King Of The Cage Promoter Says ProElite, KOTC & CBS Trying To Work Together

King of the Cage Logo

The story of ProElite’s demise doesn’t know which way it wants to go. First, they ran out of money and their lifeline decided to dump them. They’re supposedly filing for bankruptcy, except they don’t. Then, several fighters file for breach of contract to which ProElite responds with, “we’re running events in 2009.” Showtime is pissed because ProElite owes them a ton of money, so they file to hold a public auction to sell off all of ProElite’s assets, including fighter contracts, to recoup as much money as possible. ProElite says Showtime can’t do that and threatens to file a lawsuit to block the sale. Meanwhile, fighters’ agents are pulling out the laterns and pitchforks.

Agents Band Together To Fight ProElite Auction

ProElite logoThe press release:

Huntington Beach, CA November 10, 2008 – We as sports agents battle against each other every day for the best opportunities for our clients. Ultimately we realize the struggle is always about the client’s best interest. That is why we as the elite agents in MMA today have band together to address what we perceive to be a grave injustice.

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ProElite Rising From The Dead?

ProElite EliteXC LogosOr just buying time?

In response to several notices of breach of contract that managers Monte Cox and Cesar Gracie filed, ProElite has informed them that EliteXC still plans on promoting events.

From MMAWeekly.com
:

“Elite XC and ProElite are currently downsizing its staff in an effort to improve its business moving forward,” the notice states. “As this process is implemented, Elite XC cancelled the event previously scheduled for Nov. 8 in attempt to re-schedule another event in early 2009.”

EliteXC Fighter Watch: Alvarez, Daley, Noons, Diaz & More

Where are they going? A week removed from EliteXC’s fall, not one EliteXC fighter is free and clear yet to sign a new deal elsewhere. That doesn’t mean the wheels aren’t turning though. Here’s the latest on a few of the fighters EliteXC left behind.

Eddie Alvarez

Eddie AlvarezOf all the fighters signed to EliteXC contracts, Eddie Alvarez seems to have the most options while his Elite contract is stuck in bankruptcy proceedings. According to his manager, Monte Cox, Eddie has two fights remaining on his DREAM contract, and deals with Andrenaline and Extreme Challenge.

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Gary Shaw ‘Not Ashamed’ Of What He Did At EliteXC

Carlos Arias of The OC Register was able to get Gary Shaw to talk a little bit about his thoughts on the fall of EliteXC. He steers clear of any specifics due to “pending litigation” but he does say he’s “not ashamed” of what he did during his time at ProElite. Shaw also talks about the fighters, specifically Gina Carano and Kimbo Slice, and like any good father would, he defends his son, $kala, from all the (warranted) attacks he’s received in the media.

As for the fighters who Shaw feels bad for, here’s Scott Smith’s perspective on the whole situation.

“I’ve been in camp for over eight weeks and I’ve been pushing myself hard. It’s one thing if [it happens] two months out from a fight, but two weeks? It’s devastating. Even if I lost, worst case scenario, (including sponsorship money) I would still be out close to $40,000. Until all the paperwork and everything is done I’m not going to be cleared to fight somewhere else before the end of the year. It’s close to the holidays, I got a mortgage to pay, I’ve got two kids, it’s tough.”

Yeah, Gary, do you feel bad enough to help the fighters and employees who you helped put in this situation? I’m sure you’re not hurting right now.

Updated: No Knockout Bonus Included In Petruzelli’s Contract As Lappen Claimed

Seth Petruzelli
More EliteXC Heat photos at CombatLifestyle.com

In response to Seth Petruzelli’s comments on the “The Monsters in Orlando” show on 104.1 FM in Orlando the Monday following his bout with Kimbo Slice, former EliteXC Head of Fight Operations Jeremy Lappen claimed that Petruzelli was referring to a knockout bonus, not a bribe to keep the fight standing as widely suspected.

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More From Dana White And T. Jay Thompson On StandGate

In this video from MDS at AOL Fanhouse, Dana White fields more questions from reporters on EliteXC and StandGate. He claims he “knows for a fact” that EliteXC paid Petruzelli to stand among other things. Also notable, without hesitation he shoots down any possibility of the UFC or WEC signing Gina Carano and building a women’s division. Here’s what White tells Dave Meltzer about it.

Florida DBPR Clears EliteXC Of StandGate (Update)

Florida DBPR LogoSurprise, surprise, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation who oversees the Florida State Boxing commission has cleared EliteXC of any wrongdoing in the StandGate scandal. The news comes from Mike Chiappetta of NBCSports.com.

The Kimbo Slice-Seth Petruzelli “Standgate” fiasco was in many ways the last nail in the coffin of EliteXC, but ironically, one day after the company shut down, they have has been cleared of any wrongdoing in an investigation of the matter by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, according to documents given to NBCSports.com.

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CBS Locking Down EliteXC Fighters’ Contracts?

CBS LogoOne of the biggest questions to come out of EliteXC’s demise is what’s going to happen with the fighters. It seems they won’t immediately become free agents as everything will likely need to be sorted out in bankruptcy proceedings. Josh Gross of SI.com has a new report which highlights how CBS may be involved in locking down the fighters contracts for the foreseeable future.

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