the other guy out first, you win. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to discover where his success lies.

by cyph on Aug 28, 2008 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

WHAT?

i thought it was the guy who can inflict the most damage to the other guy usually wins, not who takes most damage wins, although maybe boxing isn’t curropted after all, maybe im just judging it wrong

by zionist86 on Aug 28, 2008 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s called an 8 count. You can deliver more damage in boxing, but still lose the fight because your chin doesn’t hold. How many times have their been come from behind wins? The guy with the better chin usually wins.

by cyph on Aug 28, 2008 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well said.

I’ve said before, boxing is far more about attrition than accomplishment. Who you beat, or how many people you beat, or even how you beat them really doesn’t matter. What matters is how you lose, and how often it happens.

The matches/fights themselves are microcosms of that. If you’ve got fantastic power, good for you..but if you can’t defend or take the punch, you’re toast.

That’s why I like MMA. It’s so much more volatile. A fighter can’t make a mistake against Chuck Liddell, because all it takes is one punch with those little gloves. Same goes for the submission game. Lyoto Machida learned just how close a truly world-class BJJ guy can come to being submitted by a past-his-prime wrestler.

There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.

by misterjonez on Aug 28, 2008 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He forgot to mention how much he gets from advertisers too, which I’ms sure contributes to his fight income.

by LiuLang on Aug 28, 2008 6:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

o_O

Why does he care about signing a long term contract with EXC? They’re going down the gutter anyway…

by xFenixKnightx on Aug 28, 2008 7:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How much money does Noons think he’s going to get out of these people, anyway? He needs to take the fight with Nick. If he wins again, which ain’t going to happen, then maybe he’s worth the money. What other options does he really have? I don’t think that there’s a line forming to offer him a big time contract, and the only sure bet financially is the UFC anyway.

by Cmad77 on Aug 28, 2008 7:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Come on KJ

I just don’t get anyhting KJ is complaning about what so evera company does not have to promote you or give you press there is no writtin rule in his contract saying that Shit Elite can choose to give press to whatever fighters they want.They can do what they see fit to do with you after you sign that contract. The bottom line is he signed his name to that contract and no one forced him to do it. Its the randy Couture bull shit all over again and thats all. It comes down to him wanting more $$ and not happy with the contract he signed. To bad KJ you signed it .

by Shocbomb on Aug 28, 2008 8:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t like him.

I completely understand the whole being pissed off about the DVD and the comp tickets thing. That’s entirely understandable and it would make me want to look for greener pastures when my contract was up. No problem there. Pissed off because the company is promoting the guy you beat more than you? Again, I understand your discomfort.

Is that reason not to fight on CBS for maximum exposure against a guy you already “beat” who you clearly resent for being promoted harder than you are? No. What you do is you go out, whup some ass, prove you’re actually the better fighter as opposed to a guy who can open up a cut, and then say “I’m a draw now; I want my money.” What not to do is sit out like a little bitch. I want to call up KJ Noons and tell him that despite how talented he may or may not be, I have never tuned in to a broadcast to specifically see him fight. If he went on CBS after all the shit that went down and beat up Diaz, I would instantly become a fan.

Somebody get this guy some new management and half a brain. I don’t know about you guys but I am a fan of real fighters; not guys who put on gloves, sprawl shorts, train, and cry.

by dropkick101 on Aug 28, 2008 8:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

KJ WHO?

I think KJ is discussed more then is necessary considering in a month nobody will remember him , i like watching and hearing about MMA, not cry babies whine about not signing dvd’s, so just wondering who do u think is gonna win between Diaz and Alvarez after they strip KJ the belt, which will hopefully be soon

by zionist86 on Aug 28, 2008 9:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Be a pro, stop with the bitchin

Top 10 reasons this entire issue is non-issue:
1. Boxing side deal has nothing to do w/ EXC. Irrelevant. Gary Shaw Productions is separate business entirely. Shame on all parties that brought boxing nonsense into equation.
2. Regardless of intent, KJ got shot at Diaz. Kudos & props to KJ who made most of opportunity. Good job ! But sounds like contract did not include clause to increase future purses if/when he gets title belt and thats just too bad. Crappy contract negotiations ? perhaps should put more fault on mgr here.
3. So what were KJ’s expectations for good ‘promotion’ and ‘taking care of champion’. Thats just way too subjective. KJ needs to better manage expectations and make specific requests. If he doesn’t speak up and mgr doesn’t push either, how is EXC supposed to know exactly what he wants ? They’re not mind readers.
4. Say everyone agrees Eddie Alvarez is #1 contender well he is not avail due to personal reasons, not EXC fault. And #2 is Diaz ? whom he already beat, fine. Move on & lets come to agreement on who are next 2 within EXC org. Have EXC matchmaking do their job to set it up and KJ does his and gets ready to fight.
5. Dangling contract in advance of big event is strategic business practice. If company wants to try to lock in fighter for less and/or longer they should make offer for whatever they think fighter will accept. Fighter can choose to take deal, or not, or negotiate depending on how strong/weak feels position is. If fighter is extremely confident he will win and value will increase after fight, then hold out and when theres more leverage, go ahead and ask for more. If deserved, will get it. If not, won’t. Everythings a gamble and theres risk. Nothing personal, nothing against promotion, its just good business negotiations and strategy. Each side better be aware of where exactly they stand before stepping in his own poo.
6. Did EXC hold Diaz’s hand & skip into ring w/ him ? Don’t think so. Beef should be strictly with Diaz. Truly, from fan perspective, any ‘disrespect’ to family was more KJ’s Dad’s own doing to earn than anyone else.
7. Giving tickets away to fighter’s groupies sets terrible precedence, regardless if champion and hometown. Company still has obligation to make money. Can’t just be giving stuff away for free all the time. If there are a addtnl friends/family ask company to see if can sell tix at discount.
8. Pot calling kettle black about breach of confidentiality. Should stick to higher road and not say anything about contracts or internal company matters and air dirty laundry in public. Mudslinging and using media as shield is lowbrow and lessens fighters marketability. Next promotion will be less likely to want to take on a problem fighter with baggage from recent break-up, may value him lower and give him even less respect. Its like getting someone on rebound – why not take advantage ?
9. Diaz’s contract is what it is, same as KJ’s. The current disparity is not necessarily EXC’s fault. In fact, try pointing finger at mgr who, by the way, seems to be taking an unusually LARGE cut of KJ’s winnings. Yes, mgr could have negotiated better/bigger up front, but it was KJ who ultimately signed deal as well as agreeing to pay mgr high fee. Going forward, KJ is probably better off doing negotiations himself – hopefully he’ll net more, but if not there’ll be no one else to blame for outcome.
10. Stop with the personal jabs. Look, its in both KJs and EXC best interest to move forward together, both are better off and the point in MMA is to have fights. Remove the egos – take the Shaws and Mgr out and let KJ, Chuck Champion and current EXC exec team discuss privately. With no one else interfering there is better chance to resolve legacy issues and repair relationship.

We should all get back to what MMA is all about – fighting in a cage, not in words and blogs.

by hm.. on Aug 28, 2008 9:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Amen brother. I want to see people getting punched in the face and screaming in agony as their arms are twisted in ways they shouldn’t bend. I don’t want to see grown men crying about each other on the internet. I used to have a girlfriend in middle school who did that. We broke up.

by dropkick101 on Aug 28, 2008 11:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs