EliteXC’s Jeremy Lappen Responds To Recent Allegations
EliteXC Head of Fight Operations Jeremy Lappen has issued a lengthy statement in response to recent reports that Kimbo Slice’s recent opponents, Seth Petruzelli and Ken Shamrock, were offered money to keep the fight standing.
Here is Lappen’s statement in its entirety:
“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.”
In related news, the Florida State Boxing Commission, which also oversees mixed martial arts events in the state, will not be investigating the claims further as they have not uncovered any wrongdoing on the part of EliteXC.
Maybe the bribe didn’t come from Lappen, but I’m sure one came from Jared Shaw. He is a slimy little troll who I wouldn’t put anything past. Elite XC is going to be out of business in less than a year. Another thing, they probably refused Frank because they knew Frank would not stand and trade with the fraud and submit him quicker than Seth ko’ed him.
“Seth Petruzelli was offered a fee to fight Kimbo Slice, plus a knockout bonus, a common practice throughout the industry.”
This basically amounts to a confession to me. I’ve heard of KO of the night, submission of the night, and fight of the night bonuses but not just straight up KO bonuses. Did any other fighters receive a KO bonus? If so this might be acceptable. If not they were trying to protect Kimbo.
What about a submission bonus? Yeah they were trying to protect Kimbo.
Exactly Tmoney. It is common to award such bonuses AFTER the event, not to make the offer beforehand. And there is usually an equal submission bonus.
This is a snowjob. They got caught, threatened Seth, and are now spinning it as much as they can. Bunch of crooked frauds.
Frank would have absolutely demolished him….not that the smoothie king didnt…but frank may have killed him…like murdered…i.e. homicide
I have no doubt that Seth Petruzelli was telling the truth in his first interview…. no doubt whatsoever.
Elite XC is somewhere in between Pro Wrestling and the sport of MMA.
These people(ELIITE) are full of shat. Their boxing promotion background leaves me feeling that I cannot expect legitimacy in any of their match ups. Besides, why would Elite keep trying to shoot the rumor down if it isn’t true? It’s no big deal right? Just a rumor, who cares, let time blow it over……Well, Elite seems to be making it painfully obvious that Seth and Ken were offered/told to stand so that they would play into Kimbo’s one and only strength. Jared POS Shaw’s reaction in the background screamed, “No Kimbo! NO! I love you! NO! My money!!! No! Even less money! You are all we got! NO!! NO!! NO!!” Elite is full of ****.
fail. spin. fail again! put a fork in these clowns.
The thing is I’ll probably still watch their next event. I think about Elite XC like I think about an average looking woman, I’ll take it if it’s free but I’m not paying for it.
Thats the idea guys ………… free fights to watch . I can understand if we had to pay for such events , but ITS FREE !!!! ITS FREE , ITS FREE !!!
Why **** about not having to watch rerun fights of WEC when we see new ones for free .Fights dont have to be epic clashes of the absolute best to be enjoyed . And since you guys know every detail , you watched them also .Which proves that people watched , and it was successful .
I also agree it wasnt cool to offer standing money , but look at the UFC and how they push certain guys aside so has-been fighters can star in ppv events while legit contenders go without . Florian had a shot when he beat huerta yet wheres that fight with Penn ? Werdum has earned a shot so why does he not fight Nog instead of the TUF deal?.because the UFC wants to make $$$ it isnyt for the fans ……..
Hey ucares….EliteXC wants to make moeny, it isn’t for the fans. Dream wants to make money, it isn’t for the fans. Affliction wants to make money, it isn’t for the fans. Notice a trend here? All organizations are in it for money. not for fans.
Troll.
And yeah….I’m gonna skip EXC shows from now on.
Worthless sports entertainment garbage.
So wait a minute. Seth did keep it standing. Did he get the bonus?
If he did get bribed to take a dive, then knocks the guy out, that’s awesome. However, it sounds like what happened to Daredevil’s dad in the movie. But in the movie, they killed Daredevil’s dad. I wonder what the Shaw family will do to Seth.
It’s all good. Obviously the outcome was the way nature intended. Kimbo needs to fight Bert Rogers. If he loses that one, it’s back to Youtube and bodyguarding Porno actresses for Kimbo.
The rest of the card was great. I’m looking foward to Hector Lombard at the next Elite XC event in November.