1st CBS-EliteXC Event maybe May 31 **UPDATED**

[The Seer]

1st CBS-EliteXC Event maybe May 31 **UPDATED**

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During a Tuesday media conference call, EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw said that CBS executives would soon release details on the first-ever EliteXC-CBS event.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) was the first to break news of the groundbreaking deal, which will put MMA on major U.S. network television for the first time. The deal calls for four annual events that will air in primetime on Saturdays.

The official press release was expected Wednesday, and though it never came, ProElite.com teased some info, including a May 31 debut date. Additionally, a bulletin there said that the first event date will be promoted during this week's CBS coverage of the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

Today, our friends at fiveouncesofpain.com posted some additional info about the event, including:

* The event will take place in Newark, N.J. -- likely at the Prudential Center, which played host to UFC 78 this past November.

* Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson will headline the event, though his opponent isn't known.

* EliteXC middleweight champ Robbie Lawler will defend his title against Scott Smith.

* Gina Carano is expected to fight at the event. (According to fiveouncesofpain.com. Kaitlin Young and Cris Cyborg are the leading candidates to fight her.)

* Brett Rogers and Jon Murphy will likely meet in a swing bout for the event.

[The Seer]

It's official now.

IT'S OFFICIAL!
EliteXC and CBS will kick off their groundbreaking deal with an event on May 31 -- the first-ever MMA event to air live on major U.S. network television.

ProElite, Inc. (EliteXC's parent company) and CBS made the announcement today.

"CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS" will air May 31 from 9-11 p.m. ET/PT and takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. As expected, Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson will headline the event (though an opponent hasn't been named), and EliteXC middleweight champ Robbie Lawler faces fellow slugger Scott Smith in a title defense.

No other fights were made official, but further announcements are expected soon.

"I am very happy for the highly trained fighters who will finally get the kind of exposure they deserve, and, of course, the viewers, who will get the opportunity to learn that MMA is truly a sport that requires an abundance of skills, both mentally and physically," stated Gary Shaw, EliteXC live events president, in today's release.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) was the first to report that ProElite, Inc. and CBS had reached a deal earlier this month. A total of four EliteXC events will be aired on CBS during the next 12 months.

The first event will be produced by Showtime Sports.

"We're excited to introduce broadcast television viewers to America's fastest growing sport with this primetime event," stated Kelly Kahl, Senior Executive Vice President of CBS Primetime. "EliteXC is putting together a lineup card that showcases the unique personalities, world-class athleticism, and raw power and emotion that characterizes mixed martial arts."

Since its launch in December 2006, EliteXC has broadcast its events on Showtime, which is owned by CBS. The fight organization has hosted 12 events to date and will team up with Strikeforce for a show on March 29. That event also airs on Showtime.