Julie Kedzie accuses EliteXC promoter of unwanted sexual advances backstage

The fight that propelled women’s MMA into the mainstream — Julie Kedzie vs. Gina Carano — allegedly had an ugly #MeToo moment backstage.

Kedzie, now 38 years old and retired from cage-fighting, detailed in a story she penned for MMA Junkie that when she was a young up-and-comer, a promoter for “EliteXC: Destiny” tried to kiss her without consent in the lobby after the show. Kedzie vs. Carano, held in February of 2007, was on the main card of the inaugural EliteXC show and aired live on Showtime.

In the MMA Junkie report, “Fireball” claims the promoter for the event grabbed her after the fight and tried to stick his “slimy tongue” in her “bruised and swollen mouth.” She did not reveal exactly who it was that allegedly tried to kiss her. Kedzie only said it was the “promoter” of the show.

That MMA Show writer Eric Holden reached out to Kedzie via social media in an attempt to get further details on the incident, specifically the individual who made the alleged unwanted sexual advances. Kedzie declined to comment.

Despite the UFC and Strikeforce vet keeping further information under wraps, we what do know is that this isn’t the first time EliteXC has been publicly trashed for questionable, shady behavior. In 2008, UFC boss Dana White famously called the promotion out for fight influencing.

Fortunately, EliteXC is no longer in business. There is, however, something to take away from all this in 2019. Hopefully the positive is that there’s lessons to be learned — both by fighters and other promotions — on what it means to be professional. Kedzie’s experience, in particular, should be a reminder to young fighters to speak up right away whenever something doesn’t feel right with a promoter or organization.

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