When Mike Pyle steps into the EliteXC cage on Nov. 10 to take on Jake Shields it will be the final fight of his contract. At the conclusion of the bout Pyle and EliteXC will part ways.
The main reason Pyle decided to not extend his contract with EliteXC was the organization's lack of promoting him.
"Have you seen any promotion with EliteXC with me?” asked the Xtreme Couture fighter. “I feel that I'm a worthy enough opponent to get that respect and I feel that they really don't think so. I don't think they really know what they have in their hands.
"I had made the decision to not extend the contract because of the lack of promotion with me. It just seemed like it might have been a lack of interest. I don't know what the problem was or if they were just dragging their feet a bit. Whatever it was, I don't have time for that. I felt it's time for me to move on and get noticed."
The fight with Shields was originally planned to be a championship bout, but Pyle declined the title offer, although he still accepted the fight.
"It wasn't presented to me correctly," said Pyle.
EliteXC president Gary Shaw stated on a conference call with the media last week, "As for Jake Shields and Mike Pyle, (Mike) didn't want to fight for the belt. We gave him the opportunity. He's unhappy.
"And even though this probably will be our last fight with Mike Pyle, we're interested in putting on the best fights. So whether someone wants to stay with us or not stay with us, we'll still give everybody the opportunity."
Pyle explained his decision to decline fighting Shields for the title.
"I'm not trying to have the big head or anything, but I'm a seasoned vet. I come from a very strong camp. I've got a lot of wins. I have a strong record, and just simply asked them for a little promotion. I didn't want to come in on the undercard every time."
He continued, "And to have them call me up five weeks before a date on a fight and ask for me to fight a title shot, a five round fight, that's not enough time to prepare. Five weeks out is not enough time to prepare for a guy like Jake Shields, plus those championship rounds."
Several promotions have shown interest in securing Pyle's services, but no official offers or negotiations will occur before his contractual obligations to EliteXC are fulfilled.
"I'm not going to say I would never fight for them again because of the way they treated me. It's nothing like that. I'm not crying over spilled milk. What's done is done. I'm going to work with someone else probably, and that's it. I don't want to block bridges with them. I have no animosity or anything towards them. I'm going to leave on good terms. I just don't want to extend my contract at this time and that's all."
The main reason Pyle decided to not extend his contract with EliteXC was the organization's lack of promoting him.
"Have you seen any promotion with EliteXC with me?” asked the Xtreme Couture fighter. “I feel that I'm a worthy enough opponent to get that respect and I feel that they really don't think so. I don't think they really know what they have in their hands.
"I had made the decision to not extend the contract because of the lack of promotion with me. It just seemed like it might have been a lack of interest. I don't know what the problem was or if they were just dragging their feet a bit. Whatever it was, I don't have time for that. I felt it's time for me to move on and get noticed."
The fight with Shields was originally planned to be a championship bout, but Pyle declined the title offer, although he still accepted the fight.
"It wasn't presented to me correctly," said Pyle.
EliteXC president Gary Shaw stated on a conference call with the media last week, "As for Jake Shields and Mike Pyle, (Mike) didn't want to fight for the belt. We gave him the opportunity. He's unhappy.
"And even though this probably will be our last fight with Mike Pyle, we're interested in putting on the best fights. So whether someone wants to stay with us or not stay with us, we'll still give everybody the opportunity."
Pyle explained his decision to decline fighting Shields for the title.
"I'm not trying to have the big head or anything, but I'm a seasoned vet. I come from a very strong camp. I've got a lot of wins. I have a strong record, and just simply asked them for a little promotion. I didn't want to come in on the undercard every time."
He continued, "And to have them call me up five weeks before a date on a fight and ask for me to fight a title shot, a five round fight, that's not enough time to prepare. Five weeks out is not enough time to prepare for a guy like Jake Shields, plus those championship rounds."
Several promotions have shown interest in securing Pyle's services, but no official offers or negotiations will occur before his contractual obligations to EliteXC are fulfilled.
"I'm not going to say I would never fight for them again because of the way they treated me. It's nothing like that. I'm not crying over spilled milk. What's done is done. I'm going to work with someone else probably, and that's it. I don't want to block bridges with them. I have no animosity or anything towards them. I'm going to leave on good terms. I just don't want to extend my contract at this time and that's all."