read entire interview...
· On The Spot ~ Let’s Get It On MMA President Elaine McCarthy
With Canada's first-ever mixed martial arts tournament series set to begin tonight, April 23, live from the Cree Resort and Casino in Edmonton, Alberta Canada, MMA Spot recently had the chance to sit down with the president and founder of the organization responsible, Let's Get It On MMA's one and only Elaine McCarthy.
The wife of “Big” John, Elaine McCarthy recently struck out on her own to develop a promotion geared strictly toward the benefit of fighters and fans alike. A former employee of the UFC during the early days of MMA, and thanks to her years in the industry, McCarthy has already made significant strides for her fledgling organization. Among those accomplishments are: a Canadian television broadcast deal, a Strikeforce partnership and an inaugural event headlined by a bout between two UFC veterans, Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald and Matt "Suave" Horwich. The first season of Let's Get It On MMA (LGIO MMA) pits 32 Canadian fighters from two weight divisions, lightweight and welterweight, in a four-fight tournament bracket that builds on the natural rivalry between east and west Canada.
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Holden: When did LGIO MMA start?
McCarthy: It's been in the works for over a year now. It really took shape late last year after many trips up to Canada and working with the commissions up there and figuring out, strategically, the best locations to have the promotion. It's been a year, but last October is when we finalized everything.
Our first show is April 23, at the River Cree Resort and Casino, and then we have nine shows scheduled for this season. Each month we have a show in the west or the east, either at the River Cree Resort and Casino in Edmonton or at the Casino Lac-Leamy in Ottawa Gatineau.
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Holden: Do you see yourself as competing with the other existing Canadian organizations?
McCarthy: Promotions in general lend to competition between each other, but that's not what my concept is all about. We just partnered with Strikeforce and the winners of our tournament, both our 155 and 170 [pound] fighters, get spots with Strikeforce in their Challengers series. I'm all about working with other promotions; I'm not about keeping guys and not letting them advance their careers. At the end of the day it is about the fighters. There are definitely promoters out there that don't believe in cross-promoting, that's just not me.
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Holden: How did the Strikeforce deal come about?
McCarthy: I have a good relationship with Scott Coker, and I spoke to him about it and it is a great fit. It makes sense. If you have guys who go through and win four times in a row in a tournament, why wouldn't you want them?
It was a win-win for both of us. It was an opportunity for me to give my fighters something else in addition to the tournament title, and the nice thing is that Strikeforce shares fighters. These giuys can go and fight for Strikeforce and they can come back and fight for me. It is a win-win for everyone all the way around.
Good interview. I'm watching this now. These fights are pretty good!
Nice to see a Canadian Bellator/TUF mashup
Results:
| Match | Winner | Loser | Method | Round | Time |
| 1 | Rob Roy | Cory Knapp | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 1:14 |
| 2 | Brandt Dewsberry | Robert Curtis | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 1:55 |
| 3 | Nolan Clark | Dan Chambers | KO (Punches) | 1 | 0:35 |
| 4 | Advin Omic | Jose Rodriguez | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| 5 | Ryan McGillivray | Andrew Buckland | Draw | 3 | 5:00 |
| 6 | Jordan Mein | Victor Bachman | Submission (Neck Crank) | 1 | 4:21 |
| 7 | Colin Daynes | George Belanger | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 5:00 |
| 8 | Jason MacDonald | Matt Horwich | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
Isn't this a tourney? What are they gonna do about the draw?
The whole working together as orgs thing is so hard in this sport. Glad to see Canadian MMA strengthening though, and looks like the event was a success.
Clint07 - Isn't this a tourney? What are they gonna do about the draw?
Rematch in June when the LW tourny starts. Winner than fights in second round in August.
Good interview. Elaine's historical contributions to the sport are vastly under rated.
read entire release...
· Let’s Get It On MMA Announces Cancellation Of All Eastern Shows
Let’s Get It On MMA (LGIO) has announced the cancellation of all Eastern shows scheduled to take place at the Casino Lac Leamy throughout 2010.Issues involving the regulatory bylaws of the province of Quebec, which governs combative sports, are cited as the reason for the cancellation.
For several months, LGIO MMA has been in discussions with the RACJ Sports de Combat , which serves as the athletic commission in Quebec and is the regulatory body, which oversees all combative sports in the province.
The RACJ has bylaws that mandate the type of combative platform that is allowed to be used during Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) events. The RACJ bylaws mandate that an “octagon” style of cage is the only approved cage-fighting platform. Currently Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of the UFC, owns the trademark rights to any octagonal (or anything similar to an octagon) cage-fighting platform. Any promoter wishing to use an octagon must first seek approval and licensing through Zuffa, LLC,. LGIO has not been able to secure any approval from Zuffa, LLC,despite numerous attempts to contact them over the past several months. “At this time it would be hazardous for the reputation and legal standing of LGIO to use a trademarked cage without the expressed approval of the trademark owner”, stated Elaine McCarthy, Executive Producer and Promoter of LGIO.
That's fucked up.
Make it a hexagon cage.
Not sure that would satisfy the bylaws.
lol No Zuffa doesn't run a monopoly at all.
One more instance of Zuffa not allowing for the growth of the sport in Canada. Well, unless it's them and only them.
Hessian - lol No Zuffa doesn't run a monopoly at all.
One more instance of Zuffa not allowing for the growth of the sport in Canada. Well, unless it's them and only them.
fucked up that Zuffa couldn't come to terms with LGIO to use the Octagon configuration for a nominal or no fee... They've done it before, specifically the cage of fire promotion in Tijuana, Mexico (evidenced here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr-3UbQOq2g&feature=player_embedded)...I had a zuffa employee tell me personally that was the case with COF.....
Don't think Zuffa is too sweet on the McCarthy's. That grudge seems a bit overboard, IMO.