Even though Elite XC said that Kimbo Slice's controversial loss to pink-haired Seth Petruzelli wasn't the death knell for its slipshod fight promotions company, it appears that proclamation was 100% false. Today, ProElite Inc., the owners of the EliteXC has officially closed up its sweat shop forever. Josh Gross of Sports Illustrated reports that the company consistently lost money even when its biggest star, the street-fighting freak show, Kimbo Slice, was at the peak of his popularity. Now, like the free-falling Kimbo, the company is kaput.

Gross says that Showtime attempted to purchase ProElite but those negotiations fell through and left the company without any more funding options.

What this means for the career of Kimbo Slice, who Fanhouse notes is officially a "free agent" after this , is yet to be seen, but unless the UFC swoops in and makes a good-faith effort to resurrect his career, he's probably back to fighting bums and bouncers back on YouTube.

At least he'll still have his cubicle next to Kige Ramsey.

ProElite, EliteXC shut doors effective immediately [SI]

Photo: MMAJunkie.com

Send an email to A.J. Daulerio, the author of this post, at ajd@deadspin.com.