Petruzelli comments; fan outcry prompt preliminary investigation of EliteXC follwoing Oct. 4 event
By: Jesse Holland
I’ll say one thing, Seth Petruzelli sure knows how to show his appreciation for getting the chance to fight in the main event on network television.
After dropping EliteXC main attraction Kimbo Slice in just fourteen seconds at Saturday Night Fights on October 4, “The Silverback” went on Orlando’s Real Radio 104.1 and claimed EliteXC officials instructed him on how to approach the fight, with a financial benefit for keeping the fight standing.
From Petruzelli:
“My original plan was to throw out push kicks, have him think that I’m gonna throw them more, and then to shoot in on him, obviously. But the promoters kind of hinted to me, and they gave me the money to stand and trade with him. They didn’t want me to take him down, let’s just put it that way. It was worth my while to try to stand up and punch with him.”
Those comments caused an uproar in the fight community as fans cried foul over the possibility of EliteXC tampering with fights to protect top draw Kimbo Slice. Enough of an uproar to prompt Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) to open a preliminary investigation into the matter according to ESPN.com.
Unfortunately for EliteXC, then memories of Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson back on May 31 are still fresh in the minds of a lot of fans, where some very questionable officiating, scoring and promoter antics saw Slice win in controversial fashion.
Still, the investigation may be nothing more than a formality. Jennifer Meale, Communications Director for the DBPR is already downplaying their involvement:
“While the Department of Business and Professional Regulation doesn’t have any reason to believe there was a problem with the Slice-Petruzelli fight, given the interest in it, the Department has begun a preliminary investigation to thoroughly review the circumstances of the fight.”
Jeremy Lappen, Chief of Fight Operations for EliteXC, doesn’t seem too concerned about the investigation, despite the damage an accusation like this carries in the court of public opinion. Not just to EliteXC, but to the credibility of mixed martial arts worldwide.
From Lappen:
“We were not trying to protect Kimbo. He had been training to fight a guy in Shamrock who has a better ground game than Seth. If we were trying to protect Kimbo we would have sent him home. We put him in a dangerous fight.”
Petruzelli has since recanted his position and claims that his original statement was misconstrued. Still, whether the investigation finds something of merit or just simply goes away, EliteXC once again walks away with an air of distrust.
Not exactly the best way to save what some insiders are calling a sinking ship.
41 Comments »
nothing will come of this, even if it’s true, elite will say extra money was compensation for taking main event on short notice. seth has already back peddled, so this is just a formality. I think the funnier thing is that (greed boy) kimbo demanded more money to fight seth…and got it!
“Greed boy” lol! He would have got an extra 100K if he won.
This is for all, or should I say two guys that were defending EliteXC yesterday.
CBS paid for all the expenses of the EliteXC show! But CBS also took all the revenue! Its an article on cagepotato.
So you guys yesterday were saying that the event was a success. It might have been, but if it made any money, CBS took it all!
So XC pays their fighters, Affliction pays AA/Country and CBS makes all the profit from the gate and TV. Sounds like a great deal for CBS and not so much for the others.
exactly. this is why the ufc turned down a cbs deal last year. it was a crappy deal.
Those two same guys might be the same two on the “other website” saying the same thing…defending elite xc.
good. they can stay there.
Forget Elite, the Florida Athletic Commission needs to be investigated. But you are right, nothing will come from this and it’s too late - the damage to MMA has been done already.
HAHAHA I am in Florida and this whoe scenario is so funny. Yeah Florida’s Athletic Commission is not the only thing that needs to be investigated. Do you have any faith in any government based program in Florida? The very same state which ruined 2 presidential elections. Good Luck on that. The only good thing in Florida is the beach and Universal, other than that don’t count or put to much faith in us….
It’s just a matter of time. There’s no reason to investigate. EliteXC has one last hope, Tito Ortiz. I love the guy, but I think he’s making a huge mistake going there.
Tito may not be able to fight for a year. I am not sure Elite XC will even be around this time next year.
Look at that picture, Kimbo got KTFO by a dude with a limp wrist and pink hair… LMAO!
They won’t be able to prove anything, especially since Seth is already backpedeling. But like Mania said, the court of public opinion is very damaging!
“limp wrist” LMAO!!!!!! Imagine how all the thug wanabees in Kimbos crew must have felt? Trying to stand there looking tough, while “pinky” is knocking out Kimbo!!!
The funny part is that I actually read an article saying that the gay community rejoiced when Petruzelli won. They stated that Seth was a gay, and showed a picture of him in a gay outfit. I didn’t really bother to take notice of it though because it was like a cheesy TMZ type site, and the picture looked like it was taken from a halloween party. I found it when I did a search to read more on the fight. It may still be there.
he’s not actually gay, he’s married to a woman. not that there’s anything wrong with that….
alot of gay guys marry a woman for cover and financial reasons, just like a mutual tax break for both of them
Nice Seinfeld reference b.w.. I was going to add that myself, but I thought my post was already too long. haha
The FSAC didnt seem to want to investigate at first. So I dont think they will do much in this investigation?
What can they really investigate? Hearsay? Unless there is an unexplained train of money leading back to Seth they can’t do much. I understand that this is damaging to the sport of MMA but sweeping this under the rug is just as damaging.
i agree its just for show.
EliteXc should of given Seth a Muzzel.. with the $$ to bang with Kimbo.. I just do not like to hit this making on MMA as a whole.. like that MMAHater Wilbon from PTI.. saying dumb ass comments..referringto all of MMA as phony as WWF.. Oh man. .that shit gets me tight. Who cares about Kimbo.. that Freaking much.. Elite should of never pushed so hard.. the YouTube Phenom.. of like Frank Shamrock said in the earlier Mania Thread.. have the replacement be a fighter with a ” name “.. not the nameless.. Elite kind of did this to themselves.. and F’d with the sport of MMA. Bastards.
i hate to say it. but i agree. at 1rst i was glad when seth spoke the truth, but now i wish he would have kept mum about the whole deal. it’s like almost everyone knew that elite was crooked anyway. now, like you mentioned, this is ammo for all the old anti-mma farts to bash the sport we love and now is for real. this could and probably will be used as a factor in not getting mma legalized in NY.
I think I can do a better job of running Elite XC. What a bunch rich wannabe business men trying to get their part of a possible cash cow. They are ruining mma as an image. This is the kind of shysterous b.s. that you see in movies, like Diggstown or something. How can you possibly take these people seriously with or without an explanation. Gina, Jake, Frank, and Robbie need to aquaint or reaquaint themselves with the UFC. Sh*t, Affliction would be better for them than Elite XC. I guess bad promotion is better than no promotion at all. It is what it is.
Affliction has big tim taking dives not sure if its better over there, and they have already shown they are in bed with Elite.
You think Tim took a dive?? Woah.. he took an upper cut from Fedor..which caused his body to drop to the floor.
From Lappen:
“We were not trying to protect Kimbo.”
LOL!! ……. LOL!!!
No really, LOL!!!!!!!!!
why does no one bring up tank abbott’s ric flair impersonation against kimbo when discussing potentially fixed fights?
There is no way anything is going to come of this,has any boxers ever been caught,not that i remember,although everybody and their mama knows there have been plenty of boxing matches .The only way ,is if somebody high up admits to it ,which is not going to happen and even then EXC will blow it off as a disgruntled employee.This is just to make people think they are doing something.
The real idiot in all this is Seth Petruzelli. Regardless of what happened, he should have just kept his mouth shut and enjoyed his 15 minutes and try to milk it as much as possible. Elite XC mite have tried to push him for there LHW division but the moron just could stay quiet.
On a side note, ho are people shocked about this anyway?? u know the ufc tells guys the same things. U always see Dana on tv saying they hate boring fights and guys that let the fite go to decisions. This type of stuff happens in all sports, fights are either fixed or changed up.
I would of exposed them and stuck to my guns.
yea and then every other promotion will not want u to work for them either and you wont be able to fight anywhere.
Its pretty obvious what happened: EliteXC paid Seth to stand. When he spilled the beans, EliteXC called him up and told him to shut-up, promising him a headline fight and a big raise.
EliteXC is done with. Tito is over-the-hill, and he’s greedy. He’s gonna suck the rest of the money out of EliteXC and leave after they go bankrupt.
“Seth Petruzelli sure knows how to show his appreciation for getting the chance to fight in the main event”
Yeah, really being appreciative would have been to keep all of Elite’s underhandedness to himself, so that everyone can continue to get duped by a non-integrous organization.
Do you think kimbo still wants “chuck” to come down to his gym as hes “always here” for people who want a piece of him lol. I think kimbo would shitty in his panties if the ICEMAN walked in now, knowing he hasnt got a chin!!!
If I may go on a little bit of a rant…
This Kimbo situation has looked like somewhat of a scam all around.
Isnt it possible that all of this was set up? Actually Kimbo taking a fall. all of this hype around Elitexc.
Would they be getting this much talk after the Shamrock fight? No conterversey there, win or loose.
Who of you will not watch, not only, the next Kimbo redemption fight, but the next Pertuzzeli fight?
At least they admit that they WERE trying NOT to put KimSlow in a dangerous fight.
“We were not trying to protect Kimbo. He had been training to fight a guy in Shamrock who has a better ground game than Seth. If we were trying to protect Kimbo we would have sent him home. We put him in a dangerous fight”
but how are u going to make us believe u didnt pay shamrock for something? i dont know. i like shamrock but he is going downhill plus he is always chasing paper. EliteXc screwed up in my eyes if all this is true.
I give props to Seth for being so open, unlike the majority of pro athletes.
gimme a break this is kimbos camp asking for an investegation ,for something said in an hangover laden stupor ????,gimme a break ,i see it and everyone sees it ,u lost suckit up…seth said it the wrong way nothing illegal was done and who cares if xc said keep it on the feet ,didnt it end by ko anyways???cant really cry kimbos suppose to be a bad ass puncher all he ended up being is all ass on the ground ,,,even if it hgets thrown out as a fight EVERYBODY KNOWS OLD GLASSCHIN IS IN THE HOUSE ,,I CAN SEE IT NOW JIMMY LENNON JR YELLING OUT HERE HE IS ,THE INTERNET SUCKSATION KIMBITCH SLICE ,I CAN SAY ONE THING THE ONLY FERGOUSON I WANNA SEE ON ALL 4S AGAIN IS FROM THE BLACK EYED PEAS …BUHBYE KIMBO ,LIKE EVEN YOUR TRAINER SAYS YOU DONT HAVE THE TALENT FOR THE MAIN EVENT…STAY HOME NEXT TIME ,I THINK I HERE SHOXC CHALLENGER SERIES CALLIN YOU [UNDERCARDS ]
APOLOGY ACCEPTED KEN ,AND U PULLING OUT COULDNT HAVE WORKED BETTER THANK U FOR SHOWING THE REAL ONE DIMENSIONAL KIMBO,ITS OBVIOUS THAT THE MAN WAS FLUSTERED ,BUT A REAL MMA;ERSHOULD BE READY FOR ALL AND EVERY ENCCOUNTER AND AN REAL PRO IS READY FOR ALL COMERS ,…U HEARD IT HERE FIRST…KIMBOS A FARCE ,AND BAS RUTTEN IS RIGHT ………………KIMBOS SHOULD NOT BE ON THE MAIN CARDS…………….EVER !!!
Lol, follwoing.