EliteXC may be headed to Las Vegas.
The company has filed for a promoters license in Nevada, Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletics Commission (NSAC), said in a recent chat with the Las Vegas Sun.
Promoters must get a license to hold sanctioned fights in the state. Kizer said granting the license would likely be discussed at a commission meeting in the nex 45 days.
“I know they really want to do a show in Nevada,” Kizer said. “I think they would do well here.”
Las Vegas is home to the UFC corporate headquarters.
The UFC routinely sells out venues on the Strip. However, with the exception of two Pride shows in late 2006 and early 2007, rival promotions have not ventured into the city that bills itself as the “Fight Capital of the World.”
In the chat, Kizer also said it’s likely that today’s UFC 86 will be one of the top five MMA gates in Nevada history. That would mean Zuffa is set to earn at least $3.3 million with tonight’s live attendance. The number one MMA gate in the state remains Liddell-Ortiz II at $5.3 million.
It would be tough to break that record in Mandalay Bay. The MGM Grand — site of the top gate — holds more than 2,000 more people than Mandalay.
17 Comments »
I am curious to see how well EliteXC would do in the UFC capital of the world. It will take 1 hell of a fight card to attract crowds in Vegas because the UFC has set real high standards. I cants ee them having a successful card in Vegas with out Kimbo. I cant believe I just wrote that, but its the truth. Like it or not Kimbo has the most drawing power out of anyone on their current roster! Thats sad!
Kimbo has a lot more drawing power than most fighters in MMA right now. He was on the cover of espn. That is even more sad.
JOHN. your right, no kimbo, no go. i do see this as a smart move on elites part though. vegas is the fight capital of the world and they might be able to sell tickets there out of curiosity and off of the ufc’s succsess there. they could advertise nick diaz, lawler, and a few others as “former ufc fighers” and ride a little off that. im not sure how many of the fans that go to live events in vegas are hardcore fans like you and i and many others on this site, i think some just go for the whole spectacle of it. they will have to have some legitimate ighters and match-ups to go there on a regular basis. it is sad but true that kimbo is their biggest draw, but its their own fault (especially gary shaws!)
BW: u r absolutely right!
This is Dana White’s motherfuckin’ town.
hear?
good luck on getting one.
Name 5 fighters who would be a bigger MMA draw than Kimbo, on Tv or in a venue, Im not talking strictly hardcore fans, I mean fans period, what other name will make a guy leave the craps table and get a grandma off of the slot machine? Ill help:
Rampage
Chuck
BJ Penn? Not unless its in Hawaii
GSP? Not unless its in Canada
Maybe the Spider can draw em in but I dont know
If Kimbo is fighting in Texas, New York, Miami, Idaho, Milwaukee, anywhere its a sellout.
I dont know who else TRANSENDS MMA and makes people just want to see him regardless of skill level
The sell out events, come from the curiosity of how Kimbo would do in MMA. Now that the people have seen that he’s not that good, I think that people will start to loose interest. It’s the reason why Brock Lesnar is getting paid well. He brings in alot of WWE fans. Only Lesnar has real credentials and will be a beast.
To say Lesnar has real credential but kimbo does not is a joke! Both are respectful of the sport and working hard to improve their skillls…I would place them on the same level the only difference is that 1 is a striker the other is a wrestler and at this point in their career, they are better suited for certain match ups. Mir was a horrible match up for Brock. I do think that Kimbo could have probably beaten Mir if he could keep the fight standing. THat doesnt mean Kimbo is more advanced then brock it just means certain fighters that arent well rounded match up against better guys stylistically than others!
I would put Kimbo and Lesnar on the same level…neither is well rounded, but both can be successful against the RIGHT stylistic match up! If they were to fight, Brock would win, but if you find someone to stand n bang with Kimbo, he has a great shot!
Where are Kimbos credentials? You mean if I put together some wins in my backyard I’ll have credentials too? Since when does being respectfull to the sport give you credentials? The only thing thats a joke, is you saying Lesnar and Kimbo are on the same level.
Lesnar is light years ahead of kimbo,I can’t believe that you are actually serious.Brock Lesnar would destroy kimbo in a matter of seconds kimbo can’t defend the ground, Lesnar takes him down as soon as it starts ,and just starts punishing him ,and then it is stopped.You go ask 90 percent of real fans and not the ones that worship the ground kimbo walks on ,and they will tell you the same exact thing
who else that reads this site regularly, thinks that this John cat is full of shat. I have been reading this site for a while now, but this is the first time that I will call bs on someone. $1200 on Rampage? I bet you’re a 17 year old that is a great pretender. Dude makes like 20 posts per. Another bet John, masterbation and mma is all you got goin’ on huh bro. Sad really. Two shots in the dark…I hope they hit you.
No way that record that Lidell and Ortiz set, will ever break.
I am willing to bet you a lot that it does break. I reckon over a million will be standard ofr a big fight soon, whenever Rampage or GSP fights they will sell 1.3 or 1.4 million every time in the near future (2010?). Just take boxing for example, records break all the time (DLH/PBF in the States, Hatton/PBF in the UK, Hatton/Pacquiao worlwide?)
UFC 86 in a few hours! 3am baby! Any news on the UK fight card in October, unless Wandy or Anderson go I am missing it. Most other top dogs are all booked up, (thanks to TUF grr!)
Just say NO Vegas, Just say NO
There was a time i was interested in EliteXC and their posterboy Kimbo slice. then i saw the last event on CBS. i am no longer a fan. whether they hold events in vegas or not, i do not care. there are many people like me who no longer care about eliteXC and any move they make.