Elite XC's LWT Champ KJ Noons ducking Nick Diaz

[Capt.Caveman]

KJ Noons versus Nick Diaz "definitely not happening"

The very-public feud between EliteXC Vice President Jared Shaw and 160-pound champion KJ Noons' manager Mark Dion has now led to the official cancellation of the proposed bout for EliteXC's October return to CBS.

Shaw today informed MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) of EliteXC's decision.

"KJ Noons versus Nick Diaz is definitely not happening on Oct. 4," Shaw said.

Shaw said the cancellation was unfortunate, but he believes the burden does not lie with Noons. Instead, Shaw believes Dion is to blame.

"I still believe KJ Noons can defend his title," Shaw said. "I still believe KJ Noons is a man of honor. He comes from a great family, a fighting family. He's a great kid. He's a great athlete. I think he's just being mismanaged right now."

Dion recently told MMAjunkie.com that by refusing to accept the bout with Diaz he was merely acting in Noons' best interest. Shaw strongly disagreed.

"[Negotiating] is the manager's fiduciary responsibility for the fighter," Shaw said. "But it's also the manager's responsibility to get his fighter to take the right fights that lead him to financial gains, and it's up to the manager to make sure that he has the fighter understand how EliteXC feels about him. Otherwise the manager is painting whatever picture he wants to paint. And in this case, this manager -- his 15 minutes of fame is costing his client his career."

And while Dion has promised to bring forth full details of the dispute in a perhaps-forthcoming press conference, Shaw is unconcerned.

"I don't really have to say much because Mark Dion said pretty much everything for me," Shaw said. "In fact I wish just saying 'hi' ... would make Mark Dion have his press conference. I will be the first one there in the first row because I need a good laugh. There's not many good sit-coms on anymore, and I need a good half-hour laugh."

Dion has claimed that Noons has little to gain in a second bout with Diaz, the man whom Noons defeated to win EliteXC's first-ever lightweight belt. Shaw finds that claim laughable.

"So according to Mark, the opportunity to be on CBS doesn't help him, does it?" Shaw asked. "Then Mark needs to tell that to the winners of 'American Idol' or 'Survivor.' Or even the losers of those shows who have all blasted into the stratosphere.

"He needs to say that to any competitor or athlete who has had an opportunity to be showcased on national television. You think Michael Phelps would be on Sports Illustrated, on Wheaties boxes, would be the No. 1 Google search? You think that would happen if he didn't have the platform of network television to be showcased on? He would just be another swimmer winning awards."

In addition to the cancellation of the proposed bout, EliteXC also elected to extend the length of Noons' contract. While Shaw would not disclose the exact length of the extension, the move limits any options Noons and Dion might seek outside of the organization.

"We have already sent a letter," Shaw said. "It doesn't extend for fights. It just extends for time. With that and time off for injury following the first Nick Diaz fight, pull up that chair if you're not willing to fight."

Shaw also took offense to Dion's claims to MMAjunkie.com that he was simply holding Noons out for a bout with Eddie Alvarez. While Noons' camp has stated it believes Alvarez to be EliteXC's true No. 1 contender, he is currently unavailable due to his impending marriage. Shaw said that shouldn't push back the fight too long, as, "People get married in five or 10 minutes."

"I think Mark Dion owes an apology to Eddie Alvarez," Shaw said. "I think he owes an apology to every human being out there at this point.

"You want to say Eddie Alvarez is the No. 1 contender? Fine. Do I think Eddie Alvarez is a great fighter? One-hundred percent. Do I think he's worthy of a title challenge? One-hundred percent. Does he make great fights? One-hundred percent.

"Unfortunately Eddie is not available at this time due to recovering from an injury and also due to the fact that he is getting married, and he is going on a honeymoon. Sorry, Mark Dion. It doesn't take five to 10 minutes. It takes five to 10 days. And sometimes it takes longer than that.

"It's marital bliss, and the guy deserves that. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And your selfish ass is not going to get in the way of that."

When asked whether or not Noons would be stripped of his title, Shaw said that EliteXC was "not prepared" to make a decision about the belt at this time.

While the conclusion of the feud between Shaw and Dion seems to be far from over, Shaw offered a message of support for Noons.

"I think you're a champion," Shaw said. "I don't think you're scared of Nick Diaz. I would like you to prove that to the world -- that you are the champion that we believe you are.

"EliteXC 100 percent believes that you can win this fight. We 100 percent believe Nick Diaz can win the fight. We 100 percent believe that together you make a spectacular fight."

"KJ Noons, please wake up and smell that beautiful Hawaiian coffee. We want you to fight. We believe in you. Believe in yourself, and defend this belt."




They should strip him of his title. You can't pick and choose your fights(TITO) You fight who they tell you to fight. and Noons lost to Krazy Horse enough said

[JMCC]

It gets better:

The highly-publicized spat between EliteXC officials and the organization's lightweight champion K.J. Noons and his management team recently garnered another participant.

GracieFighter.com, the official website for Cesar Gracie's training camp -- home of EliteXC lightweight Nick Diaz -- recently released a detailed response to K.J. Noons' official statement issued earlier this week.

Entitled "KJ Exposed," the explosive response questions the validity of Noons' boxing career, explains how the 160-pound weight class was not created specifically for Diaz, and labels Noons as both a "whiner" and "paper champion."

The full release can be found below (unedited).

Multiple attempts to reach EliteXC Vice President Jared Shaw throughout the week for an official statement on Noons' release were unsuccessful. However today Shaw reached out to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) to offer a sample of his forthcoming official statement.

Early this morning a UPS delivery arrived at MMAjunkie.com offices. The package had been shipped from EliteXC headquarters. Inside the package was a sealed copy of "EliteXC: Renegades" with a note from Shaw attached that read, "Open the DVD and please enjoy."

Inside the DVD were three of the trading cards Noons complained of being omitted from in his original statement. Featured on the cards were Nick Diaz, Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson and Noons.

A call from Shaw followed shortly after.

"The gift you received today is a token of EliteXC's appreciation to all press and a reminder about how we do treat our fighters," Shaw said. "And any fan that also wants to see exactly how we treat them right should go to any major retailer of DVD's and buy 'EliteXC: Renegades.'

"And if I'm wrong about what I claim, send me your receipt and I'll pay for it."

Shaw said he plans on commenting in full on the matter after the holiday weekend.

"I plan on releasing a statement about Karl Noons, Jr.," Shaw said. "It just won't be happening over this weekend. Karl is an employee of EliteXC and this is Labor Day. So I figured I'd give him a weekend off of public embarrassment."


KJ EXPOSED -- AUG. 29 2008

We break down the KJ Noons cryfest point by point.

"Honor my contract. Elite XC wants to talk about honoring the contract. How about when Elite XC honored the contract and my pay to fight Edson Berto went down after I lost my first fight. That was not part of my contract. Or how about the contract Gary Shaw breached by not promoting my boxing career? Gary Shaw only gave me one out of four of the agreed upon fights. I have not boxed for over a year. When I signed with Elite XC, I was promised they would promote both my boxing and MMA careers. I could have signed with another MMA only company, but I wanted to box too."

GF- 1) Earth to KJ; you don't have a boxing career. No one in the boxing world knows who you are. 2) Another MMA company would have paid you less and not given you a title shot, especially when you were 1-1. 3) If you will not fight Diaz due to a breach of contract by EliteXC then why would you fight Alvarez for the same terms?

KJ- "Elite XC does me a favor after I lose, by putting me on the first ShoXC against Edson Berto? Berto’s father is good friends with Jared’s father, Gary Shaw who wants Berto’s brother on a boxing contract. Berto was the next guy Elite XC wanted to build. But I win that fight and now I am 1-1. Elite XC gives me an opportunity to fight Diaz. Elite XC puts me against Diaz because Elite XC’s roster was so light and there was nobody else to fight him.

Elite XC creates a new weight class for Diaz because he beat Gomi. Giving Diaz a belt and creating a weight division (160) he can make, will make your belt legit. Sorry to ruin Elite XC’s plans and beat him.

Elite XC never promoted or took care of me as their champion


GF- EliteXC weight classes were never dictated by Nick Diaz. Diaz would have preferred a 165lbs class. That's why he likes fighting in Japan at 167lbs. He has difficulty cutting to 160lbs. 2) Jake Shields has been promoted the same way and is quite happy.

KJ- "In the Elite XC’s DVD where Diaz and I fought there are two (2) baseball cards of Diaz and Kimbo. Hello! I won the fight and Elite XC’s promoting Diaz after I beat him? Or how about the day Elite XC flew Diaz in to do a signing on the DVD where he lost. Wow, that must have been uncomfortable Nick? Signing a DVD, and it is a fight that you lost. Why wasn’t I flown in for the signing?

Elite XC has never promoted me on either of their websites, EliteXC or Pro-Elite.

Elite XC offered me a fight on the first CBS show, but only if I signed a new long-term contract. Instead of promoting their best fighters on CBS, you have to be on a long term contract for them to promote you. That was not our deal."

GF- 1) Nick Diaz, Jake Shields and Frank Shamrock were flown in to shoot an instructional trailer on grappling for the CBS show. The signings were an after thought. You weren't flown in because you aren't a grappler. We are sure they will fly you in if they need an instructional on whining. 2) Your contract was for Showtime. Diaz and Shields both signed longer deals for CBS. Nathan Diaz signed a special long term contract for Spike TV etc... This is a business not Burger King, you can't have it 'your way'.


KJ- "Consider when Elite XC gives a couple thousand tickets away at their CBS show in Stockton. Elite XC gives me a hard time about comping me one extra ticket for my cousin that helped me train for my fight. I only get four tickets per show. I am the main event in Honolulu, my home town! I did not ask for any tickets for my family and friends and they gave me a hard time about one extra ticket!

Or how about when Elite XC brought Diaz into the ring after my last victory in Hawaii to disrespect me and my family."

GF- Diaz got no extra tickets in his home town of Stockton and isn't complaining. 2) Bringing a fighter into the ring to promote an upcoming fight is standard practice. Your (I could of been a contender) drunk father, started a near riot and should be banned from further events and immediately placed in an Alcoholics Anonymous treatment center for his own self respect.

KJ- "Chuck Champion (President Elite XC) threatens me, my family and my manager with lawsuits and how he’s going to sue me. HAHA. Pretty hard to sue a guy who does not make jack with your company. I’m glad $kala disclosed how much I make, which breached the confidentiality clause of the contract. I will break down the real numbers for you. I am the defending world champ, I have been the main event for Elite XC three out of four times on Showtime. In almost two years I have made approximately $83,000?

After paying my trainers and managers fee, I have $50,000 thousand. After taxes, probably 30 grand. Divide that by two years for $15,000 thousand a year. Divide by 52 weeks that amounts to approximately $300 a week. I do not know anybody that can survive on that amount of money. My buddies make more money than that in a couple days being a bus boy or bar back. And yes you can argue I should fight more. Elite XC doesn’t give me fights or promote me, they ice me. Gary Shaw Productions only gave me one of the agreed upon four fights per the boxing contract.

And I do not want to ramble on about all the little small stuff that I can keep going on about. But the straw that broke the camel’s back is they want me to fight Diaz for the second time. Diaz is not the number one contender and they are paying Diaz three times more money than me. Diaz complained after the Stockton fight, he was not paid enough. How do you think that made me feel? Yes you can argue that Diaz gets more for the draw, therefore I do not deserve as much compensation. If that is the case, it is a result of Elite XC terrible job promoting me. Instead of promoting me as their champ and upcoming athlete, Elite XC has resented me for ruining their plans to make Diaz their champ. That is just total disrespect. So it comes down to money and what is fair. I am tired of being bent over by Elite XC with no Vaseline."

GF- Promoters will sue when you don't fulfill the terms of your contract, just ask Randy Couture. By the way, you are not Randy Couture and the fight world is not holding it's breath waiting to see if you will fight again. 2) $83,000? There are several fighters that are a lot better than you fighting for a lot less. Pay your dues and quit being a little *****. 3) You are paying your management too high of a percentage and here's some advice you should consider, "they are completely incompetent". 4) Chuck Liddell makes 100s of thousands more than Keith Jardine even though he lost to him. Diaz does not complain that Kimbo makes much more. He understands marketability, why can't you? 5) Divide this and then multiply it several times: KJ = little ***** > KJ = real champion 6) We agree you do need more Vaseline. You are used to it and damn those EliteXC guys for not using it when they bend you over.

KJ- "I am right when I say Diaz is not the number one contender. Elite XC is trying to force this fight for their ratings. Eddie Alaverez is the number one contender and anybody with half a brain knows that a fight with Eddie is a way harder fight for me than Diaz. I will fight Diaz, but Elite has to be fair. I’m not ducking Diaz, why the hell would I be scared of someone I already beat.

With that being said, I am going to focus on my boxing career. I can make more money doing 6 and 8 rounders every other month and make more than I did being the Elite XC defending world champ. At least I will be able to sleep at night and be able to look myself in the mirror everyday. That right there is worth more than $300 bucks a week or fighting a guy I cannot stand for less money than him the second time around.

Will the Diaz fight happen, yes. Will the fight happen on Elite XC on October 4, 2008, probably not. The way things are being run by Chuck Champion, a guy whose history is newspapers, not fighting, and $kala, someone who talks a lot of game, but has never put on a pair of gloves, never stepped in a ring or cage. $kala has had everything handed to him with a silver spoon from daddy. Does anyone else but me think $kala just wants to be famous and stir up all this dirty laundry? I guess any publicity is good publicity. When I think about it, it has been good promotion for their October card since nobody is talking about it until you bring up the Noons vs. Diaz match up."

GF- 1) It is not up to you to decide who the #1 contender is. That is EliteXC's sole discretion. Patrick Cote will soon be fighting Anderson Silva at the UFC's sole discretion. Silva is not complaining because he fights whomever they put in front of him. Silva fought Rich Franklin after wrecking him the 1st time. Serra rematched GSP his very next fight after demolishing him. Serra got paid less than GSP even though he was the Champion after the 1st fight. These men are true Champions and fight anyone. This is a concept you cannot seem to grasp. 2) You are scared because Diaz, despite having a terrible showing last time was stopped by cuts. God forbid the doctor that let the fight continue against Gomi had been calling the shots at your fight. In your heart you know what would have happened and you would rather live the lie of being a paper champion. 3) What will EliteXC ever do without you? I guess you will have to watch from your couch. Drink a beer. Prepare to make a ritual of it.

[Gotti420]

it looks like they finally stripped him of the title.

http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/09/20/kj-noons-stripped-of-elitexc-lightweight-title/

EliteXC announced late Friday that K.J. Noons has been stripped of the promotion’s lightweight title. The company is citing Noons’ refusal to defend the title against Nick Diaz during CBS and EliteXC’s upcoming “Saturday Night Fights” show on Oct. 4 as the reason behind the decision.
“We are stripping K.J. of his championship belt for refusing to defend against Diaz,’’ EliteXC Head of Fight Operations Jeremy Lappen said in a statement.
“It’s a very unfortunate situation but we cannot have belt-holders who refuse to fight the top contenders. We want champions who will fight anyone, anytime, anyplace. That’s the mentality all champions should have.
“I feel very bad for K.J. because I like him a lot on a personal level and have always thought he could be a big star. He’s charismatic, has a very exciting fighting style and is a top level fighter. So I’m obviously disappointed that he has chosen to take this stance.
“I don’t understand why he would turn down a chance to be a headliner on CBS on Oct. 4. K.J. then turned down the fight again when we offered him a headlining spot on our next SHOWTIME date against Nick. From my view, it is a fight against a top-named opponent in Diaz (someone who beat the No. 1 fighter in the world in his weight class), a fighter K.J. has bad blood with and most definitely a fight the fans really wanted to see. It seemed like a great opportunity for K.J. to me.
“Personally, I do not think it was a smart career move, but I’m sure he sees it differently. K.J. has two more fights remaining on his contract, so we are still looking forward to having him fight for us again soon, but not as our world champion.’’
Noons originally won the then-vacant title when he upset Diaz during the promotion’s “Renegade” event last November 10 in Corpus Christi, Texas. After dominating Diaz in the standup portion of the fight and causing three lacerations to Diaz’s face, a doctor called a stop to the fight following round 1, declaring Noons the winner.
Diaz, who had been heavily favored to win the fight, stormed out of the main arena in protest and disputed the decision. The outcome of the fight was a source of bad blood between the Diaz and Noons camp and verbal barbs were exchanged via the media.
The bad blood manifested during the promotion’s June 14 “Return of the King” event in Hawaii following Noons’ first successful defense of the title against Yves Edwards. At the invitation of EliteXC officials, Diaz entered the cage during Noons’ post-fight interview and began to verbally antagonize the then-champion. The verbal exchange escalated to the point that Noons’ father, Karl Noons, a former professional kickboxer, lunged at the Diaz camp. A a melee between the two parties then ensued.
After Diaz put together a three fight win streak following the loss to Noons, the promotion made several attempts to capitalize on the grudge feud but could never secure a bout agreement from Noons, as both he and his manager, Mark Dion, disputed EliteXC’s assertion that Diaz was the number one contender to the title. The Noons camp stated it felt that Eddie Alvarez, based on his undefeated streak in DREAM’s lightweight Grand Prix deserved to be the rightful top contender. However, Alvarez was recently married and was unavailable for the Oct. 4 date.
Noons would also later reveal that he was unhappy with the company over salary issues and his belief that EliteXC officials had reneged on promises to promote his professional boxing career.

[sniper]

Read this saga this morning. First thing EliteXC has done right yet.

[ratedRsuperstar]

didn't kj beat diaz a few fights before he went for the belt? i don't remember. but i do remember when kj won the belt, diaz came to the ring to fuck with him and kj did the nervous pitter laugh and ducked as his daddy went after diaz for giving them the finger

who cares gina carrano >>>>>>>>> anything else elite could do

[Capt.Caveman]

noons is a pussy. he got a beating from crazy horse and beat diaz by luck.......he knew he couldn't beat him and now he's fucked for the rest of his career

[d0uche_n0zzle]

What career?

He pissed it all away by refusing to defend his "belt".

[JMCC]

Noons really blew it here, he wanted to fight Alvarez, but he wasn't available, then fight Diaz and prove to everyone it wasn't a fluke. But deep down inside he knows Nick would have whooped his ass.

I guess now he has time to work on that boxing career....

[pink soccer]

I bet kj agreed with scarface when he said "fuck the diaz brothers"

[supers4972]

I bet kj agreed with scarface when he said "fuck the diaz brothers"http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/5885/vaderfail2te0.jpg
http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vaderfail2te0.jpg