Proelite close to deal with CBS/Showtime

I just don't see the point with upstarts, they're all basically trying to cash in on the UFC's success in the MMA market, well what they've seen, and I doubt we'd see so many had the UFC never blown up as it has. It kind of holds MMA back really. New Orgs sprout, die off in 2 years or so, another one forms, it's counter productive. I suppose we're not at the point for MMA to truly breakthrough though. It felt like it, but only 10 years or so into bigtime MMA maybe it's too early. Maybe the UFC isn't ready to become that NFL of MMA type Org, maybe the UFC isn't even the Org that will become that, though it's what really should happen for the eventual growth of the sport if it's the UFC or not. I doubt Proelite will even breakthrough as did SF, more of the market is cornered now. And would Showtime even want to deal with them again? They ended up owing Showtime 20 million in the end, not sure if their under new ownership, but there has to be some bad taste. Ultimately the more divided/abstracted/scattered/unconnected whatever term you want to use, the slower the growth of MMA will be.

I believe Viacom's ties are to MTV/VH1/Spike by the way.

LA wrote:

I just don't see the point with upstarts, they're all basically trying to cash in on the UFC's success in the MMA market, well what they've seen, and I doubt we'd see so many had the UFC never blown up as it has. It kind of holds MMA back really. New Orgs sprout, die off in 2 years or so, another one forms, it's counter productive. I suppose we're not at the point for MMA to truly breakthrough though. It felt like it, but only 10 years or so into bigtime MMA maybe it's too early. Maybe the UFC isn't ready to become that NFL of MMA type Org, maybe the UFC isn't even the Org that will become that, though it's what really should happen for the eventual growth of the sport if it's the UFC or not. I doubt Proelite will even breakthrough as did SF, more of the market is cornered now. And would Showtime even want to deal with them again? They ended up owing Showtime 20 million in the end, not sure if their under new ownership, but there has to be some bad taste. Ultimately the more divided/abstracted/scattered/unconnected whatever term you want to use, the slower the growth of MMA will be.

I believe Viacom's ties are to MTV/VH1/Spike by the way.

I could not disagree with your post more. I don't see how any fan of the sport can be against more MMA.

On upstarts.

1)Upstarts are necessary in developing talent at the embryo stage. They take the role of high school sports, minor league baseball, euro basketball etc in the MMA world. It is where the vast majority of young mma talent tests themselves and hone their skills.

2)The UFC needs these small compannies to produce talent. I don't know if there will ever be a day where the UFC does not need these organizations. Without the organized large scale proving ground of high school athletics that all the other major sports enjoy, where will talent come from if not from these many many small shows?


3)But because these are professianal organizations in a capitalist market these companies are looking out for the success of the org itself, they want to make $$$. Their main goal is not to be a jump off point for talent. When they find talent they want to keep that talent.

4)There are many Television outlets that also want to cash in on the popularity of the sport. The big dog org's can only fill so many spots, so these outlets will throw their line in the water and see if they can hook a promotion that can develop talent. These TV deals of coarse funnel $$$ into these smaller orgs allowing them to sign better and bigger name talent.

5)The UFC further creates a need for smaller shows by cutting name fighters on losing streaks, by not being able to come to terms with high level fighters for numerous reasons, and in general still not being big enough to house all the talent that is on the MMA scene. Saying these org's are not necessary is basically saying the Robbie Lawler's of the world should have retired years ago.


To some it up.

MMA needs these smaller shows. These smaller shows will continue to find oppurtunities to grow by way of a tv outlet looking to cash in on MMA. There will continue to be some level of competition for the UFC.

The UFC needs smaller organizations, the UFC admits that. They need them to develop talent and to help sort out the men from the boys. If you don't perform well in the UFC often times the UFC will give people a second look if they keep performing in these smaller organizations. You see it all the time, get your shit together and the UFC will come calling again. It's like putting a baseball player back in the minors until you feel he is ready to be called back up. The UFC needs smaller organizations, especially if they want to be "the major league".

UPDATE

http://mmajunkie.com/news/24758/proelite-shopping-a-media-deal-for-november-show-but-network-tv-not-imminent.mma
ProElite head of fight operations T. Jay Thompson said Tuesday that he'd love to take the revitalized company to network TV.

But right now, the company has neither the infrastructure nor roster to make that leap.

"We are really going to grow this company at a correct pace," Thompson told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I don't want a lot of crazy growing pains and mistakes being made."

As of late, ProElite is thought to be doing just the opposite. A report
issued this week said the publicly traded company is close to a deal
that will see the company return to its former broadcast partners three
years after it collapsed amid financial troubles.

Thompson said the report is bogus. ProElite is, however, talking with
potential TV partners for an event planned for sometime in November in
Atlantic City, N.J. The company hopes to have a deal wrapped up in the
coming months.

But as of right now, the plan is slow and steady. The company's first
MMA event since its 2009 financial collapse is scheduled for Aug. 27 at
Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu and will stream live on the Internet. A
heavyweight matchup pitting former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski vs. Ray
Lopez headlines.

"We were almost going to do it off the radar," Thompson said. "We're
getting a lot of attention, which is great, but we're just getting up
and running. We're not a major competing MMA company right now; we're
just getting our legs under us and grow organically and get a grassroots
following.

"I could see us having an entry-level television deal by the fall, by
our November show … And when I say entry level, it probably won't be a
major network. And there's nothing wrong with that; it's kind of the way
we want to grow."

Thompson said the company is also open to the possibility of a
pay-per-view card, though that's not the primary focus at the moment.

"With the right card, there are ways of doing pay-per-view and being
successful without doing a million buys," he said. "So we have all
options on the table."

This past June, Stratus Media Group acquired a 95 ownership of ProElite
one month after securing $14.1 million in additional financing to fund
operations.

Two years after its launch in late 2006, ProElite's previous owners
burned through $55 million. In their fast rise, they were the first MMA
company to secure a network TV deal to broadcast live events on CBS and
Showtime. In February 2009, Strikeforce purchased select assets of the
ailing company and struck a deal to air up to 16 events per year. MMA
hasn't returned to CBS since a brawl broke out on-air during a
CBS-televised Strikeforce event in April 2010. The California-based
company was acquired by UFC parent company Zuffa, LLC this past March.

An MMA promoter of 20 years who served as a consultant to the old
ProElite, Thompson has seen the seismic shifts in the sport's landscape
and has seen the dangers of growing too quickly.

"My job is to put the company in a position to capitalize on the big
opportunities," he said. "So we need to be around in six months, 12
months, 24 months, and that's just being fiscally responsible with a
little TV deal and putting on good MMA shows and entertaining audiences.

"We're going to end up on top of the world if we do that, but we're not
going to do it by jumping to the top of the world on our first show."

Just checked the Pro Elite share price.

Currently at about $.49 per share, which is just below their 52 week high of .51. Had a funny dip this morning where it was at $.36 but quickly shot back up.

Their 52 week low was $.0075. So alot of money could already have been made without taking much risk. I think that prognosis may still stand.

I might throw $100 at it. And then I'll start counting the days till the UFC buys it up for $40 million.

I actually gave it some consideration a few weeks ago when I heard about the stock being $0.01 a share. Damn I'm kicking myself.

a little confused by what this website is saying.

http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/pele


But if u look at the graph it looks like it was selling for $15 back in 07. Which does not jive with what they are saying is the 52 week high.

Look at the 6 month graph, and price has gone up 50x.

OU wrote:

I actually gave it some consideration a few weeks ago when I heard about the stock being $0.01 a share. Damn I'm kicking myself.

well I think u def could have made some $$$ during those few weeks, but u have to go back to feb to see where it was trading for $0.01.

But there is still time. I'm going to buy in right now.

I'm gonna have to check with my guy at Wells Fargo and see what I can do lol

captain organic wrote:

OU wrote:

I actually gave it some consideration a few weeks ago when I heard about the stock being $0.01 a share. Damn I'm kicking myself.

well I think u def could have made some $$$ during those few weeks, but u have to go back to feb to see where it was trading for $0.01.

But there is still time. I'm going to buy in right now.

Yeah I'm seriously going to run it by my guy at Wells Fargo, see what I can do with this.

I haven't made a stock trade since before the Internet.

So I had to set up an account. Have to wait 3 days for the Funds transfer to be completed.


If they sign with showtime during the next couple days and the share price jumps Im going to be pissed.

OU wrote:

LA wrote:

I just don't see the point with upstarts, they're all basically trying to cash in on the UFC's success in the MMA market, well what they've seen, and I doubt we'd see so many had the UFC never blown up as it has. It kind of holds MMA back really. New Orgs sprout, die off in 2 years or so, another one forms, it's counter productive. I suppose we're not at the point for MMA to truly breakthrough though. It felt like it, but only 10 years or so into bigtime MMA maybe it's too early. Maybe the UFC isn't ready to become that NFL of MMA type Org, maybe the UFC isn't even the Org that will become that, though it's what really should happen for the eventual growth of the sport if it's the UFC or not. I doubt Proelite will even breakthrough as did SF, more of the market is cornered now. And would Showtime even want to deal with them again? They ended up owing Showtime 20 million in the end, not sure if their under new ownership, but there has to be some bad taste. Ultimately the more divided/abstracted/scattered/unconnected whatever term you want to use, the slower the growth of MMA will be.

I believe Viacom's ties are to MTV/VH1/Spike by the way.

I could not disagree with your post more. I don't see how any fan of the sport can be against more MMA.

It's not more MMA, it's more abstracted MMA, counter productive and pointless. These Orgs don't come up and long to be feeders, and even a feeder Org could more then easily be run by a main entity. And I wasn't talking about the "embryo stage" level as Capt. put it that should be obvious, but upstarts who long to be competitors.. it just divides the sport.

captain organic wrote:

On upstarts.

1)Upstarts are necessary in developing talent at the embryo stage. They take the role of high school sports, minor league baseball, euro basketball etc in the MMA world. It is where the vast majority of young mma talent tests themselves and hone their skills.

2)The UFC needs these small compannies to produce talent. I don't know if there will ever be a day where the UFC does not need these organizations. Without the organized large scale proving ground of high school athletics that all the other major sports enjoy, where will talent come from if not from these many many small shows?


3)But because these are professianal organizations in a capitalist market these companies are looking out for the success of the org itself, they want to make $$$. Their main goal is not to be a jump off point for talent. When they find talent they want to keep that talent.

4)There are many Television outlets that also want to cash in on the popularity of the sport. The big dog org's can only fill so many spots, so these outlets will throw their line in the water and see if they can hook a promotion that can develop talent. These TV deals of coarse funnel $$$ into these smaller orgs allowing them to sign better and bigger name talent.

5)The UFC further creates a need for smaller shows by cutting name fighters on losing streaks, by not being able to come to terms with high level fighters for numerous reasons, and in general still not being big enough to house all the talent that is on the MMA scene. Saying these org's are not necessary is basically saying the Robbie Lawler's of the world should have retired years ago.


To some it up.

MMA needs these smaller shows. These smaller shows will continue to find oppurtunities to grow by way of a tv outlet looking to cash in on MMA. There will continue to be some level of competition for the UFC.

These aren't smaller shows looking to work up talent, they're Orgs created to cash in on the MMA market, they want a piece of the pie. You think Proelite is sitting there thinking lets become a feeder Org? no they want to work their way up and become a competitor, it ultimately slows the sports growth down. There are Orgs which do start as embryo stage MMA, but that's not what all these upstarts are looking to do and should have been clear not what I'm talking about, that's where the sport growth problem comes from. Really all levels of MMA (maybe not 'embryo stage") could possibly be run as one entity, doesn't even have to be the UFC, but they're the best suitor at this moment, guys would work their way up through the system or down it in some cases. A guy could be a career minor leaguer in UFC challengers, while another works his way up through UFC Challengers to the UFC. I think I could have come up with a post and then responded to it. I might just have to end ever posting in non fight threads, too few a diversity of thoughts on here and ends up going nowhere everytime, two people pushing against a building to see who can move it the most.

Yeah it's pointless, I think the concept that MMA is better off or that the growth is better off under 1 brand is just wrong. Especially at this point in MMA, having 1 organization with complete control over the sport is a very bad idea.

LA, U talk about UFC challengers as if it exists. It does not. And if it were to exist, for it to fully pull off the function that u hope it to, it would have to employ tens of thousands of fighters. We will never see the day.


And there is also a place for the mid level shows as well. For as long as the UFC cuts fighters of the ilk of a 22 yr old Robbie Lawler, or a guy such as Gerald Harris who was 3-1 in the UFC, Tudd Duffee is another, then we need other companies big enough to showcase them. So there is def a place for them as well.


Now once we agree that there is a need for such orgs, and these orgs have zero connection to the UFC, how can we expect these orgs to not want to make as much $$$$ as they can. how can we expect these orgs to gladly except the role of small scale org that never attains to anything higher? Taking the entrepenurial risks without hope of worthwhile payday down the road? It's totally unreasonable to think such a landscape could ever exist.

I follow Captain on Twitter now. Thumbs up his facebook updates.

captain organic wrote:

LA, U talk about UFC challengers as if it exists. It does not. And if it were to exist, for it to fully pull off the function that u hope it to, it would have to employ tens of thousands of fighters. We will never see the day.


And there is also a place for the mid level shows as well. For as long as the UFC cuts fighters of the ilk of a 22 yr old Robbie Lawler, or a guy such as Gerald Harris who was 3-1 in the UFC, Tudd Duffee is another, then we need other companies big enough to showcase them. So there is def a place for them as well.


Now once we agree that there is a need for such orgs, and these orgs have zero connection to the UFC, how can we expect these orgs to not want to make as much $$$$ as they can. how can we expect these orgs to gladly except the role of small scale org that never attains to anything higher? Taking the entrepenurial risks without hope of worthwhile payday down the road? It's totally unreasonable to think such a landscape could ever exist.

Ergo I explain the possiblity of that situation, and said it could easily be done not that it is, which it should....they could easily use it to put on fights of the level of fighters you say need a home (BTW Lawler was cut when they were holding less fighters), and tens of thousands? seriously dude? really? It'd be like 200-250 maybe at that mid-level, where are you getting all these fighters from? Strikeforce currently has 105 fighters a bunch of which will be moved over to the UFC, Bellator 100, MFC maybe 40 guessing, not all of which are at that mid level, that was just a couple Orgs that came to mind, smaller Orgs could still work at their level....Those Orgs you say should reach for a higher ceiling are what I say waste time and slow down the growth of the sport, they could easily make a home for themselves within their niche, but an Org like Proelite will try to move up and it'll endup being a pointless endeavor. Bellator has a nice niche in the MMA World, but when Orgs try to become too big, compete, it's counter productive. I have low hopes for Proelite anyways.

Just totally not with you at all on this, and will never be, kind of turns me off, done with these talks on this board.

OU wrote:

Yeah it's pointless, I think the concept that MMA is better off or that the growth is better off under 1 brand is just wrong. Especially at this point in MMA, having 1 organization with complete control over the sport is a very bad idea.

Why is MMA where it is today? And not all of MMA, but the major leagues of MMA yes.

captain organic wrote:

a little confused by what this website is saying.

http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/pele


But if u look at the graph it looks like it was selling for $15 back in 07. Which does not jive with what they are saying is the 52 week high.

Look at the 6 month graph, and price has gone up 50x.

52 weeks ago was this time in 2010, so the $15 is not in that time period.

Primetyme199 wrote:

captain organic wrote:

a little confused by what this website is saying.

http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/pele


But if u look at the graph it looks like it was selling for $15 back in 07. Which does not jive with what they are saying is the 52 week high.

Look at the 6 month graph, and price has gone up 50x.

52 weeks ago was this time in 2010, so the $15 is not in that time period.

ha, was confusing weeks and months.

Little bit of a roller coaster today. opened at .51, dropped to .40 ended up at .50 so a savy guy who was watching the wire could have seen a 25% gain today. Similar thing happened the day prior.

My deposit went through so I'll buy in on Monday. Not sure if i'll play it safe and buy in at opening price or wait to see if there is a valley.

up to .60 at closing today. 20% increase.

Still waiting on my $$$ to clear. Thought it was Monday, not sure, but Im now figuring tomorrow.

Should I wait to see if there is a dip throughout the day, or do I just jump in at .60?


Saw that the stock has increased 2900% since feb. $100 dollars invested then, would now equate to $300,000.00. $1000, and u would now be a millionare 3 times over.

Although,

Does anyone know how one would sell such stocks? do I just click sell, and it's done, instant millionare? or does there need to be a buyer on the other end, could the sale be stuck in limbo till a buyer steps up, and will that buyer negotiate a price b4 the sale takes place?

So my $$$ finally clears, Im ready to buy, put in my order. and it's shot down. wtf? I call up etrade(with whom I set up the account) and they say ProElite did not file some paper work or something with the SEC, so they can not be legally traded on the market(or something like that). so how is their stock being bought and sold, with that being reflected on the big board? They could be trading on their own market or some business like that.

Lame. Price was at .42 when I went to make my move, and was back up at .60 by days end.

Im trying other avenues to buy in. though who knows what is going on, etrade did not seem to be so clear about.