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

[MYboyBISPING]

Gary Shaw: UFC Title-Holders Are “Club Champs”
Posted by MMA Junkie on January 17, 2008 at 1:51 pm ET

During Wednesday’s media conference call, EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw fielded a number of questions about the organization’s Feb. 16 main event between Kimbo Slice and David “Tank” Abbott. However, he discussed a number of other issues, including his recent media feud with UFC President Dana White.

Shaw doesn’t back down about any of his previous comments (you can read about them in the MMAjunkie.com archives), and he reaffirmed one of his biggest beliefs: the UFC isn’t the sport of mixed-martial arts. Or, as Shaw said, “They don’t own MMA. They don’t own the space. They have a brand.“

As Shaw sees it, the UFC’s informal policy of ignoring and disparaging its competitors presents a problem: so long as UFC fighters are only competing against other UFC fighters, the organization’s champions won’t be legitimate.

“If you hold up the belt (in the UFC) all you are is their club champion,” Shaw said. “Until Dana White is willing to fight his fighters against other brands, all they are are club champions.“

Although EliteXC has made great strides toward building its own stable of fighters, there’s simply no doubting that the UFC has the lion’s share of the world’s top talent. Go through the rankings of any weight class, and the top 10 will be dominated by UFC fighters.

However, Shaw scoffs at the notion that EliteXC and the UFC’s other rival organizations are simply feeder systems.

“I extend the challenge and always have,” Shaw said. “It’s like Kimbo. You want to fight him? Call us up. You can come to the cage and fight him. You want to fight Jake Shields? Fight Jake Shields. We’re proud of the people we represent. (EliteXC middleweight champ) Robbie Lawler? I could go down the whole roster.

“But for Dana White to try to convince the fans that he owns all of the best fighters in the world? To say that this is just a starting point for fighters and then they’re going to go to UFC? He is full of sh–. Let him fight our fighters.“

In fact, Shaw is willing to put his wallet where his mouth is.

“Let’s do some fights — winner-take-all,” Shaw said. “Let’s put up a million-dollars purse. Let’s pick a weight. Let’s really get it on for the fans.

“When he’s ready to do that, then give me a call.“

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Wow! This Gary guy is really reaching now. I guess any publicity is good publicity lol.

Kimbo - Yeah he's definitely a draw but lets wait till he gets a real fight I might think different after the Tank fight.

Jake Shield - Hell yeah I want to see how he stacks up to the UFC 170's

Robbie Lawler - He's alright but they probably should get Diaz/Lawler II done first.

Gina Carano - I just want to see more of her howwwwwllllll!

[scottsec]

Hey Gary...go fuck yourself...

[jlruthven84]

I guess the fact that the UFC has about 95% of the world's top fighters doesn't really mean anything.

[Palma]

Shaw's right to an extent. I don't think there are any LHW fighters outside of the UFC that could be champ, but in every other division there are fighters in other orgs that could very well be champs in the UFC: Fedor, Barnett, Gomi, Cervantes, Sheilds, Le, Lindland would be at the top of that last imo.

If all other mma orgs are cooperating with eachother besides Zuffa then the sport could possible past them by over the next 5 years or so. Once fighters see that they can have the freedom to fight where ever they want, fight legitimate fights, and get paid much more then they are getting paid now then it will only be a matter of time before other fighters take Fedor's lead and choose to sign with smaller less restrictive orgs that will be good for MMA as a sport and not just the UFC as a corporation.

Originally Posted by jlruthven84

I guess the fact that the UFC has about 95% of the world's top fighters doesn't really mean anything.

Where are you getting that figure? That's the hype the UFC promotes, but that doesn't mean it is true.

Out of the 50 fighters ranked in the top 10 for the 5 main diviisions the Zuffa has 30 fighters and most of them (17 fighters) are in the WW and LHW divisions.

[mattyc]

Publicity aside, he's not wrong in principle- if the UFC doesn't allow fighters from different organizations (or "clubs"), than the fighters in the UFC stable can only measure up to other UFC fighters. Not saying that the UFC doesn't have most of the top talent signed, though.

Edit: Dammit Palma, not only did you post at the same time I did, but you put my thoughts in a more elaborate and clear way.

[MYboyBISPING]

Originally Posted by mattyc

Publicity aside, he's not wrong in principle- if the UFC doesn't allow fighters from different organizations (or "clubs"), than the fighters in the UFC stable can only measure up to other UFC fighters. Not saying that the UFC doesn't have most of the top talent signed, though.

Edit: Dammit Palma, not only did you post at the same time I did, but you put my thoughts in a more elaborate and clear way.

Yeah EliteXC does have some very notable fighters but with the recent UFC/Pride merger and with EliteXC technically still in infancy stage why does he have to bring that question of UFC "club" or Pride "club" being that they were the major MMA force maybe for the last decade. huh?

[smoogy]

Originally Posted by jlruthven84

I guess the fact that the UFC has about 95% of the world's top fighters doesn't really mean anything.

Not even close

[somethindarker]

yea thats what the sport needs some cross promotional fights. pit some #1 contenders against eachother or champions against eachother. that would be SICK!! if i were to fight in the ufc i'd love to have it in my contract to be able to have at least 1 or 2 fights where i would fight in other orgs and challenge their best. that would make MAD money for both orgs.

[FFFRpickup]

Originally Posted by jlruthven84

I guess the fact that the UFC has about 95% of the world's top fighters doesn't really mean anything.

Correct me if i'm wrong. i checked the MMA's top ten list in the 5 weight classes. combined the UFC had 28 fighters in the entire list. 5 weight classes, top ten is a total of 50 fighters. In other words..there are 22 top ten fighter in other orgs. The UFC doesn't respect that and claim their brand hs the best! Sure they hosue most of the best fighters but there are a great deal of fighters in other orgs that can destoy alot of the ufcs fighters.....to name a few...jake shields, frank shamrock, gomi, fedor, diaz, cung lee, josh barnett, hunt(does the ufc actually have him on contract?) kimbo (yes i think he's a monster!) and let's not forget. matt linland...to name a few. There's a shitload of talent that the ufc doesn't regognize or have alienated.

If there were a world MMA championship right now I would say HALF of them would loose their belts.

Gary Shaw has this one right! That's my opinion.

[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