IFL CEO Jay Larkin Weighs In on EliteXC Show
June 2, 2008 by Sam Caplan
IFL CEO Jay Larkin released a statement earlier today about EliteXC: “Primetime” on CBS:
Saturday’s ratings success of ProElite’s show on CBS again shows that the market for the sport in the mainstream is growing, and we at the the International Fight League are very excited to be one of the industry leaders that can help grow the sport of Mixed Martial Arts collectively. We look forward to continuing our work both independently with our great roster of young, marketable athletes, and with other promotions, to help make exciting fights and encourage further growth of the sport to a larger audience.
Paired with the recent reports about a possible Roy Nelson and Kimbo Slice fight taking place in the future, maybe co-promotion is just the route the IFL needs to take to change reportedly tanking finances.
Looks like Larkin is trying to tie his sinking ship to EliteXC. There’s no way that Gary Shaw will co-promote with the IFL in the foreseeable future because nobody cares about the IFL. If it don’t make cents, it don’t make sense. Having Nelson fight Kimbo simply doesn’t make sense.
Besides, even if IFL, Elite XC and Affliction all joined forces, they would still be eons behind the UFC in terms of longevity, profits, talent, etc.
Two bankrupt companies do not equal one successful company……or two wrongs don’t make a right. Besides who here believes Shaw would now allow Kimbo to fight Nelson. I think he would lose to Nelson, and nothing this weekend changed my mind.
He wouldn’t just lose to Nelson, his kids and all future generations of his family would die in the process.
#3, your 2nd point is spot on. NO WAY Shaw let’s this fight happen anytime soon, Nelson would finish Kimbo easily at this time.
imo, the IFL has a far superior product than EXC, even though EXC may have some higher profile fighters. I would love to see EXC run a show the way IFL does, without strippers and such. And I would love to see more flamboyant fighters like EXC has in the IFL. i think that middle ground could see some success. IFL needs mainstream TV exposure for its live cards, HDNet is great, but people are missing it.
I was not hating on the IFL but lets be honest it is not turning a profit and you can only lose so much money. IFL is a very good product IMO. While the talent may not be on par with UFC I feel they do MMA justice. I think this marriage would destroy the IFL.
Ram and Evan - I heard the Hardline talked about Saturday. Did you guys listen?