MMA Weekly: Elite XC uses Hollywood formula for last shot at staying in business

Just a couple of days more and we will see what fate hangs for the second most popular Mix Martial Arts organization in the United States.  Elite XC fields Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano for its third and last live broadcast with CBS, and the network TV ratings games will determine the company’s perilous make-or-break situation as it broadcasts its fight over CBS from the BankAtlantic Center on October 4.

The Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano headliner is an obvious attempt to make a repeat of that first broadcast with CBS last May 31 (which also happened to be the first mixed martial arts fight to be aired on network television).  This move is quite the most obvious and the most expected from the suits of Elite XC and CBS (whoever is really running the show).  After all, the formula they used gave that card an astounding success in the ratings game with a 3.0 rating and 4.85 million viewers.

While that May 31 bout was hugely successful, a lot of feedbacks from hardcore MMA fans were largely negative.  They complained that the bout did give the new fans of MMA a wrong impression of what mixed martial arts is all about, they complained of too much fanfare and pizzazz on the show, and they complained about an MMA nobody, Kimbo Slice, being the headliner instead of some true-blue MMA warrior.  Elite XC and CBS must have been convinced by all these complaints that they fielded “true-blue” MMA fighters on their second telecast. 

It was a costly mistake. 

It turns out the “Biggest Fight in MMA” history works with a Hollywood formula: casting is number one.  You see, movie-goers wouldn’t be interested in watching a movie starred by our regular “true-blue” MMA gladiators. 

On the other hand, cast a show with someone like Kimbo Slice who is more of a celebrity both in and out of the mixed martial arts world.  While at it, throw in the beautiful Hollywoodish Gina Carano and you have a blockbuster.  All the showbiz elements are there: Kimbo Slice looks like a thug but a lot of people know him as a good person who’s just down on luck (at least before the MMA break), a good father of six kids who is given a shot at making it big in the MMA.  Sounds like a good movie characterization and plot to me.

Take Gina Carano, stand her beside Eva Mendez or Hillary Swank, and I’ll pick “my” Gina Carano any day of the week. 

Let’s face it, Elite XC is not like our UFC where real fighters get to be appreciated by “real” MMA fans.  Elite XC is doing mixed martial arts a favour by introducing the sport to a wider audience, not without some sacrifices.  You will know when more newbie MMA fans are present, when the crowd boos ground games and delights at fist fights.  Let’s just hope that the CBS telecast on October 4 (which we are sure would be a success) would be able to change Elite XC’s luck.

And Oh, by the way, it’s not me writing this blog.  It’s my Hollywood reporter alter-ego pinch-hitting for me.  The Dr. Jekyll to my Mr. Hyde.  Cheerio!