Baltimore MMA update
About a month ago, I mentioned that Baltimore had two representatives in the top 32 of the TUF 7 tryouts -- Lee Synkowski and Tenyeh Dixon. While Spike TV has been understandably mum about which fighters will actually be on the newest season featuring the middleweight division, all indications are that neither Synkowski nor Dixon will make their small-screen debut this spring. Still, both did very well in the initial tryouts and both are part of a growing contingent of Baltimore MMA fighters that is enjoying success.
Speaking of Baltimore MMA, I received a press release from EliteXC today and it turns out Binky Jones will be fighting at the January 25 ShoXC event at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. Jones is coming off two straight losses in BodogFight to end 2007. Still, ShoXC is a step up from BodogFight and the event will air live on Showtime, though Jones' fight is not scheduled to be televised.
ShoXC is essentially a feeder system for EliteXC. If Jones does well in a couple of ShoXC events, he may very well get the opportunity to advance to the big stage of an EliteXC show. That also means he could eventually end up fighting on Showtime.
Jones is scheduled to fight in the 150-pound weight class. EliteXC is deep in that weight range with a number of other fighters fighting in and around 155 pounds, including 160-pound champ KJ Noons as well Nick Diaz and "Krazy Horse" Charles Bennett. (By the way, it is just as confusing writing about these non-standard weight classes as it must be for you to read about them. I'm keeping an open mind, but I'm not a huge fan so far.)
While it hasn't been confirmed yet by EliteXC, I'm being told that Jones' opponent will be Mark Getto, who has a losing MMA record including a TKO loss to current UFC fighter Frank Edgar in 2005 (before Edgar began fighting in the UFC.)
ShoXC is big-time MMA action and outside of UFC 78, there hasn't been anything bigger in recent memory on the East Coast. So, if you are interested in checking out a quality promotion and some quality fights, head over to EliteXC.com for more information.
Kevin Richardson has been a fan of mixed martial arts competition ever since UFC 3, when 600-pound sumo wrestler Emmanuel Yarborough was beaten by Keith Hackney. Kevin will cover the world of MMA — in Baltimore, nationally and internationally. He plans to take readers into the locker rooms and MMA schools, where they'll hear from local fighters and trainers. If you have a news tip or suggestions for the blog, please 
Comments
Thanks for all the MMA coverage, Pramit! My wife and I are huge UFC and WEC fans and, based on your column, are going to check out EliteXC.
You mentioned Nick Diaz...why isn't he fighting in the UFC? My impression of him and his performance on TUF led me to believe that he was one of the most talented fighters to come out of the reality show.
Just curious. Thanks for such a great blog!
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Scott, I appreciate your kind comments. You may be thinking of Nick's brother, Nate, who won season five of TUF. Nate is still a UFC fighter and someone to look out for in the lightweight division, for sure. On the other hand, Nick's last fight in the UFC was in 2006 and his last two were in EliteXC. However, he hasn't ruled out returning to the UFC sometime in the future.
Thanks again,
Pramit
Posted by: Scott | January 5, 2008 3:01 AM