Strikeforce purchases ProElite [updated]

speeds · Feb 4, 2009

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/2/4/749156/pro-elite-nearly-sold

After a number of deals falling through at the last minute, it appears Pro Elite has either been sold or is in the very final stages of being sold as of this morning. Under the terms of the sale, the buyer would likely return to CBS television with live events this year.

The most likely buyer is Strikeforce. The other leading contender was King of The Cage, but industry sources have suggested that Pro Elite fighters are much more willing to fight for Strikeforce than KoTC, and the ease of signing new contracts may have played a part in finalizing this deal.

If the buyer is Strikeforce, the contracts are probably not transferrable, but the vast majority of fighters will likely be happy to just move over and fight there just to get on with their lives.

This is great news for fighters who are finally free from limbo to pursue their careers. If Strikeforce is the buyer, every fighter will have a choice to either move over to the new organization or pursue free agency. As the UFC learned when they bought Pride, personal service contracts are generally not transferrable, especially in a right to work state like California.

[UPDATE] by Nick Thomas: Scott Coker from Strikeforce the new owner of ProElite?:
Click to expand...

Big Frame · Feb 5, 2009

Re: Strikeforce buys EliteXC, will come to CBS?

Sooooo, does this mean Kimbo can fight again?

speeds · Feb 5, 2009

Re: Strikeforce buys EliteXC, will come to CBS?

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=8127&zoneid=2

Twenty-four hours is a long time in the world of MMA.

One day after reports surfaced of an impending deal with ProElite, Inc., Strikeforce has confirmed their purchase of select assets of the troubled Los Angeles-based company.

The assets purchased include the library of events under ProElite’s mixed martial arts promotion, EliteXC, and the contracts of up to a third of the ProElite athletes.

Until now, the bulk of fighters under contract to ProElite were unable to fight for other promotions as the company teetered on the brink of extinction. Only days before the deal closed, several fighter managers were banding together to dispute their contracts in court.

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker stressed that the new deal will put fighters back to work.

“This is a tremendous development that will bolster the Strikeforce roster and allow us to produce even more competitive matchups between top fighters,” said Coker. “Some of these athletes have been on the sidelines for a while now and are eagerly waiting to return to competition. We look forward to providing them with the opportunity to do so in the next few months.”

Reports have indicated that Elite stars Gina Carano, Kimbo Slice, Jake Shields, Robbie Lawler, and Nick Diaz are included in the package. Yet Shields informed MMAWeekly.com via text message that he was “not sure yet” about his participation in the new deal, and Lawler’s manager, Monte Cox, said his fighter was still negotiating with Strikeforce.

“We will negotiate with them and see,” said Cox.

According to sources with knowledge of the deal, Strikeforce has also inked a new television agreement with CBS and Showtime. The agreement includes operating eight to 10 live events in the next 36 months on Showtime and the option to produce up to four live event specials on CBS, presumably in EliteXC's former timeslot of 9 p.m. ET.

The San Jose promotion’s next event, scheduled for April 11, will be broadcast on Showtime. Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Frank Shamrock will headline the event, with a middleweight bout between Benji Radach and Scott Smith set for its main card. Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson is also confirmed for participation. Thomson and Shamrock's opponents have not yet been determined.

Details on the new television agreement between Strikeforce, Showtime, and CBS were not revealed by a press release issued by Strikeforce on Thursday.
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speeds · Feb 5, 2009

Strikeforce is a good group of people, this bodes well for MMA.

Some fighters will attempt to negotiate their way out of their EliteXC/Strikeforce contracts in order to sign with the UFC, or simply fight the contracts out and try to leave.

Zuffa, specifically the WEC, is supposedly hotly pursing Gina Carano for a Carano/Santos fight.

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Strikeforce purchases ProElite [updated]

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Strikeforce purchases ProElite [updated]

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