Toxic

Am I the only one who doesnt want to see Lawler/Shamrock in Elite XC? The CBS show wouldnt be the same without Shammy rocking the mic, I really think Elite XC should keep Frank behing the annoucing desk and out of the cage.

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J.P.

Hell na, I need to see Frank whippin some ass still.

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Hett

I don't know how anybody could deny the UFC has the best WW division. Under your theory that UFC has the best "known" fighters, how can we every say who has the best fighters in any division? The WEC has a better WW division than EliteXC. There are plenty of fighters in the UFC who don't even get respect when they beat fellow UFC fighters, how is Shields ever going to get respect if he's fighting other fighters that many people on here have never heard of? He does have some big victories no doubt, but I don't see who he'll be fighting in the future at EliteXC.

Damone

Hector Lombard was once rumored to fight Shields (Of course, it ended up being Thompson). A Lombard vs Shields fight would be pretty damn swanktastic.

J.P.

[quote]][quote=Hett[/QUOTE]Exactly, that is my point. Also since many UFC fighters carreers have been closley followed and televised, it is easy to beleive that they are better than fighters whom we have not heard of. And these fighters that we haven't heard of have beaten other fighters that we haven't heard of. So it's hard to give these fighters credit. Some people choose to discredit them by saying things like......UFC fighters are better.


I could see Drew Fickett and Jake Sheilds dismantaling the WECs WW division.


Why should they? They are merley defeating other UFC fighters. Same as Robbie Lawler defeating Scott Smith, alot of critics won't respect that victory, saying that Scott Smith isn't good enough to even fight for a title.........But Patrick Cote, the man challenging Anderson Silva for the title, couldn't put Smith away. As a matter of fact Smith, Had Cote in trouble a few times in that fight. Cote won by decision. A poor decision if you ask me.


Feel free to re-reference.







He'll probably fight the next #1 contender for the title.

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Hett

[quote=J.P.;623607]This whole theory is crazy. UFC just didn't pick their fighters out of a hat, publicize them and then they make the top MMA rankings. They got to the UFC because they were scouted and successful in smaller MMA organizations. I'm sure the UFC has scouts watching fighters in lower MMA organizations and sign them to the WEC and UFC when they think they are talented enough. It's true there are probably very talented WW's fighting in smaller MMA promotions that could be successful against the top UFC WW's and it's only a matter of time before they break through into UFC/WEC/ELITE XC/DREAM. UFC would be crazy to let another organization sign young talent and fight somewhere else.

You will hear fighters all the time say they want to fight the best fighter available, they want to be considered the best and they want the respect. Well Shields will never be considered the best fighting in Elite XC, he'll always be a "consensus top 10", or whatever they called him, and he can never say he wants to fight the best while still getting paid by Elite XC. UFC will never do a cross promotion because it wouldn't be fair to the other UFC fighters who are fighting and deserve a title shot against GSP/Fitch more than Shields does

J.P.

[quote=Hett;623618][quote=J.P.;623607]


I am confident that Pro-Elite uses the same methods.


I couldn't agree more.


They already have.


How can you be so sure? EliteXC is growing. Enough of a threat for Dana to counter promote every time so that the fans do not see these great fighters perform. He's trying to keep the "who" factor going. Going out of his way if he's not threatend.


If his fighters lost to fighters in another org. on a cross promotional show, Dana could no longer say that the UFC "has the best fighters in the world"

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Hett

[quote=J.P.;623625][quote=Hett;623618]I think you are giving EliteXC way too much credit. They have had two aired shows on CBS so far. I don't remember UFC doing anything special during the first show on May 31st. Spike may have aired some "UFC Unleased", but that isn't counter programming. Last Saturday they aired a PPV re-run, hardly a serious attempt to counter a program that didn't even advertise. Counter programming is what they did against Affliction, running a free and live event. Elite XC is not threat to UFC.


That's one aspect. There are also significant other aspects. Like risking injury of their fighters. Sporting leagues sign the highest caliber athletes and expect them to produce for their company and make their company money, not promote a rival company. Pretty much in the history of any two competing groups, the higher group (in this case UFC) wouldn't do anything to promote the lower group (EliteXC). It makes absolutely zero business sense for UFC to cross promote.

J.P.

[quote][quote=Hett;623633][quote=J.P.;623625]
They made the entire night dedicated to Chuck Liddell "Ultimate Iceman" and some other special crap during the first CBS broadcast.

IF EliteXC is not a threat now as you claim, they are coming close to being one. Too much talent in the ranks. And alot of potential for expansion. With fighters competing in Dream and other shows they get fan base. They than come home to compete in EliteXC. Look at the numbers of the Homepage of MMA forum. UFC has the most numbers. The next highest number of threads and replys is EliteXC. EliteXC has only been on its feet for how many years?


I don't agree. I think it would be an embarassment to Dana for some of his fighters to lose to fighters in another org.

Again, Dana would not be able to claim that the UFC has "the best fighters in the world"

It boils down to that, who is the best question. Dana won't risk it.

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Hett

[quote=J.P.;623643][quote][quote=Hett;623633]That's even worse. Like I said, Silva/Irvin was counter programming, a show about Chuck Liddell isn't.

Well unfortunately for EliteXC and CBS, the amount of posts on this website doesn't pay their bills or impress their sponsors. The ratings Saturday night were pathetic, many dedicated MMA fans here forgot all about it, how many people here ever forget about a UFC PPV?


And like I said, I agree that is an aspect of it. But you're crazy if you think it's the only aspect. If a UFC fighter is going to get hurt, White wants him to be hurt in a UFC event, where the UFC is making all the money. Not on some cross promotion event. Not too mention all of the other business details we can't even imagine. The UFC makes it's fighters sign exclusive contracts, that isn't unreasonable, it's pretty standard for a professional athlete not to compete in other organizations. Other promotions have to be flexible because that is one of their only appeals compared to UFC contracts.