Noons: No Regrets Sitting Out CBS Event
EliteXC lightweight champion KJ Noons (Pictures) said he doesn't regret turning
down a contract extension to fight for the historical CBS
"Primetime" event on May 31, which served as the sport's inaugural
run on live broadcast television. The three-hour program was the
most watched MMA event ever with an average audience of 4.9 million
viewers.
"They wanted to extend my contract to be on the card. You know, I didn't want to do that," said Noons during a teleconference on Monday touring his next bout this Saturday. "I just wanted to do what's best in my favor, you know what I mean? I didn't want to sign an extension just yet."
Noons, 24, carries a seven-month layoff into his first title defense against the seasoned Yves Edwards (Pictures) at EliteXC "Return of the King" on Saturday at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The headlining bout will be aired live on Showtime beginning at 10 p.m. EST/PST -- an opportunity that appealed more to Noons than the CBS broadcast, he said.
"It turned out better for me," said the native Hawaiian currently residing in San Diego, Calif. "Now I'm headlining on a Showtime card. So I'm not on the undercard. I'm fighting a very well‑versed opponent, Yves Edwards, and I'm very excited for the whole card."
Noons says his resistance to signing a longer extension with Pro Elite, parent company to EliteXC, did not strain his relationship with the fast-growing organization. His bout with Edwards will be the first of a recently signed three-fight deal.
Jeremy Lappen, Head of Fight Operations for Pro Elite, reiterated Noons' satisfaction with the arrangement.
"When we looked at all the different events we had lined up, when we were talking about the CBS card and our first date, one of the dates that we were actually looking at was April 26 in Hawaii. And that's when we discussed it with KJ. And with it being in Hawaii, and KJ being from Hawaii and being our champion, than KJ-Yves was the perfect battle for that."
The April 26 event was later moved to June 14 to make way for the CBS extravaganza on May 31. The event drew 8,000 spectators to the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., but more importantly, peaked with 6.51 million viewers during its climatic conclusion.
Lappen says chatter around Pro Elite's Los Angeles offices was positive following the organization's broadcast debut success. The event garnered heaps of post-fight coverage, including two simultaneous articles in the New York Times and TV features on ESPN's SportsCenter and others.
Much of the commentary was negative, however, revolving around a questionable main event that pitted former YouTube backyard brawling sensation Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson against British heavyweight James Thompson (Pictures). The bout was scrutinized at various moments due to its refereeing, while the entire event was dissected for its fighter and production choices.
Lappen said the company took its critiques in stride.
"The news of how it did was terrific. CBS was very excited, which is obviously important," Lappen said. "I think there was some negative press from I'd call it more the hardcore community. Honestly, we expected that somewhat. I didn't expect it to be so severe. But the fight card that we put together, we stood behind. It was a fight card aimed to hit more of the mainstream audience. I think he we did that."
Both CBS and EliteXC have confirmed that a second event will air on the network as early as late summer. "Slice" has not been solidified to anchor the sophomore effort, though EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw told Sherdog.com that the 34-year-old marketing phenomenon could face Brett Rogers (Pictures), also a victor on May 31, in October.
Heading into their own main event this Saturday, Noons and Edwards were supportive of EliteXC's recent efforts.
"On the May 31 card, they were promoting our fight on Showtime. I think that helped a bit," said the 31-year-old Edwards, a veteran of 10 UFC events since 2001. "We'll get a few more viewers for it. A few more people will get to see some good fights."
Noons, who also sports a 7-1 record (5 KOs) in pro boxing, was quick to defend the home where he earned the lightweight title following a first-round TKO over Nick Diaz (Pictures) at EliteXC "Renegade" last November in Corpus Christi, Texas.
"I don't know why there is so much negativity," said Noons. "Maybe I'm a hardcore (with) what you want to call underground. If they want to be so negative, why don't everybody that has something negative to say go train for eight weeks and try to get in a cage in front of 10,000-20,000 people. And then fight in front of five or six million people. That's not as easy. Some of the calls -- maybe the calls weren't the greatest. But give the fighters some credit."
"They wanted to extend my contract to be on the card. You know, I didn't want to do that," said Noons during a teleconference on Monday touring his next bout this Saturday. "I just wanted to do what's best in my favor, you know what I mean? I didn't want to sign an extension just yet."
Noons, 24, carries a seven-month layoff into his first title defense against the seasoned Yves Edwards (Pictures) at EliteXC "Return of the King" on Saturday at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The headlining bout will be aired live on Showtime beginning at 10 p.m. EST/PST -- an opportunity that appealed more to Noons than the CBS broadcast, he said.
"It turned out better for me," said the native Hawaiian currently residing in San Diego, Calif. "Now I'm headlining on a Showtime card. So I'm not on the undercard. I'm fighting a very well‑versed opponent, Yves Edwards, and I'm very excited for the whole card."
Noons says his resistance to signing a longer extension with Pro Elite, parent company to EliteXC, did not strain his relationship with the fast-growing organization. His bout with Edwards will be the first of a recently signed three-fight deal.
Jeremy Lappen, Head of Fight Operations for Pro Elite, reiterated Noons' satisfaction with the arrangement.
"When we looked at all the different events we had lined up, when we were talking about the CBS card and our first date, one of the dates that we were actually looking at was April 26 in Hawaii. And that's when we discussed it with KJ. And with it being in Hawaii, and KJ being from Hawaii and being our champion, than KJ-Yves was the perfect battle for that."
The April 26 event was later moved to June 14 to make way for the CBS extravaganza on May 31. The event drew 8,000 spectators to the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., but more importantly, peaked with 6.51 million viewers during its climatic conclusion.
Lappen says chatter around Pro Elite's Los Angeles offices was positive following the organization's broadcast debut success. The event garnered heaps of post-fight coverage, including two simultaneous articles in the New York Times and TV features on ESPN's SportsCenter and others.
Much of the commentary was negative, however, revolving around a questionable main event that pitted former YouTube backyard brawling sensation Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson against British heavyweight James Thompson (Pictures). The bout was scrutinized at various moments due to its refereeing, while the entire event was dissected for its fighter and production choices.
Lappen said the company took its critiques in stride.
"The news of how it did was terrific. CBS was very excited, which is obviously important," Lappen said. "I think there was some negative press from I'd call it more the hardcore community. Honestly, we expected that somewhat. I didn't expect it to be so severe. But the fight card that we put together, we stood behind. It was a fight card aimed to hit more of the mainstream audience. I think he we did that."
Both CBS and EliteXC have confirmed that a second event will air on the network as early as late summer. "Slice" has not been solidified to anchor the sophomore effort, though EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw told Sherdog.com that the 34-year-old marketing phenomenon could face Brett Rogers (Pictures), also a victor on May 31, in October.
Heading into their own main event this Saturday, Noons and Edwards were supportive of EliteXC's recent efforts.
"On the May 31 card, they were promoting our fight on Showtime. I think that helped a bit," said the 31-year-old Edwards, a veteran of 10 UFC events since 2001. "We'll get a few more viewers for it. A few more people will get to see some good fights."
Noons, who also sports a 7-1 record (5 KOs) in pro boxing, was quick to defend the home where he earned the lightweight title following a first-round TKO over Nick Diaz (Pictures) at EliteXC "Renegade" last November in Corpus Christi, Texas.
"I don't know why there is so much negativity," said Noons. "Maybe I'm a hardcore (with) what you want to call underground. If they want to be so negative, why don't everybody that has something negative to say go train for eight weeks and try to get in a cage in front of 10,000-20,000 people. And then fight in front of five or six million people. That's not as easy. Some of the calls -- maybe the calls weren't the greatest. But give the fighters some credit."
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