Elite Xtreme Combat - Look out UFC

From LATimes.com:

Mixed martial arts groups to fight for fighters
Elite Xtreme Combat is introduced as a competitor to Ultimate Fighting Championship.
By Lance Pugmire, Times Staff Writer
December 15, 2006



Emerging as a potential challenger to Ultimate Fighting Championship, Elite Xtreme Combat, a new mixed martial arts organization — Showtime television contract in hand — was introduced Thursday.

Elite XC arrived on the scene the same week UFC announced its purchase of a second-tier mixed martial arts circuit known as World Fighting Alliance.



And in announcing the main event of its first card, Elite XC said that Frank Shamrock, who was UFC's first middleweight champion, would fight veteran Renzo Gracie on Feb. 10 in Southaven, Miss.



"I won't interfere with a contract, but we've been contacted by other fighters and I do want to work with other fighters," said Elite XC President Gary Shaw, a veteran boxing promoter. "If they're coming out of contracts, we'll talk."

Shaw had one of those conversations Thursday when unbeaten UFC heavyweight Brandon Vera (8-0) attended the Elite XC news conference at Hollywood's Roosevelt Hotel, and said he had only one fight remaining on his UFC contract.

"Whoever wants to take care of me the best," Vera, 29, said when asked what organization he would continue fighting with.

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