Seth Petruzelli on EliteXC: 'They Didn't Want Me to Take Kimbo Slice Down'

EliteXC wanted Kimbo Slice to beat Seth Petruzelli on Saturday night. There is no doubt that the promotion would have preferred for their most marketable star to win, and not to get knocked out in 14 seconds by a guy with an 0-2 record in UFC.

But how far did EliteXC go? Here's what Petruzelli said on the radio today:

"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 him."

Is Petruzelli suggesting that EliteXC offered him a bribe? That's what a lot of people thought. But Petruzelli later told Five Ounces of Pain that that isn't what he meant:

"What was meant to be said was that I wanted to keep the fight standing for myself because I knew that was what the crowd, the promoters, and everyone wanted to see because that's more exciting than just taking someone to the ground," Petruzelli said. "That was my thing only. I wanted to keep it exciting so I decided to keep it standing. It had nothing to do with anybody else. That was all me."

Hmm. That's not what Petruzelli said on the radio.

I'm not sure what to think, but I am sure Petruzelli and EliteXC need to explain this. It's the talk of the MMA media today; see more from Steve Cofield, Zach Arnold and Michael Rome.