Phil Baroni signs with EliteXC; will fight Kala Kolohe Hose on March 15th
From a Pro Elite press release in my inbox:
LOS ANGELES (Feb. 9, 2008) – One of the toughest-talking, hardest-fighting, most colorful competitors in Mixed Martial Arts, Phil “The New York Bad Ass’’ Baroni, has signed a multi-year contract with Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s Live Fight Division, EliteXC.
“You know any Jersey boy like me likes a ‘New York Bad Ass’ and Phil’s definitely as bad as they come,’’ said EliteXC Live Events President, Gary Shaw, who made the announcement Saturday. “Phil is a promoter’s dream. He’s a character but also as courageous a fighter as I’ve been around.
“But what I truly love about him is he always comes not only to fight but to win and put on a show. He’s a crowd-pleaser extraordinaire. This is a great addition to the EliteXC family and we are thrilled to sign him. Fans can expect to see Phil back in the cage and fighting his heart out very soon.’’
Baroni’s next fight is March 15 on the EliteXC Hawaii-based Icon Sport promotion. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
EliteXC’s middleweight division may possibly be the deepest middleweight division in mixed martial arts right now with the likes of Riki Fukuda, Robbie Lawler, Murilo Rua, David Louiseau, and Kala Kolohe Hose. Great addition to the ranks for EliteXC. This probably also means that the rumored fight between Baroni and Sanae Kikuta at World Victory Road’s inaugural Sengoku event on March 5th is off.
UPDATE: Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer is reporting that Baroni will fight Kala Kolohe Hose at the ICON Sport event on March 15th for the vacant ICON Sport middleweight title. Robbie Lawler was stripped of the title due to an inability to defend it.
Here’s a video interview of Baroni right after the announcement:
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Lawler and Ninja are legit…everyone else is ehhh…especially the ‘Crow’ I’m a fan…but every since Franklin battered him…he hasn’t flown as high anymore.
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Thats a huge bit of overrating for that division. Its good, but I see one top ten fighter there; the UFC has around 5, and assorted guys all around the top 20 and 30.
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another roid user who lied about it. and being a new yorker who loved to watch pride, i must say phil was very embarrassing. its one thing to have character, and another thing to be a complete douche bag. he put on some great fights to watch win or lose, so ill give him that. but elite xc seems to be signing all the “bad boys” and i use that term sarcastically. not really helping them if they want to be taken seriously.
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Baroni meets Kala Kalohe Hose?
someone’s gettin’ KTFO !!
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When is Lawler back and who will he fight now?
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Sam-
I figure Lawler fights the winner of Baroni/Hose to unify the EXC and ICON titles.
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Who is Kala Kolohe Hose and who has he beaten? Has he even fought anyone with a impressive record?
To Call the EliteXC middleweight division the deepest is a joke. Not saying they don’t have a good division- Frank Shamrock, Robbie Lawler, Joey Villasneur, and Phil Baroni. But Who else would make that division Number 1?
Atleast the UFC/Zuffa has Anderson Silva, Nate Marquardt, Paulo Fihlo, Yushin Okami, Evan Tanner, Jeremy Horn, Rich Franklin, Martin Kampmann, and Ricardo Almeida. With a host of young talent in Thales Leites, Ed Herman, Damien Maia and Chris Leben. What makes you think the EliteXC has better talent at middleweight? Just curious
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The whole championship thing is weird.
Baroni signs with Elite, where Lawler is the champion, and he is going to fight for the ICON title, which also belonged to Lawler before he was stripped by an organization under the Elite umbrella.
It just seems like an unnecessary belt.
But I’m still glad to see Baroni-Hose, it should be a standup war.
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Andrej is right, the UFC’s division is stronger. All those fighters plus the resurrection of Cote and Rivera, Bisping has dropped down, and I still think Grove will bounce back.
In a sport where two of the greatest legends are 38 and 44 years old, any fighter in their 20’s still has plenty of time to regroup and make their mark.
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“EliteXC’s middleweight division may possibly be the deepest middleweight division in mixed martial arts right now”
Tap the brakes there speed racer. It’s a good one but I don’t think it matches to the UFC.
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“EliteXC’s middleweight division may possibly be the deepest middleweight division in mixed martial arts right now with the likes of Riki Fukuda, Robbie Lawler, Murilo Rua, David Louiseau, and Kala Kolohe Hose.”
Lol…. Thanks for the laugh.
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“Tap the brakes there speed racer.” Good one. Gonna remember/use it.
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You can watch the press conference here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f78OnzdF-Is
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hose, was trying to get a fight with lawler for over a year….. everytime fight is set up he gets hurt(lawler)! 3 in a row…wow
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Hose all the way… its that simple
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For those of you who don’t know, Baroni got an ass Whoop’n !! Im glad, he talk’s alot of BULL@#!%. “Calling out Waianae” just stop.
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