ProElite, EliteXC Going Out of Business
ProElite, the parent company of mixed martial arts promotion EliteXC, has called it quits.
MMAFrenzy.com has learned that the struggling company, which aired its third live event on CBS just weeks ago to solid ratings, will cease operations on Friday, informing employees and fighters of the decision earlier today.
At this time no official announcement has been made. MMAFrenzy.com sent a request for comment to ProElite, but the company declined to comment on the development.
The company also owns stakes in a number of smaller promotions including King of the Cage, Icon Sport, and Cage Rage and also maintains relationships with DREAM and Strikeforce among others.
A planned November 8th event in Reno, Nevada featuring Nick Diaz vs. Eddie Alvarez for the promotion’s vacant lightweight title has been canceled as part of the company’s decision to go out of business after losing nearly $60 million over its two year existence.
HAHAHAHAHAHA
I ****IN KNEW IT….
Yeah, I think we all saw this one coming eventually, though I expected them to hold their November 8th show before it happened. Huge news nonetheless.
BOOOOO!!!!
so what happens with all the great fighters??? hahhaahaaa
where do u think kimbo will end up????
Its not that I enjoy watching MMA fail, F the Shaw’s they don’t belong in MMA they can go back to ruining boxing
I just hope that Ninja Rua, Lawler, Radich, Shields and Villesenor end up in the UFC so there will be some depth in the Middlewieght and Shields will be a new contender in the welterwieght division. I also hope that Noons and Diaz go to the lightwieght division. THE UFC WOULD BE STACKED!!!
betcha kimbo signs with the UFC. as much **** as Dana talked about him, he will want to bring him in and get him crushed.
I think a number of the fighters will probably come to the UFC (and boy would this be a time to start a women’s division and sign Gina Carano) and the rest will disperse throughout other promotions including Affliction, Strikeforce, DREAM, etc.
Man Nick Diaz can’t catch a break…..I was hoping the title shot would happen…The entire XC bill should be sent to Gary Shaw.
I’m sure it won’t happen but hopefully this means Kimbo goes back to the street fights, honestly I liked watching those more then his MMA fights.
Kris I totally agree with you on the women’s division in the UFC. If there was a time it is now. You know Dietrich I cannot feel too bad for a guy who simply could not follow the rules of the athletic commission. Hopefully this will bring him back to the UFC and he can stay smart but I would put money on Affliction trying to buy up a lot of the lighter guys to try and build their lower divisions. Anyone else think this is hysterical with Tito saying he was negotiating a contract with them…good times…
I’m all for a women’s division if it’s the same amount of time and rounds as the men’s division.
I dont really care to much about the rest of the EliteXC schmucks…..but I hope Lawler comes back to the UFC. He is a great fighter and is still on top of his game. He wouldnt beat Silva….but would make it a good fight.
The UFC has to act fast on that free agent market, or Affliction just blow up there next card with all that talent ….. womens division is amazing kind of steals the show but just not sure if the UFC wants to take a chance on it right now, I can see the UFC waiting for more highly skilled women before they take a chance cause really the only mega fight for the women is Carano vs Cyborg. As far as Diaz and Ninja goes I can see them in Strikeforce or Affliction. The only ones I truely want to see inthe UFC is Lawler, Radich, Shields and Villesenor / KJ Noons / Brett Rogers / Eddie Alvarez / Paul Daley / Yves Edwards… wouldn’t mind seeing Antonio Silva but I don’t really see him in the UFC
Agreed fellas, the women consistently put on exciting fights, but I too would like to see them do 3×5 rounds. 3×3 simply isn’t long enough in my opinion. I don’t see the UFC jumping on this opportunity but I definitely think one exists.
I agree with the list ufcmanz, those are all very solid fighters I’d like to see sign with the UFC, especially Rogers so he can face off with some quality opponents to see how legit he truly is.
I don’t think the UFC will take a risk on Silva considering the positive drug test he had, maybe if its overturned but I really doubt it.
That sucks. I hope the UFC starts a woman’s division especially when you have the huge match-up between Carano and Cyborg; the biggest matchup in women’s MMA history. The UFC has to make that match. Unfortunately, I don’t think they will. Affliction will scoop right in and create the woman’s division and possibly work out a deal with CBS to take EliteXC’s time slot on Saturday and on Showtime.
I actuallt think StrikeForce will come out with most of EliteXC’s roster as UFCmanZ stated ya Diaz will probably go there I think most of the HW guys might go there, I think they need a little more finacial backing most likely
UFC needs to pick up Sheilds and Alvarez no doubt Villasenor I doubt they will pickup Kj is in a difficult situation now isn’t he
Affliction will pickup quite a few of these EliteXC players as well
Does that mean that Strikeforce is also out of business?
Or is Strikeforce a different company?
O and Lawler I hope gets welcomed back to the UFC
We all saw this coming, I think its funny that they finally went belly up. Its sad to see the competition go, and I was glad to have the free fights even though the organization was poorly run. I hope that Lawler, Rogers, Radach, Alvarez and Shields get picked up by the UFC. I don’t see the UFC picking up the women, but maybe Zuffa would grab them and put them in the WEC. Sucks for Tito, he was so proud to be signing with them…now he gets to see what happens when he tries to make the UFC the Tito show. Sucks for Diaz, but I don’t like him anyways, so whatever. I think Lawler has a good chance at getting picked up by the UFC because of his friendship with Matt Hughes.
mmmm. where is Tito going to go?
While I think Affliction will buy up some of the contracts they also posted a pretty large loss too. So do not expect them to go too crazy because if they do I could easily see them folding after the Day of Reckoning card. I have to agree about the women though. I think Affliction will buy up to have the Cyborg vs. Carano fight under their banner but the UFC is going to be waiting until the division actually fills out more.
I believe StrikeForce is a independent organization…
Also I don’t think Dana would allow women in the UFC but he also isn’t that controlling with the WEC sooo perhaps they would pickup the ladies… WEC has always been for the fast paced most entertaing product as well as growing new stars Gina v Cyborg would be sick in the WEC, most likely the too would end up in StrikeForce they do womans MMA (I believe)
FR,
I’m with you, I think most of the women from Elite will end up with StrikeForce as they do women’s MMA.
Right, Strikeforce is still independent as is DREAM and Rumble on the Rock. ProElite/EliteXC simply had relationships with these promotions. The bigger question is the fate of the promotions they actually owned and whether they’ll continue to operate or not.
Also, StrikeForce is an independent organization. “Since 1995, Strikeforce has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion , the company unveiled its mixed martial arts series with “Shamrock vs. Gracie.” Since then, it has co-produced the first SHOWTIME PPV mixed martial arts event in history with its world championship “Shamrock vs. Baroni” card on June 22, 2007.”
What do you guys think of a womens TUF. I think I would watch. Gina once a week. Gina and guyborg could face off at the end in the finale. Could be the UFC’s intro to womens MMA.
BW,
Not sure if there is enough market for that yet and/or enough good female fighters. There are good enough female fighters, but not enough good ones, yet.