Justin Eilers

UFC, WEC, and EliteXC veteran Justin Eilers died early this morning as the result of a single gun shot wound to the chest suffered during a domestic dispute at the home of an acquaintance in Canyon County, Idaho.

Canyon County Sheriffs arrived at the house at 10:44pm MT to find Eilers wounded and were unable to save the fighter’s life.

According to reports, Eilers had gathered at the house with relatives and friends to celebrate Christmas but an argument reportedly arose between Eilers and his ex-girlfriend, who was also present at the residence. The dispute then escalated, culminating with James Robert Malec, believed to be the boyfriend of Eilers’ mother, shooting Eilers once in the chest with several family members witnessing the attack.

Malec was apprehended by authorities and has been charged with second-degree murder.

Following his collegiate football football career as a linebacker at Iowa State, Eilers was recruited to Miletich Fighting Systems by Jens Pulver, eventually making his MMA debut in late-2002. He holds a 19-7-1 record as a professional fighter, including a 1-3 mark in the UFC. Following an 8-2-1 start to his career, Eilers debuted in the octagon, stopping Mike Kyle via first-round knockout. Despite losing to Paul Buentello at UFC 51, Eilers challenged Andrei Arlovski for the heavyweight title, losing in the first-round due to a knee injury. A third-consecutive loss suffered to Brandon Vera marked Eilers’ last appearance in the UFC but after winning 10 of his next 11 bouts Eilers challenged Antonio Silva for the first-ever EliteXC heavyweight championship, losing via second-round TKO.

He was 30-years-old.

The eleven-bout event took place on Saturday, July 26th, at the Stockton Arena in Stockton, California.

Newly-crowned EliteXC heavyweight champion Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva was the highest paid fighter of the event, taking home $200,000 for his second-round TKO victory which aired on Showtime. EliteXC middleweight champion Robbie Lawler received $90,000 for successfully defending his 185-pound title in the night’s main event, new EliteXC welterweight title-holder Jake Shields earned $45,000 for his first-round submission win, and Stockton-native Nick Diaz took home $60,000 for his TKO victory.

“Unfinished Business” had a paid attendance of just 3,701 and a total attendance of 6,572 for a live gate of $268,715. 2,023 tickets, worth $206,155, went unsold while $340,960 worth of tickets were given away.

The disclosed payroll for the event was $533,501.

The salaries listed below represent the official fighter salaries as reported by the promoter to the CSAC and do not include some bonuses, fees, or sponsorships.

Robbie Lawler def. Scott Smith
Lawler — $90,000 ($45,000/$45,0000)
Smith — $14,000

Nick Diaz def. Thomas Denny
Diaz — $60,000
Denny — $8,500

Jake Shields def. Nick Thompson
Shields — $45,000 ($35,000/$10,000)
Thompson — $25,000

Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos def. Shayna Baszler
Santos — $6,000 ($3,000/$3,000)
Baszler — $8,000

David Douglas def. Marlon Mathias
Douglas — $4,000 ($2,500/$1,500)
Mathias — $2,500

Antonio Silva def. Justin Eilers
Silva — $200,000 ($100,000/$100,000)
Eilers — $20,000

Rafael Feijao def. Travis Galbraith
Feijao — $20,000 ($10,000/$10,000)
Galbraith — $5,000

Wilson Reis def. Brian Caraway
Reis — $5,000 ($2,500/$2,500)
Caraway — $2,000

Anthony Ruiz def. Jeremy Freitag
Ruiz — $5,001 ($2,001/$3000)
Freitag — $2,500

Carl Seumanutafa def. Mike Cook
Seumanutafa — $4,000 ($2,000/$2,000)
Cook — $2,000

Drew Montgomery def. Brandon Tarn
Montgomery — $3,000 ($1,500/$1,500)
Tarn — $2,000

Lawler, who defeated Smith via TKO in the main event to retain the EliteXC middleweight title, has been suspended for 60 days due to a head laceration while Smith will be out of action for 45 days for precautionary reasons following the TKO defeat.

Light heavyweight Travis Galbraith, who was defeated by Rafael Feijao via first-round knockout, received a 180 day suspension for a possible broken rib.

A portion of the eleven-bout card aired on CBS and Showtime.

Here is the complete list of medical suspensions issued by the CSAC:

• Robbie Lawler (defeated Scott Smith) — Suspended for 60 days due to a scalp laceration.
• Scott Smith (defeated by Robbie Lawler) — Suspended for 45 days with no contact for 30 days due to a TKO loss.
• Thomas Denny (defeated by Nick Diaz) — Suspended for 45 days with no contact for 30 days due to a TKO loss.
• Marlon Mathias (defeated by David Douglas) — Suspended for 45 days with no contact for 30 days due to a TKO loss.
• Shayna Baszler (defeated by Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos) — Suspended for 45 days with no contact for 30 days due to a TKO loss.
• Justin Eilers (defeated by Antonio Silva) — Suspended for 45 days with no contact for 30 days due to a TKO loss.
• Travis Galbraith (defeated by Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante) — Suspended for 180 days due to a possible broken rib. Minimum 45 day suspension with no contact for 30 days due to a TKO loss.
• Wilson Reis (defeated Brian Caraway) — Suspended for 60 days due to a scalp laceration.
• Mike Cook (defeated by Carl Seumanutafa) — Suspended for 60 days due to a right lateral knee injury. Minimum 45 day suspension with no contact for 30 days due to a TKO loss.
• Drew Montgomery (defeated Brandon Tarn) — Suspended 60 days due to a left eye laceration.
• Brandon Tarn (defeated by Drew Montgomery) — Suspended 60 days due to forehead laceration.

For more on EliteXC “Unfinished Business” click here.

EliteXC “Unfinished Business” Betting Odds

• Robbie Lawler (-240) vs. Scott Smith (+190)
• Nick Diaz (-650) vs. Thomas Denny (+450)
• Jake Shields (-340) vs. Nick Thompson (+260)
• Shayna Baszler (-200) vs. Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos (+160)
• Antonio Silva (-575) vs. Justin Eilers (+375)
• Rafael Feijao (-500) vs. Travis Galbraith (+350)
• Wilson Reis (-150) vs. Brian Caraway (+120)

Bet on MMA at Bodog

Three title bouts headline Saturday’s event as Robbie Lawler looks to defend his middleweight title against Scott Smith in a rematch from Saturday Night Fights 1, Jake Shields and Nick Thompson clash to crown the first-ever EliteXC welterweight champion, and Antonio “Big Foot” Silva takes on Justin Eilers for the newly-created EliteXC heavyweight championship. Popular-yet-controversial UFC veteran Nick Diaz will also be in action at the event, taking on Thomas Denny on the CBS-televised card.

As always, MMAFrenzy.com will have live coverage of EliteXC “Unfinished Business” this Saturday beginning at 6pm ET.

MAIN CARD

• Robbie Lawler (c) vs. Scott Smith
  EliteXC Middleweight Championship
• Nick Diaz vs. Thomas Denny
• Jake Shields vs. Nick Thompson
  EliteXC Welterweight Championship
• Shayna Baszler vs. Cristiane Cyborg
• Antonio “Big Foot” Silva vs. Justin Eilers (Showtime)
  EliteXC Heavyweight Championship
• Wilson Reis vs. Brian Caraway (Showtime)
• Rafael Feijao vs. Travis Galbraith (Showtime)

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Mike Cook vs. Carl Seumanutafa
• Brandon Tarn vs. Drew Montgomery

Eilers (19-6 MMA, 1-3 UFC) is a UFC veteran turned MMA journeyman, who is fairly outmatched in every possible angle against the bigger, stronger, and more technical Silva.

Silva (10-1 MMA, 3-0 EXC) has notable wins over Ruben Villarreal, Tom Erikson, Wesley Correira, and Ricco Rodriguez, while Eilers has been (T)KO’d during the first round of three of his four UFC bouts.

Eilers is indeed a peculiar choice for “Bigfoot”, though EliteXC attempted to secure various different opponents according to FiveOuncesofPain.com:

“…Fighters such as IFL heavyweight champion Roy Nelson and Sergei Kharitonov had been rumored as potential challengers for a possible title fight vs. Silva. When asked about specific names, Shaw declined to answer, but he did state that EliteXC officials had contacted several other fighters in addition to Eilers in regards to fighting Silva. According to Shaw, the other fighters had either outright declined the fight or priced themselves out of the picture.”

The title bout will be among three fights featured on Showtime beginning at 8pm prior to the main card airing on CBS at 9pm.

EliteXC’s “Unfinished Business” will be headlined by Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith who will meet in a long awaited rematch for the middleweight crown, while Jake Shields and Nick Thompson are tapped to face off for the vacant welterweight title. Hometown favorite Nick Diaz will also be competing on the card against King Of The Cage veteran Thomas Denny.