Outspoken middleweight fighter Phil “The New York Badass” Baroni (10-8) has signed a non-exclusive, multi-year deal with EliteXC. ProElite, Inc., the parent company of EliteXC, today made the announcement.
Baroni will make his EliteXC debut at the organization’s March 15 event, which is co-promoted by ICON Sport, according to today’s press release. The 31 year old will face Kala Kolohe Hose for the vacant Icon Sport Title. 'Ruthless' Robbie Lawler has been stripped of the title because of injuries, opening up a great opportunity for Baroni to capture the title. Lawler failed to make title defenses on 3 separate occasions, thus forcing the company to strip him of the title.
Additionally, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, though EliteXC confirmed that Baroni will be allowed to continue fighting for Strikeforce, with whom he’s currently signed to a multi-fight deal.
"You know any Jersey boy like me likes a New York badass, and Phil’s definitely as bad as they come", EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw stated in today’s press release. "Phil is a promoter’s dream. He’s a character but also as courageous a fighter as I’ve been around. But what I truly love about him is he always comes not only to fight but to win and put on a show. He’s a crowd-pleaser extraordinaire."
Baroni, a former UFC and PRIDE fighter, most recently suffered a second-round submission to rival Frank Shamrock at a June 2007 Strikeforce/EliteXC show. In a drug test administered by the California State Athletic Commission, the Long Island native tested positive for Boldenone and Stanozolol steroid Metabolites. He was fined $2,500 and suspended a year. Baroni denied taking banned substances and filed an appealed. The CSAC later reduced the suspension to six months.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
EliteXC Signs Phil Baroni to Multi-Year Deal
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2 comments:
Don't really care. Baroni is a punk and he's not really that good. Certainly not championship caliber.
He's a character at best. He punches harder than anyone but he doesn't land very often. Every once in a while he would show flashes but they're few and far between.
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