EliteXC was bleeding when they inked a deal with CBS and came away spectacularly with their first telecast (first MMA telecast on network TV) May 31. Everyone agrees that headlining that event with Kimbo Slice was the best thing they ever did for that momentous event. However, some didn’t like an MMA nobody like Kimbo Slice to be the poster boy of an event as important as having MMA introduced to the mainstream (network) TV audience for the first time.
Kimbo Slice, a backyard brawler who won fame and popularity from internet denizens, proved to be EliteXC’s golden boy as the succeeding telecast with “real” MMA gladiators barely tipped the rating scale of network TV.
EliteXC continues to bleed they need more Kimbo Slice headlined events to stay afloat, hence the Kimbo Slice Ken Shamrock bout on October 4 in Ft. Lauderdale for its final show (with their present contract) on CBS.
Hardcore MMA fans have said it before, and they’re saying it again: Kimbo Slice is just your internet sensation that fits the “freak show” requirement to make the EliteXC-CBS concept work. Hardcore fans just don’t like Kimbo Slice representing MMA to new MMA fans as he would surely give a different picture of what a Mixed Martial Arts warrior really is.
MMA gladiators are finely-tuned, scientific fighters that have trained for years, are masters of at least one martial arts discipline (tae-kwon-do, kick-boxing, wrestling, judu, etc) and have risen from the ground by fighting real MMA warriors.
On the other hand, Kimbo Slice’s handlers (EliteXC) have to gingerly pit him against has-beens or those who equally have his crowd-drawing powers without posing a real threat to Kimbo’s hand being raised by the referee at the end of the bout. Kimbo staying a winner is the only way to make this internet sensation a marketable MMA product. That’s economics my friend.
Kimbo Slice badly needs to win this bout more than ever. If he does, he goes further at legitimizing his mettle as an MMA fighter by defeating a legitimate and named fighter such as Shamrock. If he loses, he gets exposed as who he really is: a street brawler that’s even no match to someone with a long streak of loses as Ken Shamrock. He will be exposed as someone posing as an MMA warrior used by Elite XC and CBS to drum up viewership.
Kudos to EliteXC and CBS for coming up with a formula as this. This would really be another TV blockbuster, and this is going to be a good fare for the new MMA fans. Hardcore MMA fans, just grit your teeth. For your consolation, this increase of new MMA fans is going to be good for the growth of MMA in the long run.
That is, if the EliteXC-CBS formula of a Kimbo Slice headliner does not backfire.
The Brock Lesnar – Heath Herring bout was a most anticipated encounter not much because of the action and power both would surely unleash but much more on the drama and suspense of whatever the outcome is going to be. 
THE BROCK LESNAR DRAMA
This is Lesnar’s third professional mixed martial arts fight. While his debut fight with Min Soo Kim was a spectacular one with him pinning Kim and overwhelming him with strikes on the head, Kim was not so much of in terms of being the best competitor for him. His stars dimmed with his second bout with someone as formidable as Frank Mir. Another lose would certainly push him back a great deal.
After his Mir defeat, some even have concerns about Lesnar’s taking on another seasoned gladiator. Despite his sterling wrestling records, Lesnar is still a neophyte in the MMA arena. He may have prepared so much in the gym but experience is also necessary as shown how Frank Mir put him in a tight spot.
Lesnar’s Strong Points
Several years in pro wrestling circuit didn’t change Lesnar’s sheer athleticism and explosiveness that was his best assets as a physically dominant fighter. His stamina as a true athlete would make him stay longer on the fight, a characteristic that is usually lacking in fighters of his size and physique.
The Brock Lesnar Win
Having fought a complete three rounds against a top-notch veteran fighter, Brock Lesnar has made it. Now, from being an ex-pro-wrestling gone MMA fighter novelty, Lesnar has risen to someone that everyone would wonder who can stop this guy of such size and physique. He has gone the distance.
The question now comes as who could rain Lesnar with strikes before he gets overcome by his submission. The question now comes as, “how is Lesnar’s threshold for pain from a possible barrage of strikes from whoever he fights against next”.
THE HEATH HERRING LOSS
Not being able to snag a UFC title run, there is much pressure for the veteran gladiator on this bout. This loss would take him farther away from a championship bout—a loss to an MMA rookie is a disaster to his career.
Here is last weekend’s action’s MMA results:
1. Ben Saunders def. Ryan Thomas by submission (armbar) at 2:28 of the second round
2. Chris Wilson def. Steve Bruno by unanimous decision
3. Jon Jones def. Andre Gusmao by unanimous decision
4. Cheick Kongo def. Dan Evensen by Technical Knockout (strikes) at 4:55 of the first round
5. Tamdan McCrory def. Luke Cummo by unanimous decision
6. Demian Maia def. Jason MacDonald by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:44 of round three
7. Kenny Florian def. Roger Huerta by unanimous decision
8. Robert Emerson def. Manvel Gamburyan by Knockout (punches) at twelve seconds of round one
9. Brock Lesnar def. Heath Herring by unanimous decision
10. Georges St. Pierre def. Jon Fitch by unanimous decision
A week passed without any exciting UFC bout, we have to contend ourselves with watching MMA clips on YouTube (har-har!)
While at it, we had a load of Kimbo Slice’s old backyard brawls and wondered what future awaits this EliteXC-CBS shooting star. The suits of CBS must have sweated buckets when the UFC 84 replay on Spike TV broke the previous record held by the Kimbo Slice headlined card. To top this, the broadcast was better packaged, better executed, and better cast than the EliteXC and CBS production.
They better start coming up with a better game plan than banking solely on the Kimbo Slice X-factor and the Gina Carano fever—or else, they’d be like playing pro-football on thin Potomac ice. A promotion whose crowd-drawing powers rests on the shoulders of two superstars wouldn’t just hold for long.
So what else do we have for some significant MMA results?
Josh Barnett’s return to Affliction
Smarting from being passed up for a great bout with WAMMA heavyweight Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko, Barnett says he is training for, and excited about, an October Affliction card. He however adds that he isn’t sure about it yet. He also says he has a pro wrestling match next week (Aug. 15) in Tokyo, Japan.
What’s happening with the guy? Thin pickings for him, nowadays? Most believe that after the first Affliction bout, the next logical (and to-watch-out-for event) would be the Barnett vs. Emelianenko bout. Barnett even went as far as suggesting for a letter-campaign by encouraging fans to write the organization to ask for a fight between “The Babyface Assassin” and “The Last Emperor.” Barnett says, “If people really want to see this fight, then they need to say something….Write Affliction or whoever. Let it be known. If that’s the fight you want to see, then say so.”
And what’s with this rumoured pay cut? We’ve heard it through the grapevine that Affliction may come to the point of asking its fighters to cut down their take home pay to 50 percent less.
How much does an MMA gladiator earn?
WEC Fighter, Earned an event-high $44,000
Nevada State Commission lists the take-home pays of our fighters who fought last Sunday at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas to a total of $230,000.
* Carlos Condit ($44,000) def. Hiromitsu Miura ($5,000)
* Jamie Varner ($30,000) def. Marcus Hicks ($16,000)
* Brock Larson ($30,000) def. Carlo Prater ($7,000)
* Blas Avena ($12,000) def. Dave Terrel ($3,000)
* Shane Roller ($12,000) def. Todd Moore ($4,000)
The winners’ pay includes winning bonus that makes up 50% of their total pay. While this does not include deductions like taxes, insurance, etc., these are just the base salaries. It also does not reflect other earnings such as money earned from sponsors and other special bonuses which hugely makes up a substantial earnings for each fighter.
Catch us again next week for some latest MMA results and news!
