EliteXC to run MMA in USA in front of 92K fans

[Bruiser_Brody_ 0]

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – Officials from FEG (the parent company of K-1), EliteXC, and Showtime announced today, not only their plans for a ground breaking event on June 2nd, but also several new alliances around the world.

 

Doug DeLuca, EliteXC’s CEO, verified what MMAWeekly had reported last week, that the K-1/EliteXC co-promoted event on June 2nd will actually be two shows in one. The first portion, the EliteXC portion of the show, will consist of a one-hour special that will air on Showtime’s premium channel and will serve as a lead-up to the K-1 portion of the show, which will air on a pay-per-view broadcast that will be distributed by Showtime PPV.

 

As previously reported, the event will be held at the 92,000-seat capacity Los Angeles Coliseum.

 

In DeLuca’s own words, “There are many, many historic events that will happen on June 2nd. This will be the largest MMA event to ever take place on U.S. soil. It is taking place at the L.A. Coliseum.”

 

“We will be doing two separate shows out of this one event,” explained the EliteXC exec. “We will be doing a one-hour special Showtime presentation, which will be free to Showtime subscribers. It will be called EliteXC Dynamite USA. And then immediately following, Showtime will be pushing viewers to the pay-per-view event… called Pro Elite Presents Dynamite USA.”

 

The televised events of June 2nd, featuring a fight between Brock Lesnar and Hong-Man Choi as well fights involving MMA legend Royce Gracie and former NFL player Johnnie Morton, were only half of the focus of today’s press conference.

 

Perhaps just as interesting was the inclusion of various new collaborators in the Pro Elite movement to unite MMA forces in a stand against the UFC/Pride juggernaut.

 

DeLuca explained, “From the moment that Pro Elite was conceived, we’ve always said that in order to grow this sport, it will take collaborativeness, it will take inclusiveness, and it will take the willingness of other organizations to work together, to cross-promote, and to ultimately create a true world championship system. This is a major step in that direction. This is a major step in the continuation of the next generation of mixed martial arts.”

 

Following his words into the winds outside the L.A. Coliseum, several collaborators were announced. Adding to the conglomeration of Showtime/Pro Elite/EliteXC and FEG/K-1 were Strikeforce, BodogFight, Cage Rage, and Spirit XC.

 

Both Cage Rage, the most prominent fight brand in Europe, and Spirit XC, the largest promotion in South Korea, were represented at the press conference.

 

Andrew Geer and Dave O’Donnell, who head up Cage Rage, were enthusiastic about the collaboration: “Thank you so much to all the partners in the newly formed alliance for inviting us over here. We’re very proud to be part of this event… It’s a fantastic time.”

 

Also in attendance was Kwong Park from SpiritMC, who said, “I am really glad to be here to join the alliance.”

 

Summing up this new alliance, DeLuca said, “This sport will be an Olympic sport. This sport will have world cup champions. This sport will have true world champions… A collaboration means that we share fighters… This alliance speaks to everyone working together to make this a better place for the sport and a better place for the fighters… It’s a way to help other people succeed in the sport. It doesn’t need to be just one…”

[Bruiser_Brody_ 0]

LOS ANGELES (March 27, 2007) -- FEG (Fighting Entertainment Group), ProElite and SHOWTIME Networks Tuesday formally announced a gigantic mixed martial arts fight card Saturday, June 2, 2007, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

 

The initial three bouts of the live card will be shown on SHOWTIME during a one-hour telecast that begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. On Feb. 10, 2007, SHOWTIME aired the first-ever MMA fight card carried live on premium television.

 

The pay-per-view portion of the June 2 mega event will feature up to six bouts and immediately follow on SHOWTIME Pay Per View (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).

 

The sensational evening’s main event will feature a tremendous matchup between 7-foot-2 South Korean giant Hong Man Choi and hugely popular former pro and NCAA wrestling champion Brock Lesnar.

 

 

 

Choi, Lesnar, legendary mixed martial arts pioneer and Hall of Famer, Royce Gracie, and former University of Southern California and NFL star, Johnnie Morton, who is making his MMA debut, attended Tuesday’s opening press conference at the Coliseum.

 

For more information, please visit ProElite.com.

 

HONG MAN CHOI

 

“This is my first MMA fight in the United States and I am very excited about it. I feel privileged to be on this show.

 

“The Coliseum is a big place, just like me. I have studied my opponent and know he is a very good fighter. I plan to give my best. I hope I can live up to the expectations.’’

 

BROCK LESNAR

 

“Pro wrestling ran its course and I wanted to do something else. I tried pro football and visited the Minnesota Vikings camp in 2004. When that didn’t pan out and I saw how MMA was exploding, I said to myself, ‘hey, there’s something here for you.’

 

“This is my first MMA event and I am very excited. I am happy to be part of this sport. I feel fortunate to have my health and I am ready to go. I have a good feeling about this.

 

“My opponent is obviously very, very large. But size doesn’t matter. It just gives me a huge target to hit.

 

“I think they are making a big mistake by fighting me. Choi has more experience, but when it comes time for me to put his BUTT on the mat, he will be like a fish out of water.

 

“I want to thank everyone involved. This is a heck of an opportunity and a chance to get back to my amateur wrestling roots. I’ve been training a year and feel very comfortable.

 

“This is going to be a great event and I can’t wait for when it’s time for lights, camera and action. I am looking to make a huge impact on the MMA today.’’

 

ROYCE GRACIE

 

“I am pleased to be fighting in California again. I live in Torrance (Calif.) so this is like a home game for me. I don’t get too many of those.

 

“I am very excited to be part of an MMA event that will be the biggest and largest ever in American history.

 

“I have fought in Japan in front of 95,000 fans, so I am used to huge crowds. But this is going to be a fantastic and memorable event. I hope the fans who can’t be at the Coliseum will watch the pay-per-view. It will be very exciting.’’

 

JOHNNIE MORTON

 

“This is my first pro fight. No, I don’t know of many other NFL players doing this. But I got beat up all those years playing football so I decided to give this a try.

 

“I stay in shape year round. So in the off-seasons, I would train in kick-boxing gyms and learn new moves. I am going into this totally blind.

 

“The big thing is, this is a new challenge in a sport I have never done before. My whole life, I played team sports. This is a chance to do an individual one.

 

“This sport is nuts. But football was nuts, too. At least in football, you do get hit sometimes, too.

 

“I feel my strengths are heart, courage, strength and competitiveness. I feel extremely strong in my upper body and on my feet.

 

“I’ve watched MMA from the very start and always found it interesting. It was my favorite sport to watch. Now, I am going to be in the biggest MMA event in American history. Sure, I will be a little nervous. But if you are not nervous, you should not be here.

 

“I am proud to be involved in this big event. I am looking forward to making a mark.’’

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

This is going to flop.

[Guest]

Yeah, they aren't going to draw worth a shit.

[razazteca 0]

So should I expect Brock Lesnar to destroy the Korean giant in the first round? So who is on the K-1 card McDonald, Smith, Hoost?

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

You should expect nothing less than pure awesome.

[razazteca 0]

Belly-to-Belly su-play takedown then ground & pound for the win?

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

F-5 then a botched SSP to give HMC the KO win.

 

Then it's Choigasms for everyone.

 

[Lei Tong 0]

If Choigasms are anything like what I experienced when Mo knocked his face off, I'll take a dozen.

[razazteca 0]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdI_90sX-1E Choigasms indeed.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

I look forward to seeing this fail miserably.

 

I mean both the former and latter in the most sincere ways possible.

[starvenger 0]

How can it fail when you've got a superstar like Johnnie Morton fighting?

 

Whatdoyoumean, he wasn't even the best WR on... wherever he played?

[Youth N Asia 0]

Herman Moore was the best wide reciever for the Lions when Morton was there and in his heyday

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

No way, didn't Morton at one point make the pro bowl and lead the team in receptions while Herman Moore was on his last legs?

[starvenger 0]

No way, didn't Morton at one point make the pro bowl and lead the team in receptions while Herman Moore was on his last legs?

And how has Matt Millen not signed him to come back?

[razazteca 0]

It's going to take a hell alot of promotion to get people to buy K-1 as MMA. I find kicking boxing more boring than past their prime "big name" heavyweight boxers that is being sold as PPV events.

[AboveAverage484 0]

If Choigasms are anything like what I experienced when Mo knocked his face off, I'll take a dozen.

 

Don't be surprised if Mo is matched up with Schilt at the next show, as K-1 is desperate to see Sem lose. BTW, the 4/4 MAX card is looking ridiculously awesome, so you guys check it out if at all possible.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Things just got interesting...

 

--Arguably the most famous match in MMA history, Royce Gracie vs. Kazushi Sakuraba, held on May 1, 2000, at the Tokyo Dome, is likely to be rematched on 6/2 as part of the Los Angeles Coliseum combined K-1 Hero's and EXC show. The match is not official, but both sides have agreed and it has been put for to the California State Athletic Commission for approval. Sakuraba won the original no time limit match in 90 minutes, in the match that pretty made Sakuraba a national hero in Japan.

 

Meltzer.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Whoah. This card just gained a monochrome of importance.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

While I've recently started to appreciate Royce for his accomplishments, I still think this is a stupid idea. If anything, it will serve as a nice example of how far MMA has evolved since their first bout. Its purpose is purely ironic.

[Angel_Grace_Blue 0]

Whoah. This card just gained a monochrome of importance.

 

Blue?

[Lord of The Curry 0]

As in Mr. Blue from BK? Nope.

 

Speaking of BK, I jacked this list from their forums, it's what was submitted to the CSAC

 

Kazushi Sakuraba vs Royce Gracie II

Brock Lesnar vs Hong-Man Choi

Josh Barnett vs Sergei Kharitonov

Mighty Mo vs Choi Mue-Bae

Hideo Tokoro vs Brad Pickett

Johnnie Morton vs Dos Caras Jr.

Javier Vasquez vs Kazayuki Miyata

 

Very solid card. If Sergei sheds the layers of dough he had against Russow at the PRIDE show in Vegas that could be one hell of a fight.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

I think it was in reference to "monochrome". What you meant to say was "modicum".

[Angel_Grace_Blue 0]

I think it was in reference to "monochrome". What you meant to say was "modicum".

 

Exacta-mundo.

[Rendclaw 0]

No way, didn't Morton at one point make the pro bowl and lead the team in receptions while Herman Moore was on his last legs?

And how has Matt Millen not signed him to come back?

 

Because Millen basically called him a faggot.

[Matt Young 0]

I will go to this if I can get a decent seat for cheap. I'm not a huge MMA fan, but I'm interested in checking it out live and I would like to see Brock Lesnar fight.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Reports a while back said they were charging a thousand a pop for ringsides so.....yeah......you'll likely be dishing out at least $250 for the cheap seats. My advice would be to wait until the actual fight day and see what the scalpers will be shelling out because there's no way in hell this sells out and the prices on the day of the card will likely be cheaper if bought that way.

[Coolclint 0]

I'm trying to decide which is the weirdest MMA competitor on that card;

 

Brock Lesnar, pro wrestler fallen from grace and failed pro football player

Johnnie Morton, retired pro football player and apparently part-time kickboxer

or Dos Caras Jr., son of a luchador that crossed over into MMA?

[Matt Young 0]

Reports a while back said they were charging a thousand a pop for ringsides so.....yeah......you'll likely be dishing out at least $250 for the cheap seats. My advice would be to wait until the actual fight day and see what the scalpers will be shelling out because there's no way in hell this sells out and the prices on the day of the card will likely be cheaper if bought that way.

 

Well, fuck that then. I didn't even pay that much for my ticket to WrestleMania 21.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

Wrong.

 

$1,000 Floor sections "A" reserved.

$250 Floor sections "B" reserved.

$100 Floor sections "C & D" reserved.

$60 General admission Lower level - north and south stands.

$30 General admission mid/upper level - north and south stands.

$30 General admission lower level - west end stands.

$10 General admission mid/upper level - west end stands.