EliteXC Expected to Sign Deal With CBS

ProElite Inc., the parent company of Elite Xtreme Combat, is expected to announce a deal with CBS that will put MMA on major network television for the first time.

EliteXC was founded as a partnership with Showtime Networks Inc. in 2006. The organization’s events, which are held under the EliteXC and ShowXC banners, currently air on Showtime. Showtime is owned by CBS.

CBS will broadcast live EliteXC events in prime-time slots. The events will likely take place every other month.

The announcement will come just weeks after EliteXC’s successful “Street Certified” event in Miami, Fla. In addition to drawing a sold-out crowd and setting a live gate record at the BankUnited Center, the event reportedly drew more than half a million Showtime viewers. The fact that EliteXC — and not the UFC, the worldwide MMA leader — landed the first network-television deal is a bit of a surprise.

Dana White was certain that the UFC would be the first MMA organization that would land a network deal. It appears the networks are wanting in on the MMA boom which should mean an instant climb for EliteXC.