Tweet
Petruzelli: EliteXC 'didn't want me to take [Kimbo] down'
By Steve Cofield
Kimbo killer Seth Petruzelli did his first radio interview with The Monsters in Orlando and dropped a bombshell when he said that EliteXC bumped his pay to six figures but that the increase came with a stipulation:
"The promoters kinda hinted to me and they gave me the money to stand and throw with him, they didn't want me to take him down. Let's just put it that way. It was worth my while to try and stand up punch him."
If this is true, it's terrible news for EliteXC as promoters have no business telling a fighter how to fight. It would mean that EliteXC was doing all it could to protect Kimbo against his big weakness: the ground game. In the end, it didn't matter because Kimbo is terrible on his feet as well. But imagine the reaction if Petruzelli never tried to take Kimbo down, lost the fight via KO and then let loose with this claim. The last thing the fight game needs is actual proof backing the daily fight-fixing claims that come from uninformed fans and media.
Yahoo! Sports spoke with Jared Shaw this afternoon, and the EliteXC VP said he didn't tell Petruzelli that he had to stand against Kimbo. But does that mean EliteXC Head of Operations Jeremy Lappen did?
Click below to hear Petruzelli's "no takedown rule" comment (Real 104.1):
Click below to hear the entire conversation with Petruzelli (Real 104.1):
This was a good interview aside from the borderline racist references to the "big black guy." You could accept the Kimbo "jokes" on any other show, but, with the Monster's history of racially insensitive remarks, they were walking a fine line.
Petruzelli said he knew that the fight was won when he saw Kimbo's pre-fight interview with CBS' Karyn Bryant. The former UFC fighter said Kimbo looked nervous. Petruzelli told Kimbo in the ring that he would do a rematch to which Kimbo basically said no thanks. He also said that he toned down his victory celebration because he thought "he might get shot" moments after the win in the area. Petruzelli mentioned that his manager was getting death threats in the aftermath.
Photo via EliteXC
By Steve Cofield
Kimbo killer Seth Petruzelli did his first radio interview with The Monsters in Orlando and dropped a bombshell when he said that EliteXC bumped his pay to six figures but that the increase came with a stipulation:
"The promoters kinda hinted to me and they gave me the money to stand and throw with him, they didn't want me to take him down. Let's just put it that way. It was worth my while to try and stand up punch him."
If this is true, it's terrible news for EliteXC as promoters have no business telling a fighter how to fight. It would mean that EliteXC was doing all it could to protect Kimbo against his big weakness: the ground game. In the end, it didn't matter because Kimbo is terrible on his feet as well. But imagine the reaction if Petruzelli never tried to take Kimbo down, lost the fight via KO and then let loose with this claim. The last thing the fight game needs is actual proof backing the daily fight-fixing claims that come from uninformed fans and media.
Yahoo! Sports spoke with Jared Shaw this afternoon, and the EliteXC VP said he didn't tell Petruzelli that he had to stand against Kimbo. But does that mean EliteXC Head of Operations Jeremy Lappen did?
Click below to hear Petruzelli's "no takedown rule" comment (Real 104.1):
Click below to hear the entire conversation with Petruzelli (Real 104.1):
This was a good interview aside from the borderline racist references to the "big black guy." You could accept the Kimbo "jokes" on any other show, but, with the Monster's history of racially insensitive remarks, they were walking a fine line.
Petruzelli said he knew that the fight was won when he saw Kimbo's pre-fight interview with CBS' Karyn Bryant. The former UFC fighter said Kimbo looked nervous. Petruzelli told Kimbo in the ring that he would do a rematch to which Kimbo basically said no thanks. He also said that he toned down his victory celebration because he thought "he might get shot" moments after the win in the area. Petruzelli mentioned that his manager was getting death threats in the aftermath.
Photo via EliteXC
Yea ive been hearing alot of stuff like this lately...i.e. shamrocks last fight which he apparently "threw." And I am the biggest MMA fan EVER ...BUT if the integrity of the sport is ever comprimised to a level where say I can't tell if fighters are layin down or whatever...Im out and Ill find something else to do instead of those UFC parties on sat. nights
Comment