Looking more like “Mr. T” with his do and acting more like the phony wrestler on an 80’s TV show, Brett Rogers went on trash-talking Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock.
Elite XC looks excitedly towards October 4 for another MMA tv blockbuster headlined by Kimbo Slice. Hanging on to the thin thread of salvation, Elite XC clings on the the Gina Carano-Kimbo Slice combination as sure-fire crowd-drawers. While it was easy finding a match for Gina Carano in Kelly Kobold-Gavin, fight organizers took a while before deciding on pitting Ken Shamrock against Kimbo Slice.
And here comes Brett “the Grim” Rogers crying, “We waz wobbed!”
Rogers says the October 4 match with Kimbo Slice was, “our spot. Shamrock with his name and giant ego butted in line to get a slice of Kevin. At 103 years of age Ken usurped our rightful place against the YouTube champ. Our sincerest hope is that Ken whips Kimbo and then we can finally euthanize the "World's Most Dangerous Man" and relegate him to some MMA dinosaur exhibit. Maybe taxidermy him and (Dan) Severn and place them on a rotating pedestal where they can endless circle each other.”
Rogers’ contention is that if Kimbo can slice Shamrock, a true-blue MMA fighter inside-out, it would lend more credence to Kimbo’s having “paid his dues.” As we see it, Ken fits the bill of anyone who should fight Kimbo Slice, if we are to use Elite XC’s requirements of a Kimbo Slice fight: old, fading, has-been MMA fighter who does not pose a threat to their poster boy’s saleability as an MMA crowd-drawer.
Kimbo Slice loses and his gold shines lesser. In fact, it that it would hurt him far worse than another mixed martial arts warrior who would lose. Take Randy Couture, Tim Sylvia, Robbie Lawler…name any MMA fighter and make them lose. If they do, life would go on for them as they pick up the pieces and pick another fight to regain their glory.
That wouldn’t be the case with Kimbo Slice. He’s like a clay jar. Crack it, and it’s cracked forever.
This is what makes Kimbo Slice more interesting as an MMA prize bout. Elite XC dangles him up like a piñata but they dangle him high enough to get hit and that only the short ones are allowed to hold the bat to take a shot.
This is what Brett “The Grim” Rogers is all crying about. In a way, he doesn’t fare any better than Kimbo Slice in the hierarchy of fighters. He is an out of shape fighter looking out for a shot at glory and Kimbo Slice is surely a good ticket to the big league casting.
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.
Didn’t we just say Heath Herring’s loss to a rookie could spell disaster to his career?
When asked what happened during that disastrous match with pro-wrestler Brock Lesnar, he pointed out the overhand right punch that caught him right in the eye. “I didn’t see it coming and I got caught with it. That definitely had an effect on the outcome of the fight…. I wasn’t able to see. Right at the beginning of the fight you’re blind. How much does that affect you? I don’t know. It’s not good.”
That heavy Brock Lesnar right hand did drop him at the beginning of the fight, and the rest was nothing short of brutal pounding that ended with Herring's loss in a unanimous-decision on that other weekend’s bout.
Last time we heard, Heath is considering some acting parts in movies. But moving to Hollywood may still seem to be a remote possibility as he is more bent on training harder for that elusive shot at the championship slot. And he’s got Lesnar in the crosshairs for his choice of opponent once he gets back on harness–if it can be helped.
Heath points out that Lesnar couldn’t finish him throughout the entire fight, he has to win via unanimous decision. “We took his best shot and went on from there. I’d love for him to take one of mine, and we’ll see how it goes.”
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Elite XC continues to bleed.
Not even a contract with CBS could help this MMA organization that, a check with the Securities and Exchange Commission reveals, they are scampering for more funds from wherever they can find them. Reports say that the best they could expect to have would just be enough to last them till the end of the year.
It appears that the successful May 31 premier telecast (the first official telecast of an MMA on network TV) was just a flash in the pan, and Elite XC could hardly keep up the fire. The second telecast only blipped a mere 1.7 rating—a rating score that is even considered unacceptable for a Saturday night lull.
No amount of an exciting prospect, even of having spectacular matches among “real” MMA superstars like Robbie Lawler and Antonio Silva, could seem to drag people in front of the boob tube for an Elite XC and CBS telecast. We commented on our earlier posts that CBS have favoured “real fighters” on that July 26 card—without Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano.
Wrong move. It appears.
Now, they are fielding Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano again for salvation. Gina Carano is expected to face Kelly Kobold-Gavin, while Kimbo’s opponent remains unknown—this is another source of difficulty. Outside of his being a crowd-drawer, Kimbo Slice is old and inexperienced. The safest route to keeping him a star is to ensure he doesn’t lose by pitting him against beyond-their-prime fighters. However, until when would the fans not see the one-sidedness of this?
Elite XC shakes and rattles
Elite XC is in a bit of a shaky ground nowadays. Internal layoffs are rife, key officers are resigning, and several shows have been cancelled. It seems that another Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano headliner is in order. Perhaps this could pour in a little more money—and confidence to Elite XC.
Elite XC insiders also said CBS is not paying them enough. UFC owners, who have earlier talked with CBS, must be saying, “Told ya!”
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Watch out for the third instalment of the Strikeforce “Young Guns” series on Sept. 18 at the Civic Auditorium in San Jose, Calif.
- Alvin Cacdac vs. Jose Palacios
- Luke Rockhold vs. TBA
- David Barrios vs. Andrew Valladarez
- Evan Esguerra vs. Gabby Solorio
- Ron Kesler vs. Eric Meaders
- Chris Bostick vs. Jose Interiano
- David Ashkinaz vs. Yohan Banks
- Adam Antolin vs. Hugo Govea
- Justin Holdaas vs. Jaime Rodriguez
- Genaro Strangis vs. Alexander Trivino
- Mike Davis vs. O.J. Dominguez
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!
It’s still the ever-exciting Mixed Martial Arts event!
Saturday’s card was the second time for MMA to be aired on a major television network. However, unlike the first time where personalities like Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano were fielded as major crowd-drawers, the second airing had the TV working in favour of real fighters. If things turn out right, the gladiators featured here will become mainstream stars. Not by hype, not by built-in YouTube fans, but by sheer talent and fighting skills.
MMA weekly news gives you the results of Saturday’s Elite XC “Unfinished Business”
1. “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4,1 no contest) def. Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith (15-5,1 no contest) by TKO at 2:35 on the second round with strikes. Lawler’s “Unfinished business” with Smith due to an unfortunate accidental poke on Smith’s eye on the third round of their May 31 bout is definitely taken care of. The Elite XC middleweight champion retains his title. Just like their first meeting (may 31st) both fighters showed aggressiveness with their staggering punches and high kicks. The second round was as exciting as the first with both warriors trading hard punches. It was Lawler’s rib-crushing hard knee strikess that did Smith in.
2. Jake Shields (21-4-1) def. Nick “The Goat” Thompson (36-10-1) by submission just one minute and three seconds at the start of the fight. This earns Shields the title of Elite XC welterweight champion (the first ever). Thompson’s winning streak (12 wins in a row) ended with a guillotine choke by Shields. Credit this to Shield’s being a former wrestling champion at San Francisco State University. This strengthens his image as the best non-UFC welterweight in the United States.
3. Nick Diaz (18-7, 1 no contest) def. Thomas “Wildman” Denny (26-17) by technical knockout 30 seconds of the second round. The fight started with a spectacle of punches from both warriors with Denny getting the upper hand. Diaz was able to recover towards the end of the first round, putting down Denny twice. He just didn’t have enough time between recovering and finishing the bout on the first round. Diaz’ “Unfinished Business” on the first round was finished on the second round after he dropped Denny for the third time and pummelled the latter with punches. The referee had to stop the fight.
4. Cristiane “Cris” Cyborg (5-0) def. Shayna Baszler (11-5) by technical knockout two minutes and forty-eight seconds on the second round. This bout further strengthened Elite XC’s women’s MMA fights bid for mainstream popularity. Baszler’s attempts for submissions just wouldn’t do with Santos’ flurry of strikes. She went down on the mat and Santos, who thought the game was over in the middle of round 2, had to get back to take care of “Unfinished Business.” It was a crazy scene where she went on top of the cage to celebrate even before the referee deemed the fight over. At the order of the referee, she has to get back and punish Baszler some more before it was declared a win.
5. Antonio Silva (11-1) def. Justin Eilers (19-7-1) by technical knockout (strikes) 19 seconds of the second round. This makes him the first Elite XC heavyweight champion. Silva has the size advantage of 39 pounds and he sure knows how to use it to his advantage. He started with hard shots on the first round but Eilers wasn’t about to take things easy. He was able to land several blows towards the end of the first round too. Silva changes his game plan on the second round and this overwhelmed the bloodied Eilers. The referee had to stop the fight. Silva needs to be pitted against a better calibre fighter next time to lend credence to the championship belt.
6. Wilson Reis (5-0) def. Brian Caraway (9-3) by unanimous decision (30-27 from all judges) This bout again confirmed the new preference of the MMA crowd to a stand-up action against takedowns. Caraway was the crowd favourite with his strikes but Reis keeps on succeeding with his takedowns. The downside to it is he never came close to a submission. The crowd booed the unanimous decision of making Reis the winner despite is unimpressive performance.
7. Rafael Feijao (7-1) def. Travis Galbraith (15-6) by referee stoppage on round 1. With the awesome sight of UFC champions Anderson Silva and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in his conrner, Feijao showed a winning performance throughout the first round. It was mainly a standing fight with Galbraith losing wind halfway towards the end of the round. It was Feijao’s knees that connected solidly on Galbraith’s jaw that overcome the latter. He was dropped and suffered punches while on the ground. The referee had to stop the fight.
The internet is awash with articles and blogs about how last weekend’s card becomes a pivotal moment in the future of American Mixed Martial Arts. Here are the results of those ten July 19, 2008 bouts. Go ahead and make your own judgement.
HEAVYWEIGHTS
1.) Fedor Emilianenko (28-1, 1 no contest) def. Tim Sylvia (24-5) by a rear naked choke barely 36 seconds on the first round. Sylvia says Fedor is not human after being subjected to a barrage of punches that saw him on the mat helpless against Fedor’s choke maneuver.
Randy Couture was brought into the ring to play up the tempting possibility of going against Fedor. Fedor also liked the idea of being pitted against Couture. A contract dispute with UFC however may not make this next big match to materialize. Josh Barnett and Andrei Arlovski are also Emelianenko challengers.
2.) Andrei Arlovski (13-5) def. Ben Rothwell (29-6) by a knockout at 1:13 on the third round. Smarting from a sore loss to Tim Sylvia in 2006, Arlovski unleashes power and technique that made the second round of this match the most exciting bout.
Rothwell was a display of iron-clad toughness but was no match to Arlovski’ speed and punching accuracy who trained under Freddie Roach (the same guy behind the speed and accuracy of world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao).
3.) Josh Barnett (23-5) def. Pedro Rizzo (16-8) with a left hook that knocked out Rizzo at :44 of the second round of an otherwise slow first round. The crowd’s jeers must have woke Barnett up to unleash a bone-crushing hook on the second round.
Barnett becomes the most logical challenger to Emelianenko.
4.) Paul Buentello (26-10) def. Gary Goodridge (23-18-1) by unanimous decision. Goodridge seemed to hurt Buentello’s ribs but the latter landed more devastating punches and knees that sent Goodridge’s nose bleeding.
This appears to be not Buentello’s best game despite his being in control of this match.
FEATHERWEIGHTS
5.) Mark Hominick (16-8) def. Savant Young (9-8) by submission on the second round. This was more on the groundwork skills of Hominick while Young tried to counter with strikes. Young made scores with his punches but Hominick’s armbar locked him to a win by submission.
This bout was another of those slow moments of the event that earned boos from the crowd. Unlike the original MMA crowd of two years ago, the new set of MMA fans now seem to favour standing matches than ground games.
LIGHTWEIGHTS
6.) Renato Sobral (30-7) def. Mike Whitehead (20-6) by unanimous decision. This was one of the most exciting matches of the event. Sobral showcased his striking and blocking superiority over Whitehead’s toughness that was just enough.
Whitehead’s takedowns and groundwork against Sobral just didn’t deliver.
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
7.) Matt Lindland (21-5) def Fabio Nascimento (8-4) by unanimous decision. Lindland was obviously getting the upperhand on the second round with ground and pound. Bloth gladiators were exhausted by the third round but Lindland showed more aggressiveness with another takedown with more punishing blows.
Lindland’s Olympic-level technical skills in wrestling gave him much edge on a close fight. When he gets into trouble with Nascimento’s fists, he brings the game to the ground.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
8.) Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (14-3) def. Edwin Dewees (35-13) by referee stoppage 4:06 on the first round. Nogueira restrained Dewees with a strong Muay Thai clinch and landed six hard knees followed by an exchange of furious punches in one corner.
The referee simply has to stopped the game when Dewees was pummelled with more devastating punches from a more superior Nogueira.
WELTERWEIGHTS
9.) Mike Pyle (16-5-1) def. J.J. Ambrose (9-2) by submission on the first round. At 2:51, the match has to be stopped with Pyle locking a rear naked choke after unleashing a barrage of punches on the side of the head of Ambrose who was faced down on the mat.
This quickie one-sided bout gave Pyle two victories in a row.
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
10.) Vitor Belfort (17-8) def. Terry Martin (16-5) by knockout 3 minutes 12 seconds of the second round. Martin showed aggressiveness in this bout while Belfort was backpedalling most of the time. And most of the time that he was backpedalling, he shows better skills by stopping Martin with his jabs. Most of these landed on Martin’s left eye.
Martin’s attempts at takedown failed, Belfort finished the game with a disabling left-right combination.
