EliteXC
Elite Xtreme Combat, also known as EliteXC, was a U.S.-based mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. It was founded as a partnership between Showtime Networks Inc. and ProElite, Inc. and officially announced on December 14, 2006. It was headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
The partnership to form EliteXC was announced on November 13, 2006. The first major event occurred February 10, 2007 at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, Mississippi. Fighters Frank Shamrock and Renzo Gracie fought in the main event.
In early 2008, EliteXC had reached an agreement with CBS to broadcast EliteXC shows on prime time. The arrangement was that CBS would broadcast EliteXC specials every other month on Saturday nights. CBS aired only three events in 2008, on May 31, July 26, and October 4. ProElite announced on October 20, 2008 that they would cease operations.
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[edit] ShoXC
On July 11, 2007, it was announced that Proelite.com and Showtime would produce a new series titled ShoXC. The monthly shows will highlight up-and-coming MMA talent, similar to Showtime's ShoBox boxing events. The first took place on July 27, 2007. The first event was co-promoted with King of the Cage and was also known as KOTC: Undisputed. Gary Shaw stated that there will be 4 ShoXC events in 2007 and 8 in 2008.
[edit] Partnership with Cage Rage
On September 7, 2007, ProElite, Inc. announced that they had officially accquired British MMA organization Cage Rage Championships. EliteXC and Cage Rage Championships planned numerous joint ventures together, beginning with Cage Rage 23.
[edit] Partnership with DREAM
On May 10, 2008 EliteXC announced a working partnership with Japanese promotion DREAM. The two groups intended to share fighters (Eddie Alvarez, Jason Miller and Nick Diaz have already participated in DREAM events) and eventually co-promote shows.
[edit] Co-promoting with Affliction
On September 24, 2008 EliteXC announced a working partnership with rival US promotion Affliction. Affliction offered Andrei Arlovski vs. Roy Nelson for the EliteXC: Heat card on CBS. In addition, Affliction heavily promoted their line through commercials on the show. It was hoped that the two companies would survive a rocky financial situation long enough to co-promote fights again in the future.
[edit] EliteXC Downfall
On October 4, 2008, popular EliteXC fighter, Kimbo Slice, lost via early knockout to late replacement fighter Seth Petruzelli. The unexpected outcome of this fight drew a great deal of attention, and subsequent comments by Petruzelli that he was offered a monetary bonus to employ certain techniques during the fight (comments he later recanted and obfuscated), raised the question of undue influence by EliteXC representatives in fights. Significant debt incurred by parent company Pro Elite with no investors or buyers showing interest caused the subsequent cancellation of the November 8, 2008 event. Combined with the Florida State Athletic Commission launching an investigation into the Slice/Petruzelli fight, Pro Elite announced on October 20, 2008 that they would cease operations.
[edit] Champions
Below is a list of the last champions, before the promotion ceased operations:
- Heavyweight: Antonio Silva
- Light Heavyweight: Vacant
- Middleweight: Robbie Lawler
- Welterweight: Jake Shields
- Lightweight: Vacant
- Featherweight: Vacant
- Bantamweight: Wilson Reis
