Gary Shaw: UFC Title-Holders Are “Club Champs”

[Palma]

Originally Posted by bryanw33

Shaw makes some valid points, but the main thing this guy is concerned with is hyping Elitexc
In all honesty I think elitexc puts on some good shows, but they have a limited stable of fighters
and as far as elitexc and other orgs being feeder orgs for the UFC, thats pretty much the case, all of these guys that fight in the smaller shows in the US are fighting becaus they want to fight in the UFC
Like I said, Gary Shaw made some valid points, but for him to truly believe that his guys match up is pure fantasy on his part

Almost the entire MW division for Elite are made up of ex-UFC fighters... so who is feeding who?

[Paytheplayer]

Not gonna lie, i'd be interested in cross promotion but it never will make sense for the UFC. What happens if their champ loses to a smaller orgs champ then what? If they were going to do that we would have seen Randy Fedor by now. Shaws just trying to make some noise, and when he uses Kimbo as his example thats pretty sad.

[bryanw33]

Originally Posted by Palma

Almost the entire MW division for Elite are made up of ex-UFC fighters... so who is feeding who?

former UFC fighters that are working to get their way back to the UFC, ask Robbie Lawler if he would rather be the elitexc MW champ, or the UFC MW champ
guys that are former UFC fighters are usually former because they hit tough times, or needed to take a step back and get some more experience
When Lawler was in the UFC he was a WW, but he wasnt very well rounded
Im not trying to argue whos better, im just saying, given the choice, where do you think these guys would rather be

[jasonIndiana]

shaw has the upper hand in the war of words with dana white because he knows white wont cross promote. but other than that shaw is dumb. smart by trying to hype his "club" but dumb by comparing the ufc and/or fighters to any other "club" in mma. shaw says that ufc champ is only their club champ and thats kind of true, unless you look at it as the ufc and pride together. those were the top two orgs ever in mma. and i do believe the ufc had a champ vs champ fight like 6 mouths ago(jackson vs hendo) and another comin up. (silva vs hendo)

[leelandk]

Agreed with a few posters, Shaw is correct. Using the old boxing addage "club fighters" comes off harsh, but its 100% true. Being the UFC champ doesn't mean you are the best in the world necassarily, but it means a hell of alot more than holding the title in Elite XC.

Eventually, the UFC is going to have to co-promote to survive as the sport gets bigger, but not yet, not even close. Shaw needs the UFC a hell of a lot more than the UFC needs Shaw.

Shaw: "I extend the challenge and always have." He's grasping for straws praying he can bait Dana into a cross promotion, which given the current stable of Elite XC fighters, makers zero sense.

[2mcgrath]

i think the main reason he is saying alot of these things is for publicity,right or wrong it works

[Diegonightmare]

Originally Posted by leelandk

Shaw: "I extend the challenge and always have." He's grasping for straws praying he can bait Dana into a cross promotion, which given the current stable of Elite XC fighters, makers zero sense.

On the contrary; like I said in a Shaw vs. Dana poll thread the other day: Any time you are #2 in an industry and you can get the #1 guy to acknowledge you, to respond to you, it cannot be bad.

I don't know a lot about Shaw, in fact basically nothing, but as I watch his seeming "strategy" develop recently I have to say he's playing it pretty smart.

[Palma]

Originally Posted by bryanw33

former UFC fighters that are working to get their way back to the UFC, ask Robbie Lawler if he would rather be the elitexc MW champ, or the UFC MW champ
guys that are former UFC fighters are usually former because they hit tough times, or needed to take a step back and get some more experience
When Lawler was in the UFC he was a WW, but he wasnt very well rounded
Im not trying to argue whos better, im just saying, given the choice, where do you think these guys would rather be

Since Elite has been established who has come over to the UFC?

Jake Shields was given the chance to fight in the UFC but chose to stay with Elite.

And Frank Shamrock never lost in the UFC and infact his last fight he went up a weight to beat Tito. So where was his hard times that made him leave the UFC?

I think some fighters are happier making more money under less constrictive contracts where they can fight in other orgs. Don't believe everything Dana says.

[CESSPOOL]

I can see the case from both Points of view. I'm not too familiar with shaw, but I like his style.

Dana has too much foolish pride to ever let this happen though. I think Dana has ran his course. He could never survive an upset.... I can see the UFC going into a downward spiral because of him.

Though I would gladly pay double to see Kimbo beat the snot out of Tim.

[bryanw33]

Originally Posted by Palma

Since Elite has been established who has come over to the UFC?

Jake Shields was given the chance to fight in the UFC but chose to stay with Elite.

And Frank Shamrock never lost in the UFC and infact his last fight he went up a weight to beat Tito. So where was his hard times that made him leave the UFC?

I think some fighters are happier making more money under less constrictive contracts where they can fight in other orgs. Don't believe everything Dana says.

Im not trying to argue with you, and bringing up frank shamrock, how long ago was that

seriously, what guy do you know that plays pro sports to play in a league that isnt the cream of the crop, these guys know whats up

and as far as what Dana says, I could care less what he says, I watch the UFC because for the most part they have the best fighters in the world, and getting back to my original point, this is all Shaw trying to hype his own show which is by far an inferior product

guys like Nick Diaz, while entertaining, was an average fighter in the UFC, and he by all means got lucky to get that win over Gomi, and Im not a Gomi fan by any means, but just because Nick Diaz beat that guy, doesnt mean hes 1 of the best in the world at his weight, because in all honesty, hes not

Matt Serra beat St Pierre but noone thinks hes the greatest WW in the world

what Im sayin is, no matter how you slice it, elitexc isnt on the same level as the UFC and Gary Shaw is on crack if he thinks they are

seriously, Jake Shields wouldnt be top 5 in the UFC ww rankings

Robbie Lawler maybe, as far as MW's go, but I doubt it