It’s funny what major network television exposure can do for a promotion that is eager to lock-in its stars to long-term deals.
Street fighting legend Kimbo Slice, female MMA phenom Gina Carano and EliteXC Middleweight Champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler all signed “long-term extensions” with EliteXC today.
This announcement comes just 45 days away from one of the biggest shows in the history of the sport — the network MMA debut on CBS from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on May 31.
Slice, Carano and Lawler are all set to be showcased that night and EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw and the promotion are hoping its stars shine bright for their new (and massive) network audience.
Slice will fight in the main event against British heavyweight James “The Colossus” Thompson. Carano will lock horns with Kaitlin Young, and Lawler will defend his middleweight title against Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith.
I have to say Gary Shaw has done a superb job building EliteXC from the ground up. His flexibility when it comes to contracts mixed with his matchmaking skills and the uncanny ability to recognize and build stars have really done wonders for that company.
Here are Shaw’s thoughts on each of the signings:
“Kimbo has already become an MMA star due to his incredible popularity on YouTube. His backyard street fights are legendary. No question Kimbo has made a successful transition from Street to Elite and is on his way to becoming a superstar and world champion.”
“Gina became an instant star after her first fight for EliteXC and has gone on to gain even more national prominence. She truly is the face of women’s MMA, an inspiration to many up-and-coming athletes and is a perfect illustration as to why women do indeed have a place in this sport and with EliteXC.”
“Robbie’s nicknamed ‘Ruthless’ — what more you need to know? He’s tough, hard-nosed and always been highly regarded. EliteXC is extremely proud to have Robbie as its world middleweight champion. Robbie has shown time and again that he’s one of the most thrilling fighters in any weight class in MMA.”
I don’t blame any of the three for sticking with EliteXC right now instead of opting for possible “bigger” pastures. A quality promoter, a network tv audience, and world class competition … what more could a fighter ask for?
39 Comments »
Damn, Gary Shaw don’t mess around…Dana says he’d sign Kimbo and BAMMM – Kimbo has an extension
Shaw doesn’t mess around – Dana shows interest in Kimbo and he signs him to long term.
The talent pool is miles and miles away from the UFC… with CBS stepping on board, EliteXC could give the UFC a run for it’s money in a few years… network tv equals big money…
The talent pool is miles and miles away from the UFC..
WTF?
Cung Le, Frank Shamrock, Renzo Gracie, Nick Diaz, Phil Baroni, Crazy Horse, Robbie Lawler, Ninja Rua, KJ Noons, Ricco Rodriguez, Yves Edwards, Smokin Joe Villasenor, Scott Smith, Drew Fickett, James Thompson… Stop me if I mention someone you’ve heard of. All of those guys fought either pride or ufc, except Le, who is only the most legendary thaiboxer of our time. Sounds to me like there are some bandwagon fans in here. Frickin’ amateurs. Kimbo has the power to activate anyone’s dental plan and under the tutelage of El Guapo, sky’s the limit. All in all, I’d say EliteXC is for real. I dunno if anyone can succeed on network tv, even ufc, but I’m rootin for ya Gary!
Shaw is really doing a good job. For all the times he comes off looking like a tool for trying to yell at Dana, he really has developed EliteXC. Hope the production comes off really well.
I actually like watching the women fight. UFC’s loss for not doing it sooner. Think they had a female kick boxer on once, and it was mentioned way back when.
Thats one thing that will never sell is women fighting. Women sports have the worst ratings on tv and make the less money. Look at women boxing thats practically dead not even Laila Ali could make intersting. the Reality is everyone would rather see two women kissing on the latest production of Reality Kings.com. Sex sells id rather see Gina Carano on the next edition of play boy.
im with that Gina is HOOOTTTTT
Laila Ali SUCKS as a boxer. She became famous because of her daddy and her daddy alone. She has never taken a challenger that had any real talent, such as Lucia Rijker and Anne Wolfe, who would have wiped the floor with her. If Women in MMA take an all challengers, you will see true fighting. If not, it will go down like Laila Ali…like I said, she really sucks.
You want to hear a joke?
Womens sports
I love Gina Carano and Nick Diaz is one of my favorite fighters. That keeps EliteXC on my radar.
so, he takes the winner of sylvia vs. fedor? lol
Well hes giving money to make more money smart business. Now the product didnt get any better but we will have to see who else he signs in the future. I watch EliteXC to see MMA and they do have some good fights. They just dont have the best fighters. Doesnt mean its not entertaining though. I do get sick of Gary Shaw and his crap and how they promote things but thats just me.
Mania, why a big ass pic of Kimbo? Post up Gina!
Amen! Put Gina up there she’s a perfect inspiration for women. I love her! She is amazing and still manages not to look like a man!
The way I see it is the b-level fighters are free to watch, and the top dogs cost money.
the tv deal looks like a great move for gary shaw and elitexc
the exciting b level fighters are great for elitexc to build a show around and tying them up to longer deals is a smart move
guys like shamrock baroni nick diaz lawler kimbo
know exactly what is needed to get the fans on their feet
they may not even be in the top 20 in their weight class but that really doesnt matter
even seasoned mma fans would prefer a kimbo fight to tim sylvia lay n pray
taking a street fighter over a guy whos legitimately a top 5 HW
karo, sherk and several others who try to grind out decisions can ruin an event
fans want to see action
the best fights (especially when you are trying to build a fanbase) arent neccessarily between the top ranked fighters
bonnar griffin and tyson griffin vs frankie edgar
are 2 of the most exciting fights iv ever had the priveledge of watching
gina carano is a hard one to make a call on
she does have talent but at thge same time i dont think america is ready to watch women fighting in a cage on CBS
its the kind of thing that fuels the uninformed jackass critics like john mccain and bill o reilly and all these other idiots who are passing opinions on something they have absolutely no idea about and have probably never even watched properly
imagine the outcry if gina carano who looks like she could easily be a perfect 10 model ended up getting knocked out and was lying on the canvas a bloody swollen mess… really cant see that being good for the sport
i have absolutely no problem with women fighting mma as i dont have with kids
but its the kind of thing that can bring unwanted bad publicity so may be better to keep it out of sight for the time being
on ppv or for people who have paid to go to the live event theres no issue
but to stick it on free tv puts it in the homes of people who could be incredibly outraged by it
Dana White’s plan was to say that he would sign Kimbo just to make Elite XC give Kimbo alot of money. And when he goes against a quality opponent Kimbo will get his ass handed to him. Elite XC will be stuck with paying alot of money for an exposed fighter.
Or they will just Kimbo keep fighting guys who are out of shape, washed up, past their prime, of are in thier mid to late 40’s. Great plan Shaw!
U mean like Brock Lesnar?
“A quality promoter, a network tv audience, and world class competition … what more could a fighter ask for?”
World class competition? LOL…I’m sorry but that was funny.
Dana expressed interest in Kimo yesterday. Today Dana is going to issue a statement about what a bum Kimbo is.
According to Dana: If you dont fight in the UFC you are Garbage!
ha! ha! youre right he probably will or h’ell say he was just joking or wasn’t serious. we all know dana never lies (wink). what sad is that these 3 are the showcase and not shields, noons and diaz. lawler is decent, but not as well known as the other 2. no bigfoot either and he’s their world champ. oh well at least its free and i personally am looking forward too it. shaw would shit his pants if thompson took slice down or landed a lucky ko punch. he does have quite a reach on him i would think. i would also think that training w/team quest would make him a little smarter and more well rounded, but it didn’t show in his last fight.
gina is attractive but the fights are terrible. her first fight on exc was against a lady that was supposedly really good at bjj. she could not maintain any good position and they both were basically falling all over each other. They made herring and kongo look like adcc standouts.
Gina will kick your ass anyday (and mine), youtube her highlights. I look forward to this card, I know my girl will have a new favorite fighter
no she couldnt. standing she may beat me up a little bit but she couldnt knock me out. ima man. not much of one but a man nonetheless i would choke her out with ease.
World Class Competition???
What “world class competition” can eliteXC match-up against Kimbo?
Great piece, James. It’s nice to see that someone can have a massive ego and maturity that occasionally matches a teenager’s and keep them both seperate from his business decisions. Dana could learn a thing or two.
Lawler vs. Smith is gonna be awesome.i am hoping for a 10 -12 min war with one of them getting KOed. the winner should get to fight Cung Le next. IMO it probaly will be better than Kimbo vs. Thompson.i dont think that thompson can survive more than 90 seconds against Kimbo. i hope that they give Slice a tougher opponent in his next fight. i would like to see him against the Headhunter Paul Buentello. i havent see gina fight yet but im not very interested in ladies fighting in MMA.
He doesn’t have the stable of fighters the UFC has…..YET. If he keeps making the right moves, it’s only going to take a domino or two to fall before we could see a major migration.
I’m definitely not predicting this to happen, but anyone who thinks it’s not possible has been drinking too much UFC Kool-Aid.
Amen to damaja! Gina is amazing, put her up there! She is a great inspiration for girls involved in MMA! I love her she’s awesome!
EliteXC has a few decent fighters. IMHO EliteXC is roughly equivalent to the WEC. To infer that Shaw has done “a superb” job is engaging in hyperbole. The jury is still out. I’ll be very surprised if they’re still in business in twelve months.
dont hate on girl mma. there fights are entertaining. no feeling out time whatsoever.
I saw that documentary a few weeks ago on MMA, Elite XC, and showed Carano training….Whooooo!!! she’s smokin for a tough chick!
I don’t think Dana would have signed him anyway. Think he’s just saying “if” it happend he would feed him to Liddell, because he loves Chuck.
Gary Shaw knows he needs to keep these fighters around if he wants to build his MMa promotion..It was only a matter of time he would lock-up these fighters..
I know Kimbo has not competed on a high level in MMa, but aside from the potential he has(which is higher then some think) Kimbo is a big draw, and deserves the money he is going to make….good for him.
Gina was a must for Gary Shaw to lock-up aswell as Kimbo,.
She has put women in MMa, on the map and deserves the money Elite is giving her..
Robbie Lawler on the other hand was not a must, but he is their MW champ and he is a known fighter to the MMa fans, so locking him up is good for Elite, but not nearly as good for them as signing Gina, and a far cry from how bad that needed to extend Kimbos contract.