Pro Elite, promoter of EliteXC-branded mixed martial arts events broadcast via Showtime television, is negotiating to purchase ICON Sport and King of the Cage, two of mixed martial arts longest-running and successful North American organizations, Sherdog.com has learned.
"I have no comment at all," EliteXC's Gary Shaw said of the rumored deals, which if consummated would also provide Pro Elite with two of the deepest video libraries in the sport. Shaw's silence was officially mirrored by ICON and KOTC, however sources on all sides of the deal indicated that things were heating up.
After reserving a date at the Chumash Casino Resort in Central California, KOTC's Ted Williams gave way to Shaw as promoter of record for the July 27 card, leading to speculation that Showtime's debut ShoXC, modeled after the premium cable network's acclaimed ShoBox series -- known for minimalist production and matching quality young boxers -- would be co-promoted.
Shaw confirmed the ShoXC card, still promoted locally as KOTC, would feature lightweights Edson Berto and KJ Noons. The KOTC Web site also lists a unification bout between KOTC welterweight champion Aaron Wetherspoon and Gladiator Challenge champ Jeremiah Metcalf.
Discussions between Hawaii's ICON Sport (previously Super Brawl) and Pro Elite, which originally partnered with Rumble on the Rock, another Hawaiian promotion, are nearing completion, several sources indicated.
EliteXC is looking at promoting Sept. 15 in Honolulu, with a main event between ICON middleweight champ Robbie Lawler and EliteXC champ Murilo Rua, though nothing has been signed said one source.
One high-profile fighter who won't appear on an EliteXC card in the coming year is Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (Pictures), this despite the light heavyweight verbally agreeing to a deal with Pro Elite that would have kept him busy, fighting four times in 12 months.
Reports surfaced Friday that Sokoudjou (4-1-0), who knocked out Ricardo Arona and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in his last two fights, fielded a late offer from K-1. Ryan Parsons, a representative for the 23-year-old fighter, told Sherdog.com that the K-1 contract promised "significantly more money" than the potential $200,000 per-fight Sokoudjou was slated to receive from Pro Elite.
Last week K-1 approached Sokoudjou with a one-year offer that would have placed the young Team Quest fighter against either Melvin Manhoef or Alistair Overeem on Monday's HERO'S card in Yokohama, the first of at least three fights he would have owed the Japanese promotion. However, failing to obtain a visa on short notice delayed the PRIDE veteran's return to Japan, and will keep Sokoudjou in Southern California this weekend.
Having backed away from EliteXC, Sokoudjou now awaits signing with K-1, which Parsons said should happen "shortly."
"We're sorry that we lost him," said Shaw, who was so confident a deal was in place that he flew Sokoudjou to San Jose, Calif. to watch Frank Shamrock stop Phil Baroni from cage-side.
"I guess K-1 is either throwing a lot of money or a lot of promises around," said Shaw. "I would have thought that he would have wanted to fight in the United States. I guess that won't happen now."
Japanese fans took a tremendous liking to Sokoudjou, said Parsons, recalling a "madhouse" during a photo shoot for the dreadlocked fighter the last time he traveled across the Pacific.
"He can be a star [in Japan]," Parsons said of Sokoudjou, who should make his HERO'S debut Sept. 17, possibly against Overeem.
Shaw said he doesn't hold anything against Team Quest for making the decision to put Sokoudjou in K-1. "I learned a lesson here: I'm not flying anyone in until they're ready to ink a deal," admitted the longtime boxing promoter, who in February promoted his first MMA card. "I don't need to have pretty faces in the audience that I pay to fly in."
"I have no comment at all," EliteXC's Gary Shaw said of the rumored deals, which if consummated would also provide Pro Elite with two of the deepest video libraries in the sport. Shaw's silence was officially mirrored by ICON and KOTC, however sources on all sides of the deal indicated that things were heating up.
After reserving a date at the Chumash Casino Resort in Central California, KOTC's Ted Williams gave way to Shaw as promoter of record for the July 27 card, leading to speculation that Showtime's debut ShoXC, modeled after the premium cable network's acclaimed ShoBox series -- known for minimalist production and matching quality young boxers -- would be co-promoted.
Shaw confirmed the ShoXC card, still promoted locally as KOTC, would feature lightweights Edson Berto and KJ Noons. The KOTC Web site also lists a unification bout between KOTC welterweight champion Aaron Wetherspoon and Gladiator Challenge champ Jeremiah Metcalf.
Discussions between Hawaii's ICON Sport (previously Super Brawl) and Pro Elite, which originally partnered with Rumble on the Rock, another Hawaiian promotion, are nearing completion, several sources indicated.
EliteXC is looking at promoting Sept. 15 in Honolulu, with a main event between ICON middleweight champ Robbie Lawler and EliteXC champ Murilo Rua, though nothing has been signed said one source.
One high-profile fighter who won't appear on an EliteXC card in the coming year is Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (Pictures), this despite the light heavyweight verbally agreeing to a deal with Pro Elite that would have kept him busy, fighting four times in 12 months.
Reports surfaced Friday that Sokoudjou (4-1-0), who knocked out Ricardo Arona and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in his last two fights, fielded a late offer from K-1. Ryan Parsons, a representative for the 23-year-old fighter, told Sherdog.com that the K-1 contract promised "significantly more money" than the potential $200,000 per-fight Sokoudjou was slated to receive from Pro Elite.
Last week K-1 approached Sokoudjou with a one-year offer that would have placed the young Team Quest fighter against either Melvin Manhoef or Alistair Overeem on Monday's HERO'S card in Yokohama, the first of at least three fights he would have owed the Japanese promotion. However, failing to obtain a visa on short notice delayed the PRIDE veteran's return to Japan, and will keep Sokoudjou in Southern California this weekend.
Having backed away from EliteXC, Sokoudjou now awaits signing with K-1, which Parsons said should happen "shortly."
"We're sorry that we lost him," said Shaw, who was so confident a deal was in place that he flew Sokoudjou to San Jose, Calif. to watch Frank Shamrock stop Phil Baroni from cage-side.
"I guess K-1 is either throwing a lot of money or a lot of promises around," said Shaw. "I would have thought that he would have wanted to fight in the United States. I guess that won't happen now."
Japanese fans took a tremendous liking to Sokoudjou, said Parsons, recalling a "madhouse" during a photo shoot for the dreadlocked fighter the last time he traveled across the Pacific.
"He can be a star [in Japan]," Parsons said of Sokoudjou, who should make his HERO'S debut Sept. 17, possibly against Overeem.
Shaw said he doesn't hold anything against Team Quest for making the decision to put Sokoudjou in K-1. "I learned a lesson here: I'm not flying anyone in until they're ready to ink a deal," admitted the longtime boxing promoter, who in February promoted his first MMA card. "I don't need to have pretty faces in the audience that I pay to fly in."
