[sandywh]

There is absolutely no denying the depth of the UFC roster, but take away the TUFers, who are typically overhyped, and you've got guys that are only names because they fight in the UFC.

We could debate the champion issue all day between UFC and EXC, but the real debate should come to the rest of these divisions.

Mike Pyle, Antonio Silva, and others would be highly regarded in the UFC, yet those names are barely recognizable to most fans.

With what Gary Shaw is doing in "keeping" his talent in EXC, it has to be raising eyebrows across the sport. Resigning Shields to a long term deal that pays him like a top UFC fighter is undoubtably a big deal. Being able to keep other notable fighters away from the UFC (Ninja, Lawler, Antonio Silva, KJ Noons, Paul Daly) should not go unnoticed.

Shaw may be a little over the top with his comments, but he's not out of line. Elite XC is no where ready to go head to head with UFC yet, but in a few more years and with the cross promoting they are doing, they could become a poor man's Pride.

I believe that in the next 18 months EXC will snatch up several unhappy UFC fighters, such as Karo, Tito, and even some TUFers, and that will begin to bring them more and more recognition.