Here is a prioritized list (somewhat) of EliteXC prospects and where they may land…
1. Jake Shields – I believe Shields is EliteXC’s best martial artist. I guess he is their highest ranked fighter. Shields has said that he wants better competition and this is his way out. I am sure places like Affliction, DREAM and World Victory Road will come calling. Perhaps they will offer lucrative deals. Perhaps they can make one or two exciting fights, but the reality is the best welterweights are in the UFC. If Shields wants to fight the best he needs to be in the UFC. I expect him to land in the UFC. He is the top prospect from EliteXC and whoever signs them picks up a great fighter and a instant contender for the belt. There are countless exciting fights in the UFC for Shields. This from GracieFighter.com
We are confirming that EliteXC has folded. What this means for our fans and supporters is that there will not be a Nick Diaz vs. Eddie Alvarez fight on November 8th. However Jake Shields in the UFC has now become a real possibility. We will be updating our site for future developments.<!– –>
2. Gina Carano – She may hurt the most from this as women’s MMA hasn’t taken off yet. Dana White has said many times he has no plans to start a women’s divison. The only other organization that has a solid women’s divison is AFL. They could contend for Carano’s services. Gina is a huge draw, probably the top women’s draw out there and I still want to see Carano v. Cyborg happen. Perhaps Proelite’s collapse may motivate someone like Affliction to start women’s MMA. I lean towards Carano at AFL.
3. Rafael Feijao – I believe he is a top prospect. He is rapidly climbing the rankings. He is a great light heavyweight who trains under the Nogueiras and Anderson Silva. I think he could be the best some day. A report came last week that Feijao would be in the UFC in a year, and it looks like it couldbe sooner. I do not know if he wants to geta few more fights first, but the UFC is his goal. I expect he will land in the UFC. I just hope Dana and others do not sleep on this guy’s potential.
4. Eddie Alvarez – Alvarez made a huge impression at the DREAM lightweight tournament. He still feels that belt is rightly his. He became a sort of star in that tournament. Alvarez is young and super talented. Any promoter would be dumb not to bring big offers for Alvarez. In the end I think Alvarez ends up somewhere like DREAM or Affliction. I say Affliction because they would allow him to fight in DREAM as well. I’d love to see him in the UFC, but I doubt it will happen.
5. Antonio Silva – He is serving a steroids suspension which may hurt him, however my gut tells me he is innocent in this one. He may really have some type of hormonal problem. I do not know where he will land, but he is a top tier heavyweight and I believe can compete with most heavyweights in the world. Affliction and UFC have the best heavyweight divisons. If he wants to fight and win he may go somewhere like DREAM where there is limited competition. If he wants to really compete with the best it will be Affliction or the UFC.
6. Robbie Lawler – Robbie Lawler is tough guy to figure out. He is a consensus top ten middleweight in the world. Surely the UFC would give him a chance, but he struggled in the UFC. I still think the UFC should try to sign him, but I wouldn’t be shocked to shocked to see Lawler in Affliction or even Strikeforce.
7. Dave Herman – Dave Herman is a solid prospect at heavyweight. I’d like to see him get some attention from this. He should be one of the top names out there. He isn’t a top 15 heavyweight right now, but he is doing very good. He would be a solid add for someone like the UFC, who has a weakend heavyweight divison.
8. Wilson Reis – Where can he got but to the WEC? He is a solid fighter, but the lighter guys don’t have many options. The WEC is quickly putting togetehr the best featehrweight and bantamweight divisons in the world. For Reis the WEC provides a chance to fight the best guys in the world in his weight class.
9. Brett Rogers – I think he is very good. Perhaps one dimensional, but he can knock someone out. If I was the UFC I would worry about personality here. He is very WWE. He comes into fights with an entourage. He talks smack. He is talented and perhaps a guy on the rise, but he is a gamble. Someone will sign him. However, Rogers will go where the money is. I don’t blame him for that. I doubt it will be the UFC.
10. Joey Villasenor –Villasenor has fought nearly everywhere, except the UFC. He has a solid record and impressive resume. He is for sure a top ten EliteXC fighter. Promoters will come hard after Villasenor. He is better than some the UFC has under contract at 185 lbs, but will they offer Villasenor? I think they will offer him, but I don’t know that is where he will land. For some reason my gut tells me he ends up at Affliction.
11. Nick Diaz – I cannot imagine the UFC wanting Nick Diaz back, but I think I remember Dana saying he would give Nick another chance. I don’t see him back in the UFC. His antics are too crazy. I think he ends up in Japan at either World Victory Road or DREAM.
12. Benji Radach – Rumor has it that when the IFL closed Radach called the UFC and talked to them about coming back to the UFC. Apparently, the UFC told him he needed to get another fight first. Then Radach signed with EliteXC and won huge over Murilo Rua on CBS. The question is, does Radach still want the UFC or is he angry with them? I do not know that answer, but I am pretty sure the UFC would want him now. regardless, Affliction will be the number one contender.
13. Murilo “Ninja” Rua – Rua is talented, but he has struggled. He has been an on and off fighter. I think he is a solid pick up for anyone and he is worth a contract. He could join his brother in the UFC, but he is not a top ten guy right now at his weight class or even in the UFC. If he wants a title he betetr find somewhere else to go. He could be another Affliction add. I think Affliction boosts their middleweight divison through this.
14. Frank Shamrock- He is not like his brother, he can still fight. I think he ends up at Strikeforce, but Affliction will come calling. One thing is for sure, he will not be in the UFC he and Dana White hate each other’s guts.
15. Scott Smith – As good as Smith looked against Lawler, I do not see him being a hot commodity, but he will land somewhere. He has tried his hand in the UFC. I doubt that will happen, although that bridge probably isn’t burned. I would say Smith will be around and maybe fight in some smaller shows or go to Strikeforce.
16. K.J. Noons – I don’t know what to make of K.J. He is a decent fighter, but not the best lightweight. He has expressed intrest in boxing, so maybe that is where he will go. However, I have a feeling he will try his hand at MMA still. I think the WEC would be a good fit for Noons, but Affliction is another real option. They may be more willing to allow him to box and do other things.
17. Paul Daley – He is a good welterweight, and maybe the UFC would like to consider going hard after another U.K. fighter. He is no Bisping in terms of skills, but he isn’t bad either. That may be a very real possibility to see Daley in the UFC. Put him on the Ultimate Fighter 8! Not really, but UFC is very possible.
18. Phil Baroni – He isn’t going to the UFC. He looks better at 170 though. I don’t know what Baroni will do. I have a feeling he will be a wanderer.
19. Ricco Rodriquez – Does he still fight? He is perfect for Affliction. He is a former UFC champ, who is past his prime.
20. Kimbo Slice – I considered putting Kimbo near the top of my list. Like it or not he is the face of EliteXC. He is a big draw. I decided to put him where he belongs talent wise. With all the Kimbo bashing, I still think he is a good investment. I still think he can fight good fighters and compete to some degree. I think he is way overrated and overhyped, but some organization would love to have him. I think the AFL would be a good choice. Also, Affliction could get into the mix. One more thing, do not be surprised to see a Japanese promotion making an effort to pick up Kimbo. Bas Rutten, his trainer, loved Japanese venues and could influence him here.
I say that Dana and the UFC will go after 10-12 of these guys, but will come away with about 5 or 6.
Filed under: Affliction, Antonio Silva, Benji Radach, Brett Rogers, Cung Le, Dana White, Dave Herman, DREAM, Eddie Alvarez, EliteXC, Frank Shamrock, Jake Shields, Joe Silva, Joey Villasenor, K.J. Noons, Ken Shamrock, Nick Diaz, Phil Baroni, Rafael Feijao, Robbie Lawler, Scott Smith, UFC, Wilson Reis, Yves Edwards | Tagged: Antonio Silva, Benji Radach, Brett Rogers, Dave Herman, Eddie Alvarez, EliteXC, Frank Shamrock, Gina Carano, Jake Shields, Joey Villasenor, K.J. Noons, Kimbo Slice, Murilo "Ninja" Rua, Nick Diaz, Paul Daley, Phil Baroni, Rafael Feijao, Ricco Rodriguez, Robbie Lawler, Scott Smith, Wilson Reis | Leave a comment »
MMA Blog 