With all the shadiness of the first EliteXC on CBS show still on our minds, it looks like we finally have some proof that EliteXC is influencing its fighters so that its cash cow (Kimbo Slice) doesn’t have to expose the weakness in his ground game.

Seth Petruzelli is claiming he was approached by EliteXC promoters and hinted at changing his game plan to keep the fight standing.

Seth Petruzelli on Monsters in the Morning radio show:

“My original plan was to throw out push kicks, have him think that I’m gonna throw them more, and then to shoot in on him, obviously. But the promoters kind of hinted to me, and they gave me the money to stand and trade with him. They didn’t want me to take him down, let’s just put it that way. It was worth my while to try to stand up and punch with him.”

Is MMA going the way of boxing? Should we start drinking that UFC Koolaid and start thinking of the promotion as a brand like in the NFL or MLB?.