It is looking more and more likely with each passing day that CBS and Showtime will be airing mixed martial arts in 2009. Sources have indicated that the company would be willing to financially support a promoter in purchasing ProElite and the fighter contracts, which would mean a rebirth of EliteXC, the company that has been either dead or near death since October.
If someone is able to purchase the fighter contracts, it would mean that Kimbo Slice, Gina Carano, Jake Shields, Robbie Lawler, Frank Shamrock, Nick Diaz and Cris Cyborg would remain under contract to the company.
Eddie Alvarez has a contract that allows him to fight for FEG, and Frank Shamrock is allowed to fight for Strikeforce, but the rest of the roster haven’t been able to negotiate with any of the other major groups. Zuffa has indicated that they will immediately sign Carano, Shields and Lawler when they are available, but they can’t do anything until the ProElite situation is finally settled. Dana White has had a major change of heart when it comes to Carano; six months ago, he was adamant that he wouldn’t do women’s fighting, and then he said he might put it in the WEC. Recently, however, White has told people within the company that he’s leaning towards putting Carano on UFC pay per view events. She’s a proven major draw and to overlook her as a money-maker just because she’s a woman would be shortsighted.
