According to the Fight Works Podcast, Nick Diaz has signed a deal with Elite XC, Gary Shaw’s new MMA promotion on Showtime. Diaz was thought to be under contract with the Gracie Fighting Championships and scheduled to fight Thomas Denny on January 20th, but the GFC has postponed that show. Now that Diaz has signed with EliteXC, maybe that signals some deeper internal problems for the GFC.
In a conference call held today with EliteXC president Gary Shaw, Renzo Gracie, Frank Shamrock and others, it was announced that Nick Diaz has signed with EliteXC. More details are on the way but that was all Shaw would provide in relation to Diaz, who is sure to be a draw. Until recently Diaz was believed to be under contract with the Gracie Fighting Championships.
Other highlights from the call included the EliteXC’s desire to someday take part in events which include fighters from other organizations. Shaw emphasized co-promotion’s ability to garner more fans and grow the sport based on his experience in boxing promotion.
Also of note is that EliteXC plans on offering internet streaming of the undercard for free the night of the event. Backstage coverage will be included and is designed to make the fan really feel to be a part of the experience.
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Amber
eric
capt.ADK'er
Yael Grauer
itzFORT
Singh is King
Fizzlesticks
WTFH
Studog
Man, I wish someone would hurry up and start the MMA channel before this goes too far!
Wouldn’t the MMA channel be the perfect venue to host events which include fighters from all organizations?
If we don’t have some omnipresent solution soon, I’m afraid that the division of fighters among all the different organizations will dilute the quality of the fights even more than it is already.
You know the fighters will keep jumping ship for more money until this phenom planes off.
Yea, it could be kinda scary if fighters do jump ship. But one thing you have to look at is that the UFC should always be the most competitive organization when it comes to salaries for fighters. Also even though you loose fighters occationally, you gain some too. The UFC got Rampage and Cro Cop this year. That offsets anyone they lost. Diaz is an exciting fighter, but he started to look a little sloppy and wasn’t very consistant. The UFC should continue to have the best fighters in America for quit sometime. It would only change if management from the UFC starts competeting for jobs at different organizations.
Does this mean that we WON’T see Nick Diaz in the Octagon again anytime soon??
i would really like to see more inter promotional events. like when liddell fought in pride they introduced him as “UFC’s chuck liddell” that would give promoters way more options on big events. more of a pool to scoop from. a joint ufc/pride grand prix event over the course of a few months and back and fourth between japan and the states. would probably make a **** load of money for everyone involved. i would like to see something like this happen for all the fans who want to see huge fights that we all want to see but probably wont get to. imagine wanderlei silva vs. chuck liddell for the unified 205lb. title. i know this is just a fantasy but just let a dreamer, dream LOL
Hey Brian, Remember that Dana had to buy the organization to get those fighters. They would not have left Pride for UFC individually. Frankly Pride pays better.
And just wait until the WWE guys get involved…. yck!
Right now, the UFC is the gravy train for both fighters and management. Even though Pride might pay out more, it is more dangerous to compete there while at the same time not gaining as much notoriety here in the states, which is where fame is really made.
We all know that Pride fights are usually more brutal, refs don’t stop them as quickly as in the UFC, and Pride rules allow for kicks to the head when an opponent is down, which can be fatal…especially when it’s a trained martial artist doing the kicking.
So money wise, fighting for Pride takes a lot of just that…PRIDE. And, plenty of balls too. The money might be good, but at what cost.
I don’t think anyone in the world could have predicted the MMA/ UFC explosion here in the U.S. It all happened and is still happening so quickly, everyone is trying to jump on board and make a profit…while everyone who was here from the beginning is trying to hold on to as much control as they can.
Regardless, if any Pride fighter wants real world-wide exposure, they need to be here fighting in the UFC, and I think that is whats catching on. Fighting in Japan will get you known in Japan…fighting in the UFC will get you known world-wide. We are witnessing the emergence of “celebrity fighters”, just like boxing used to have. All we can do is hope that management listens to us, the fans, and arrange fights that we want to see and will pay to see.
I honestly don’t think that any of these smaller venues will ever get any respect or notoriety. They will just be a kind of “D-league” like in the NBA, where Dana and Joe Silva go scouting for future talent, but will never stand reputably alone.
Did you not hear that Pride is opening headquarters in Vegas?
Did you not hear that the WWE is considering starting a MMA division?
Did you not hear about EliteXC signing about a dozen fighters including the Crow, and now Nick?
No, I actually did not hear about the WWE stuff. That is one of the reasons I am here. To hear about stuff. From what I understood, Pride was only having one event in Vegas, the “WWE MMA” in my opionion, like I said, will not be able to legitimately compete with the UFC. They simply have the market cornered. Celebrities do not go to these other rinky dinky events, they come to the originator.
And EliteXC will not survive on UFC hasbeens like Crow and Diaz. Just cause Diaz claimed fame by knocking out Robbie Lawler doesn’t make him a superstar in my opinion. He has lost several matches since then but they keep giving him second chances for some strange reason, just like Joe Riggs. For all I care, they can have em.
Welll… you have the right to your opinions, but wherever there is money to be made….
Gotta defend Diaz some though, because he got into a war with Diego.
Yea, as long as Elite is signing UFC drop outs; they will never compete on the same level as the UFC. I think Amir is right. The UFC will use these other organizations to scout for future talent. If Nick was to do exciting things at Elite, we could possibly see him back in the UFC.
And I know that the UFC had to buy Rampage and Cro Cop. Who cares? If they cut 4 average fighters with 4 average salaries, then turn around and get 2 GREAT fighters with BIG salaries…well I think that’s a win-win for all of us.
I’m a little mixed about Diaz. I thought he was cool because he punked Lawler, who was just a steroided bully with a big mouth. But then when Diaz started to lose fights, he would ***** and complain and give his opponents no respect, even after losing to them. I agree with Brian, the UFC has always and will continue to scout the smaller venues for talent. Ex. Joe Riggs always used to and still occasionaly fights at smaller shows. When he or anyone else dominates those, the UFC calls them back.
Cro Cop and Rampages salaries should not even be an issue because the clean profit that will be generated by bringing them in, not only from PPV sales, but merchandising…will be triple-fold as to the fighters that were lost. Cro Cop is obviously a championship caliber fighter and a future Rampage/ Liddell rematch would completely eclipse any financial loss.
In addition, I’m also sure that Mirko and Rampage fully understand the significance of becoming part of this marketing, profiting juggernaut UFC. So, the UFC boys must have worked out a plan convenient for everybody not just those two.
Anyone think Fedor will join Cro Cop in the UFC someday?? And if so, could Cro Cop drop to light heavyweight or is that to much weight to loose??
I think that Fedor will come to the UFC and fight Mirko. Now about Mirko cutting down to lightheavyweight I think that would be no problem he only weighs 218 pounds so he could cut down to lightheavyweight. Call me crazy but I think Mirko will hold both the UFC heavyweight and lightheavyweight championships before he retires, maybe even at the same time.
If anyone could hold both belts it would be Mirko. Both Cro Cop and Liddell seem to be counter fighters, so it would be interesting to see them hook it up.
i have been waiting for a long time for someone to come along and win more then one title at a time. cro cop has what it takes to do that. if he was to win the heavy weight title first then make a run at light heavy he could pull it off. about defending two titles now that would be something. if ANY fighter could win and defend two titles even once in like a two year span or less that man would for sure be my hero!!
Amir you can’t say that Loiseau and Diaz are weak fighters. No one ever put Diaz away. Diego Sanchez, Joe Riggs, Sean Sherk beat Diaz but had to let the judges decide. Loiseau went the distance with Franklin. I think Diaz would might have been better served to go to the Lightweight division if possible. I will agree that he wasen’t consistant enough. But I think it’s a loss regardless.
Thank you Stevo! Well done.
I’m glad a decent promotion picked him up since the UFC decided not to renew his contract. Win or lose he always put up a good fight and was always entertaining.
I don’t recall ever stating that Crow and Diaz are weak fighters. I just think that it is in the best interest of the UFC to properly recycle fighters who were not performing for fighters that are and will in the future. I don’t think that just cause he went the distance with Franklin that should mean anything significant. After all, he was getting beaten for about 4 straight rounds and obviously had no desire to fight. Your telling me that just because a guy is able to prevent being knocked out, he deserves a huge contract? Don’t get me wrong, Crow has a reputation of being one of the nicest guys out there which I like, but I though most of his few UFC performances were unimpressive, especially against Franklin.
By the same token, I guess your one of those guys who loves Tim Sylvia, just cause no one has “put him away”. That’s ridiculous. These guys get paid to train, fight, and try to win…not to make sure they don’t lose. As far as Diaz goes, if he was unable to compete against the top fighters in his division, then the UFC has the right to give other up and coming fighters chances.
@MAD
The UFC offered Nick Diaz a contract extension, it was Diaz and his management team that decided not to resign with the UFC
I didn’t realize that. Hope he made the right decision for himself. The Elite XC seems to be a good promotion so hopefully he will do good there. I ordered Showtime just for Elite so at least I’ll still be able to see him fight.
i still think pride has the better selection of fighters take any champ in the ufc and i can give u at least 3 names that has more than a chance at beating them but try to do that with the talent the ufc gots and i bet u couldnt
I totally agree with you Richard I think that right now Fedor, Mark Hunt, Josh Barnett, Randleman and Noguiera could all beat Tim Sivia while in the UFC they are throwing people like Jeff Monson (who cant strike half as well as any of the guys mentioned above) and Randy Couture (who can’t possibly be any older and still fighting). Pride has the better overall fighters but I still think that the UFC brings more excitement especially that they signed Mirko Cro Cop (who is the most exciting fighter in the world, even more than Chuck). And if you need proof of that just listen to the crowd when Mirko is fighting the fans go crazy even more so than they do for there own Japanese fighters.
Now I think that Chuck Liddell could take Pride’s champ. I also think Anderson Silva could too. Now I’m speaking about SAME divisions. And GSP should be able to run through all of the Pride people (@ same weight) also.
I do agree, however, and I said it earlier; that Pride has the better contenders. They go pretty deep in all their divisions. The UFC has a wonderful light heavyweight division. A up-n-coming lightweight division. A crapy heavyweight division. As for welter weights and middle weights…well we have great champs, but minus the people they took the belts from in the first place the divisions kinda blow. Sure there’s potential, but I really don’t think Silva or GSP have much worry about keeping their titles by this time Next year.
Go ahead and say I’m wrong if you think so…
silva i dont see anyonebeating him anytime soon but gsp im not really liking so much i think diego sanchez will take his belt
@richard
i think your right about silva and that he’s not going to lose anytime soon. the man is a sniper with the punches, kicks, and knees. i dont think sanchez can beat GSP. like hughes, sanchez has a good style and can get the job done, but i still think he is a step or two behind st.pierre as far as skills go. watch st.pierre vs. trigg or st.pierre vs. hughes 2 and you’ll see GSP’s skills at there best. sanchez relies on a lot of take down and ground and pound type fighting and that method has worked for a lot of fighters for a long time but i think guys like st.pierre are taking the next step and the ground and pound style fighters are going to have to step up to his level or be left behind.
i just read on mmaweekly that diaz has signed a deal with pride and he’s going to fight at light weight over there. it would be kind of cool to see a diaz vs. gomi for the light weight title.
I think Gomi would take him. If he does pretty good, which I think he could, at lightweight then he could have a couple of big-time fights in the lightweight division UFC. Like someone said, he could benifit more in dropping weight. I really wanna see him do it.
A trip to other organizations could really do Diaz so good. His looses (in my opinion) were not particuarliy bad losses. He just got to be inconsistant. He was growing up and learning. He once said ” I’m starting to understand the game better” when talking about loosing a decision. He’s starting to understand that a wins a win and to keep score in his head. Unfortunatly that’s the way some of these guys fight. Diaz has always faught and never seemed to care what round it is and what the judge’s score was.