PYLE PICKS ELITE XC TO PICK UP CAREER

By Loretta Hunt

2006 was supposed to be Mike Pyle’s year.

It had started off promising enough with back-to-back victories in World Extreme Cagefighting against salty veteran Shonie Carter (71-16-7) and in the Gracie Fighting Championships versus Gustavo “Ximu” Machado (12-5-1).

Pyle’s slick submission stylings on an overwhelmed Carter and a hard-nosed TKO over Machado, coupled with his training alliance with Randy Couture, poised Pyle (11-3-1) as one of the fledging International Fight League’s greatest acquisitions.

But on April 29, Pat Miletich-trained Silverback Rory Markham seemingly came out of nowhere, clipping the surprised Tennessee native with a harsh dose of reality 44 seconds into their first round match-up. The cameras immediately focused on Markham, and another star was born.

(Read More)