The death of EliteXC has been on the bigger stories in MMA this year. The promotion seemed to be on the right track building stars and having potentially the biggest in the form of Kimbo Slice. But Slice being exposed quickly as a typically green fighter, the financial hole the promotion was in becoming public, and the promotion’s inability to create big matchups at the rate the UFC has been able to all ended with the promotion’s folding.
The promotion started out well enough in 2007 by running cards based around the concept that all Indy MMA promotions—most notably WEC, Rumble on the Rock, and Strikeforce—have done: plenty of young talent looking to make an impact and a few known fighters to provide enough star power to bring in the crowds as the promotion grows. EliteXC’s first show—Destiny—is a perfect example of this as lesser known fighters like K.J. Noons, Antonio Silva, and Joey Villasenor got a perfect platform to show off their skills while more known fighters like Wesley “Cabbage” Correira and the main-event fight provided the star power. That main event was Frank Shamrock against Renzo Gracie, a perfect main-event for a starting Indy fed as it had to guys with name value to even non-MMA fans—pretty much everyone knows the names Shamrock and Gracie—and two guys who had legend status amongst die-hard MMA fans and MMA insiders.
And while the promotion never really wavered from this approach, they were never really able to get to the next level as forces out of their control and very much in their control conspired to bring the promotion down quickly, like most Indy’s. In their control was the fact that their participation in co-promoting the disastrous Dynamite!! USA show as well as going to network television long before they had any right to helped sink them into the financial hole that ProElite was already in by the time CBS even came calling. Out of their control was the fact that despite putting on good cards on paper, they could never draw paid crowds the likes of which UFC is able to do almost with ease now, more because they didn’t possess the kind of draws or the same volume or well done marketing & advertising that UFC possesses. Combine that with the Kimbo debacle and they were already blindfolded as the proverbial firing squad was readying to fire.
And in case people believe I’m giving Kevin Ferguson a hard time, let me set the record straight on that one. My gripe at Kevin Ferguson is that he basically became a victim of his own hype. Ferguson has basically been nothing but a pro noting his own inexperience while the rest of the public built him up, and up, and up to the point where that loss was seen as some kind of magic upset and the death knell for a promotion instead of what it was: a green fighter getting beaten at his own game by a more experienced fighter. In reality that’s all it was, but because EliteXC invested so much in him, and because the public—and Mike Wilbon—invested so much in him, that when his aura of invincibility went, so did a lot of John Q. Public’s interest in MMA. I guess I’m pissed at Kimbo Slice because his story—in MMA—is a sad, sad commentary on the public’s perception of this sport, and maybe the public in general.
However, the main story now is what will happen to the big names associated with EliteXC at the time of its demise as the futures of basically of the recently folded promotion’s big names is still up in the air.
Here’s my take:
Kimbo Slice
Dana White has already made it clear that The Ultimate Fighter is the only way at this moment that Slice would be in UFC and that simply isn’t going to happen. Strikeforce may take a look at Slice for his leftover drawing power, but Japan seems to be the best option for Kevin Furguson as he could receive the Bob Sapp push in Japan as he has more charisma than Sapp does and his fame—quickly dwindling as it is—in America would make it even easier for those in Japan to make him a star as with Sapp they had to start from the ground up.
Gina Carcano
Whether she continues to fight or not, Gina’s legacy as the pioneer of women’s MMA is sealed. Still, the Cyborg fight lingers and with the hype given to that potential fight over the summer and with the fall of EliteXC, this will be the biggest fight in women’s MMA history should it happen. If a promotion like Strikeforce were to put up enough cash to make the fight happen, it’ll happen. If not, it full relies on how much of Gina’s hunger to fight remains. There’s big money in acting and television and The Rock has never looked back when he left pro wrestling, so for Gina it’s a big we’ll wait and see.
Murilo Rua
With his brother being in UFC, there’s a chance that Murilo could end up there. However, his recent losses in a televised fight and title fight against Robbie Lawler, will likely prevent Rua from entering UFC with his best hope being desperation from Joe Silva in finding a new challenger for Anderson Silva. My best guess would be Japan for Murilo as the Rua name still means more over there than it will in America due to Murilo not being as popular as his brother and his brother’s combination of recent injury woes and inactivity.
Nick Diaz
While he’s already made his intentions known that Japan is his destination, don’t rule out a fight or two in UFC with his brother being there and all. And while DREAM or World Victory Road will be Diaz’s Japanese destination, I’m leaning towards DREAM as the fight with Sakurai for the promotion’s welterweight title—a fight EliteXC helped delay twice—could finally take place. Make it happen Nick.
Jake Shields
UFC would be the best destination for him with Shields being the only male big name fighter from EliteXC to escape controversy of any kind. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Shields and Thiago Alves fight somewhere early in ’09—the Ohio show in March would be good—as Shields wants GSP, but would have to earn it with GSP having a lot on his plate in ’09 should he hang on to the belt. As for Shields, there’s Alves, Fitch, Koscheck, and more potential fights for him.
Joey Villasenor
Strikeforce seems to be the best bet for Villasenor. Villasenor has spent his whole career in the U.S. mostly in King of the Cage and making his biggest mark—and having some of his most exciting fights—recently in Strikeforce and EliteXC. Villasenor however really lacks the “it” factor that UFC would look for in bringing in people from EliteXC as he is enjoyable to watch, but mostly in the ring. While UFC could still bring him in, I think that Strikeforce could get more mileage out of him and turn him into a big draw in California in the process.
Brett Rodgers
This man’s MMA career may have peaked when he talked smack about Kimbo Slice before CBS’ first primetime outing. Rodgers should’ve gotten his shot at Kimbo and likely would’ve beaten Kimbo. The problem is that Rodgers hasn’t fought since his win at the end of May and because of his lack of exposure in the final months of EliteXC, his inactivity, and his status as a green fighter whose biggest career win was against James Thompson, there just isn’t a lot to work with. Rodgers’ most likely path will be down the various smaller Indy fight promotions in the U.S. possibly surfacing if a promotion like Strikeforce or UFC—in a prelim non-televised capacity—is willing to take a shot with him.
Seth Petruzelli
I would’ve said WEC as a potential destination for Seth, but its expulsion of the light heavyweight division puts him out in the cold there. UFC tried him and he went 0-2. With a 10-4 record and his only really big wins being against a much-overrated Kimbo Slice and a way past his prime Dan Severn, Strikeforce could take a shot at him, as that is their main function. That is really Seth’s best shot in terms of fighting in America, unless he goes the route that Rodgers will likely have to go and go from Indy to Indy. However, his win against Kimbo could put Japan—since Kimbo is thinking of going—into the picture if Seth wants to fight over there.
Frank Shamrock
Frank will fight his next fight in Strikeforce if they get the national T.V. show—a big possibility. If they don’t, then the fight with Ken is the most likely rout for a guy who really doesn’t have to prove anything in the MMA world and has been exciting in defeat as of late (the Le fight is proof of that) and still has his dominant edge that created his legend in the first place (see the Caesar Gracie and Phil Baroni fights). Whether Tito’s idea for a 10th anniversary fight with Frank comes to fruition really depends on if the two can meet on terms. If Frank stays with Strikeforce or Tito gets signed by Affliction or both, the only way I can see that fight happening is if they co-promote it themselves like Ken and Frank may attempt to do with their fight. As for whom Frank may fight in ’09, a rematch with Le is possible, and the Ortiz fight is possible, but unlikely. Past that it’s really up in the air.
K.J. Noons
No fucking idea. Noons really became a free agent before EliteXC’s demise and if UFC didn’t pick him up then, he likely won’t pick him up now. Strikeforce could be a good location for Noons, but I honestly could see him ending up in World Victory Road as DREAM has more name lightweights, but DREAM could make the second Diaz fight happen down the road, but that is more fantasy booking than anything. Honestly, if UFC doesn’t want Noons, there’s no reason that WEC—also Zuffa-owned—wouldn’t want him, as Pulver was able to land in WEC after his UFC contract expired. Same principle applies with Noons.
Antonio Silva
With California’s ruling on Silva’s positive steroid test, UFC is out as well as Strikeforce. I think DREAM would be the best option for Silva as he has a good record, a few big wins, and was supposed to fight DREAM heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov for EliteXC’s heavyweight title originally. In DREAM, the Kharitonov fight can happen and Silva has a positive going for him being a big Brazillian who isn’t just a big, plodding heavyweight.
Robbie Lawler
Lawler has been in UFC before and Dana will likely pick him up as potential challenger for Anderson Silva. That being said, Lawler could land in Strikeforce if he stays in the U.S., the UFC has such a deep roster—combine that he having to pay all of them—that a Jake O’Brien situation could arise where a talented and capable fighter could be fired simply for financial reasons. These firings have happened in UFC and Pride in the past and have little or nothing to do with interior politics, but with drawing power and Lawler—with his UFC stint being pre-Ultimate Fighter—likely doesn’t have it as UFC has name middleweights like Silva and Rich Franklin and Jeremy Horn as well as newer middleweights that they’ve begun marketing to the public with Thales Leites coming to mind as a good example.
