Elite XC has folded. I was underwhelmed by the fights that I saw though I did make it a point to find the Kimbo fights online. So far Dana White’s prediction is holding true that you can’t just go out and start an MMA organization without losing money.
If it wasn’t for the TV show The Ultimate Fighter, who knows where the UFC would be. As it is, they are the major organization. There is very little brand recognition between the others. Fedor, whose name I only know because of Randy’s retirement, is all over the place making almost deals with different companies but fighting no one. Tim Sylvia is no one.
The person I feel bad for in all of this is Gina Carano as well as other good women fighters. She has/had the chance to be a star but with Elite XC gone there doesn’t seem to be a big promoter who likes women fighting. The UFC has no intentions of women fighters and they have plenty of men to fill cards. They have lost a venue just because of their gender. Sucks for them.
So now Affliction will have to really weigh their decision to continue. Will their investors yank money when they see what happened to Elite XC or will they see this as an opening with CBS? Dana said he would be shocked if Affliction was still around by the new year and Affliction has already pulled an event from their November schedule.
My two cents? I don’t think it can be done. At least not as fast as these companies want it. UFC took years to build and then clicked with The Ultimate Fighter show. I don’t think they could have done it with just the show alone. So Dana White was probably right, again, that they won’t be able to start it up just like someone couldn’t start up a NASCAR rival.
There will be other off shoot events and organizations but this will be one of the few times there aren’t two top competing organizations or brands.
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