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With Kimbo Slice, Down Goes EliteXC – SPORTS AGENT BLOG
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With Kimbo Slice, Down Goes EliteXC

I once made an analogy: EliteXC is to the UFC as Showtime is to HBO.  That analogy is no longer the case.  While many view Showtime as a slightly inferior competitor of HBO, EliteXC is no longer even a blip on the radar for UFC.  Back when IMG brokered the deal between EliteXC and CBS, which mandated that ProElite, Inc., the title company to EliteXC, produce four prime time live two-hour MMA events on CBS for multiple years, it looked like EliteXC might just be a viable alternative to UFC.  But Paul Schackman predicted on June 2, 2008 that promotion of Kimbo Slice being a MMA superstar is going to turn out being a disaster.  Paul is often dead-on on his predictions and he did not fail us on this one.  Multiple reports have confirmed that ProElite and its EliteXC program are done for good and that its remaining cards are canceled.  CBS is thrilled with its investment..

While CAA was busy getting involved in the successful UFC, CBS decided to invest in EliteXC, which turned out to be a failure.  It looks like another SportsAgentBlog.com contributor’s (Jared March) post was right on in his mock letter from WCW’s Eric Bishoff’s to EliteXC’s Gary Shaw.  I really loved fake Bishoff’s parting advice,

My only other real advice is to enjoy it while it lasts. I had this moment you’re at right now. I did this NWO thing and had a good run beating the ratings of WWF. Really, our products just aren’t as good but it sure makes for a fun ride while we are out ahead. If you need someone to book fights, I’m actually available to work now. That’s it for me, but keep up the great work. WCW and Elite XC, like brothers separated at birth.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Heitner created Sports Agent Blog as a New Year's Resolution on December 31, 2005. Originally titled, "I Want To Be A Sports Agent," the website was founded with the intention of causing Heitner to learn more about the profession that he wanted to join, meet reputable individuals in the space and force himself to stay on top of the latest news and trends.

Heitner now runs Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., which is a law firm with many practice areas, including sports law and contract law. Heitner has represented numerous athletes and sports agents as legal counsel. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington from 2011-2014, where he created and taught a course titled, Sport Agency Management, which included subjects ranging from NCAA regulations to athlete agent certification and the rules governing the profession. Heitner serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he teaches a Sports Law class that includes case law surrounding athlete agents and the NCAA rules.

3 replies on “With Kimbo Slice, Down Goes EliteXC”

With the stronghold that UFC has on the market, it is very difficult to compete. The only way for another brand to establish itself and split the market would be with a roster of excellent fighters (but you can’t hide good talent and UFC would have no problem paying them much more). Now, if a big time investor such as Ted Turner or even Vince McMahon dabbled into MMA, that would be exciting.

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