Struggling promotion SHINE Fights has faced so many roadblocks in recent months that it’s gotten to the point where not facing a setback would be a break from the norm. This is a promotion that has dealt with cancelled shows, fighter controversies, and being forced to change venues with barely a week’s notice. But through all this SHINE has survived, and with recent signings of talent like Efrain Escudero and Rolles Gracie, coupled with rumors of an impending television deal, it seemed as if the promotion was finally on an upswing. Unfortunately, SHINE was recently dealt a blow that many are already predicting it won’t recover from. ...

The controversial Shine Fights promotion has been facing an uphill battle since… well, they’ve never really not been facing an uphill battle. Any aspiring MMA promotion has it rough, Shine just has it rougher since it’s had to deal with cancelled shows, angry fighters, angry athletic commissions, and last-minute venue changes. But not only is the promotion not going out without a fight, they’ve even begun firing back. New stars continue to be signed by the promotion, plus a TV deal is rumored to be in the works. And according to COO Jason Chambers, it’s all a matter of one small victory at a time. ...

The much-beleaguered Shine Fights promotion has seen its fair share of highs and lows in its brief run as a mid-tier Mixed Martial Arts promotion. A failed event that would have seen former pro boxer Ricardo Mayorga taking on Din Thomas has left lasting damage on the promotion, to the point where their follow-up event faced several monumental setbacks and was in danger of nearly being cancelled as well. Undeterred by all, Shine Fights held its third event, which was a surprisingly good one at that. More recently, the promotion made waves when it was announced that former “Ultimate Fighter” champion Efrain Escudero had signed to their roster. Once again proving that they're nothing if not defiant, Shine Fights recently announced that they've managed to hook an even bigger fish: a cable television deal. ...

According to whom you ask, former ufc star and winner of the eighth season of “The Ultimate Fighter” Efrain Escudero either got exactly what he deserved or a unique form of cruel and unusual punishment when he was released from the UFC less than two months ago after coming in overweight and losing to surging upstart Charles Oliveira. Dana White was quoted as saying that Escudero was released because he “got comfortable” and hadn’t “gone after it” in his last several fights, while the man himself said that his abrupt firing simply doesn’t make sense. But the past is now officially the past: “Hecho in Mexico” has a new home, and I’m almost positive that it’s not the promotion anyone expected him to sign with. ...

Nothing makes up for a disappointing loss to a tough opponent quite like a guaranteed payday for the next year or two. Following a Unanimous Decision loss to feared Welterweight striker and UFC exile Paul Daley at the recent Shark Fights 13 event, Jorge Masvidal recently announced that he had signed a six-fight, two-year contract with the strikeforce promotion, which as a MMA promotion is second only to the juggernaut that is the UFC. Masvidal also commented on the fight with Daley, and had some less-than-kind words for his opponent. ...

Well, color me surprised. After a long string of drama, including fighters pulling out and athletic commissions refusing to play ball, Shine Fights has finally held their third event. Much has been said and written about the constant maelstrom of controversy that has engulfed Shine Fights as of late, and Fighters.com has been there every step of the way. But the event has finally come to pass, and as someone who’s been a vocal opponent of Shine Fights in the past, I’ll give credit where credit is due and say that I was immensely entertained by their Lightweight Grand Prix. ...

Shine Fights has been flirting with controversy ever since its inception in 2009. After two successful events in their breakout year, they have yet failed to produce another event in 2010--well, until tonight, hopefully. Now, after trouble with both Virginia and Oklahoma State Athletic Commissions in regards to their Lightweight, 8-man, one night, Grand Prix--which is now being held on an Native American Reserve so that no commission can hold any jurisdiction, which is both clever and conniving--it appears that David Heath, a UFC veteran, has some beef with the upstart promotion as well. ...

As futile an effort as it seems at this point, it appears that the much-beleaguered Shine Fights isn’t going down without a fight. The promotion has been plagued with problems ever since the cancellation of their “Worlds Collide” event, which would have seen boxing great Ricardo Mayorga make the transition to MMA to face Din Thomas. Much has been said of the proposed Lightweight Grand Prix that Shine Fights is trying desperately to salvage, and I and other talented writers at Fighters.com have done our best to keep fans appraised of the situation. In that regard, Shine Fights has recently announced the opening-round match-ups for their Lightweight Grand Prix. ...

Shine Fights, has been virtually doomed from the get-go. After its first two successful events in 2009, "Shine Fights: Genesis" and "Shine Fights: American Top Team vs The World", the organization has failed to produce a single event in 2010. A proposed card for May of this year was botched when a match up between former championship boxer Ricardo Mayorga and veteran Din Thomas failed to materialize after a late injunction was cited by famed boxing promoter Don King, who has Mayorga under contractual obligations. However, the bout that didn't come to fruition was the least of the promotion's worries. ...

It’s that time again, fans and friends. There’s a new chapter in the Shine Fights saga. I already reported on Shine Fights CEO Devin Price berating the Virginia Athletic Commission for canceling his show. Price criticized the VAC for a number of reasons, the principal one being that they canceled his event event based almost solely on the rumor surrounding Shine Fights not paying their fighters. It now appears that the commission isn’t taking that tirade lying down, and recently told their side of the story to Sherdog.com. ...

As DREAM 16 looms closer, a bout pitting the DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki against UFC and Pride veteran Marcus Aurelio, which was announced just recently, can be disbanded just as quickly. ...

I’ve been reporting on the troubles of the fledgling MMA promotion Shine Fights for a while now. Whether it was controversy stemming over the promotion not paying fighters from their failed “Mayorga vs. Thomas” event, or the sudden announcement that the Virginia Athletic Commission refused to give Shine Fights a license to hold their most recent event, the promotion seems beset by opponents at all sides. Shine Fights has done its best to roll with the punches, recently confirming that their planned September 10 event has been rescheduled for the same day at a different location and in a different state. Also, Shine Fights CEO Devin Price recently released a statement with some very harsh words for the Virginia Athletic Commission. ...

Talk about your poetic justice. It’s been only a matter of days when I first spoke on the upstart Shine Fights promotion going back on its word and not paying fighters from their failed first event, and now it appears that their second event is also in serious jeopardy. The Virginia Athletic Commission has refused to issue Shine Fights a license to hold their planned September 10 event, which was scheduled for the George Mason University campus in Fairfax, Virginia and was to feature a one-night eight-man Lightweight Grand Prix tournament that was tentatively scheduled to air on Pay-Per-View. Ironically, the one clever idea Shine Fights had leading up to this show has also become the main reason the plug was pulled. ...

It's official. Former UFC welterweight contender turned regional-scavenging-lightweight-fighter: Drew Fickett will meet the Quinton Jackson of the 155-pound weight class, Charles "Krazy Horse" (or "Kid Kaos" depending on who you ask) Bennett, at a Shine Fights event on September 10. ...

It’s tough to be the little guy. That’s why I have a lot of respect for both the lower-tier MMA promotions and the skilled athletes fighting in them. However, there is one thing I will never see as justifiable: not paying your fighters. I’d rather see a company go bankrupt than see a Mixed Martial Artist not get paid for putting his/her body on the line. It was bad enough with Impact FC not paying their fighters, but now it appears that another promotion, Shine Fights, has followed suit. ...

Junior Assuncao (9-4) won a three-round split decision over late replacement and underweight Pete Grimes (6-5) of Matt Hughes's (41-7) H.I.T. Squad at Shine Fights in Miami Friday night. "The guy had a good performance definitely," admitted Assuncao after the fight. Grimes came out aggressive throwing wide hooks that zipped in front of Assuncao, but also a powerful right body kick that crashed into Assuncao's ribs twice. Grimes threw a spinning backfist that Assuncao shot beneath for a takedown. On the mat, Assuncao landed elbows to Grimes's head while passing Grimes's guard. ...