The Weekly Wrap: Nov. 22 - Nov. 28

EliteXC contractual limits tested

The awkward contractual situation of EliteXC fighters got more complicated this week as several fighters took fights outside of the presumably-dead Pro Elite organization. Scott Smith headlined for Strikeforce on Nov. 21, two weeks after he was originally scheduled to fight on an EliteXC event against Hector Lombard. Smith said in a post-fight interview he had signed a one-fight deal with Strikeforce and would like to return.

Elsewhere, heavyweight Dave "Pee Wee" Herman took a fight in Austin, Texas on Nov. 22, toppling Chris Guillen in 1:32 at a King of Kombat event. Herman said on "Inside MMA" that he can take fights outside of Pro Elite so long as they are one-fight deals. And the first and only EliteXC featherweight champion, Wilson Reis, is moving towards signing with the Bellator Fighting Championships promotion, which debuts next year on ESPN Deportes, according to fiveouncesofpain.com.

In addition, EliteXC heavyweight champion Antonio Silva, who is currently under suspension by the California State Athletic Commission for a steroid test failure, has accepted a match against Yoshihiro Nakao on the Jan. 4th Sengoku card from the Tokyo Dome in Japan, numerous outlets have reported.

Several EliteXC fighters, including Jake Shields, have said they consider themselves free agents because the financially hosed Pro Elite has not been able to demonstrate it is capable on paying for their contracts. Shields' father and manager told MMAWeekly.com that a Pro Elite lawyer contacted him recently to clarify that his son is not a free agent.

In short, the meaning of EliteXC contracts remain in limbo. Pro Elite is set to be auctioned off in a week or so by Showtime, to which it is indebted, though Pro Elite has filed SEC paperwork denoting it is still attempting to reconcile its debt through new investors. In the meantime, Showtime has reportedly begun working with Affliction to distribute its next pay-per-view event.