EliteXC didn’t exactly demand a widespread television audience this past weekend. Let’s put it this way, more people watched a re-run of Law and order than EliteXC’s Saturday night fights. The event lacked a lot of the luster that preceded its first network broadcast and was without the novelty of a certain internet fighter.
The EliteXC may have hurt itself irreparably after the Kimbo Slice spectacle that took place almost two months ago. Ratings were down a reported 43 percent from that inaugural show. People just aren’t interested.
So how does EliteXC ensure that more people will watch its program over America’s Most Wanted on October 4th? The first answer is bring back Kimbo Slice. Another answer has come in the form of female fighter Gina Carano. Those answers may not get the ratings back up to where they were, but at least it might be able to beat out the other programs airing int the time slot. Stay tuned for more answers in the future, or perhaps you could just change the channel as most people did on Saturday night.
Fights, fights and more fights. What else would we feature in the world of mma? The weekend saw it’s share of fights over in EliteXC and the future should see plenty more. See who got hit, who’s calling who out and and who will hit who in the future. The Monday Crunch welcomes you to a new week.
Gina Carano was on hand last night at EliteXC’s Unfinished Business perhaps to catch a glimpse of one of her future opponents. The camera surely noticed Carano more than a few times as she is the most prized fighter in the women’s circuit. In this interview, Carano sits down and does some quick Q and A. It seems that Carano can’t get away from the camera and rightfully so.
A whole lot of hype led up to EliteXC’s rematch between Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith. While the fight was halfway decent, it may have fell short of all the hooplah that preceded it. Compared to both of last week’s main events put on by Affliction and the UFC, it definitely lacked some of the punch. Nevertheless, Smith and Lawler both put in valiant efforts in this two round fight. Here is EliteXC’s latest version of a main event.
When most people are asked who about the best in the lightweight division, BJ Penn’s name is often uttered. If asked who is the lightweight of the year, most might not respond with the name Forrest Griffin. However, Nick Colon of Bleacerreport.com wouldn’t be one of those respondents. Colon contends that Griffin is indeed the lightweight of the year.
As the only man to ever beat Urijah Faber, Colon presents a somewhat solid argument. This past year, Marcus Aurelio and Gleison Tibau both fell victim to Griffin whose only career loss came courtesy of Frank Edgar. Now, Griffin may not have wowed the masses with the most highly regarded opponents in the lightweight division but he is building toward being one of the top contenders.
He still may have to wait a few fights before he gets a title shot, however Griffin is doing everything necessary in order to get there. Lightweight of the future could be a better way to describe Grifffin, although he has turned in a solid year in the division.
The EliteXC is busy filling out headlines across the country after putting on a decent show last night in front of a national television audience. Its next date has been set while there is not much brewing today in the UFC. Here’s a look at what stories are crunching on Sunday.
EliteXC’s next edition of Saturday Night Fights on CBS will air on October 4th live from the Bank Atlantic Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. No bouts have yet to be announced but Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano are slated to appear.
In the blood spattered cage, the women turned in another excellent performance last night. Christianne Cyborg made her return to the cage with a fierce display of fighting in her second round knockout of Shayna Baszler. The bout kicked off the free network television broadcast and set the tone for a night of hard-hitting action in the EliteXC. In case you missed it, here’s another look at Baszler vs. Cyborg.
All in all, EliteXC put on fairly decent show last night. Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith finally settled things in the cage and the women came to play once again. Kimbo Slice was on hand but didn’t do anything to sully the name of the sport like he did during EliteXC’s last national television broadcast. Here’s a few afterthoughts from the Unfinished Business.
Quick with the stretcher
After Antonio Silva laid out Justin Eilers, the medical crew rushed a stretcher into the cage rather quickly. Eilers was down but not really out and it might have been a bit premature.
The Worst of…
Nick Thompson undeniably won the award for the worst beard of the night. Thomas Denny came in a close second, but Denny did managed to display the worst haircut of the evening.
Elite Company
Rafael Feijao has some elite company tutoring him along the way, training alongside mma greats Anderson Silva and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. He’ll be one of the young fighters to watch in the future. He made it look easy in his first round knockout against Travis Galbraith as Silva looked on. Read more…
The women impressed yet again at last night’s EliteXC presentation of Unfinished Business. Christiane Cyborg returned to the mma circuit after a two year lay-off, but proved that she had remained busy in the interim. Cyborg came out and immediately went right after the favored Shayna Baszler. Baszler hung on and showed a game effort, but Cyborg was just too much.
Built like a tank, Cyborg took the action right to Baszler and brought the crowd to its feet. She disposed of Baszler via a knockout that came as the second round was winding down. This is the second time in a row that a women’s bout has been a smashing success at an EliteXC event. The most recognizable face in women’s mma, Gina Carano, was on hand to take in the action and stated that she is ready to challenge Cyborg in the future.
A Cyborg-Carano affair would build on the momentum quickly being built by the women in EliteXC. It is not merely a novelty anymore, but rather a compelling and throughly entertaining part of mma. Even though Baszler was overpowered, she reverted to her excellent ground game aand continually tried to hook in a submission.
It was an excellent fight and should pave the way for a future clash between Carano and Cyborg. These female fighters are exciting to watch and, with the addition of quality fighters like Cyborg, the field should only get stronger.
EliteXC didn’t exactly demand a widespread television audience this past weekend. Let’s put it this way, more people watched a re-run of Law and order than EliteXC’s Saturday night fights. The event lacked a lot of the luster that preceded its first network broadcast and was without the novelty of a certain internet fighter.
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