EliteXC Garners More Mainstream Press Than the UFC
by Michael Rome on Oct 1, 2008 11:31 PM EDT
in MMA News
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PrintIn a turn of events that undoubtedly infuriates Dana White, the mainstream press is again doing its part to ensure ratings success for EliteXC. Gina Carano and Kimbo Slice have been all over the place doing interviews; Gina was on the Late Late show a few nights ago, and Kimbo was on ESPN 2 today. Ken Shamrock was also interviewed today on the Jim Rome show, where he did a very good job hyping up his fight.
In the past two months, the UFC did two shows that were very successful on PPV, and had a lot of casual fan interest, but the media didn't really bite. This is partially because Kimbo and Gina offer two really unique media narratives, but I think the real reason is the CBS rolodex. It is easy to underestimate the connections CBS brings to the table in terms of media. Not only can they get these fighters on their own shows, they can also work to get them other mainstream press in the L.A. area.
In the past, media coverage has not strongly correlated with buyrates for the UFC, but it definitely leads to ratings success. I think the reason is obvious: casual fans that hear about a fight on ESPN might check it out for free, but asking them to pay $50 for it is a whole different story.
Speaking of mainstream press, ESPN E60 did an update on their original story on her yesterday. Here are the videos:
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Serious Crush part II
It didn’t get much press from the mma blog community, but ESPN E60 did another piece on Gina Carano yesterday. It was an update to their original story that ran on May 18, but included new interviews with both Gina and Kim Couture, and new training footage at Xtreme Couture. As always on this show, it was very well done; and this time, Jeremy Schaap & CO. were a lot more respectful of Gina.
The buzz around Gina really exploded after her original E60 piece aired, so I’d expect another huge number on Saturday.
Thanks for bringing this up. Once my internet starts working properly I’ll add the videos above. After watching them…wow, it will be a tragedy when EliteXC goes under and there’s no outlet for women’s MMA in America. The people at Zuffa have to see dollar signs in this, and with MMA pretty much regulated across the board now, they need to consider bringing women in.
sarcasm does’nt translate well in print………..oh wait, you were’nt being sarcastic. ha! sure a free show is going to draw more fans than a ppv. thank you captain obvious. just wait until elite tries and put on a ppv (you know that thing that might get them out of the hole), if they even make it that far. the most watched mma show ever got them from being 33 million in the hole to 55 million. elite sold their soul when they signed with cbs.
Hey look, you won an argument against a straw man, congratulations!
I’ve been predicting EliteXC’s death since the beginning. It doesn’t change the fact that Gina gets E60 specials and UFC fighters don’t.
EliteXC is managing to bring women’s MMA to the attention of the public. This means it will also get the attention of the UFC, where a women’s division could actually work. EXC, I’m afraid, is doomed. However, women in MMA could have a bright future thanks to the exposure created by EXC.
I think Cyborg is the scariest woman I’ve ever seen, and I think she would beat Gina.
diluting?
I thought the ladies had the fight of the night in the first CBS show. No?
stop being a moron
This is not CBS, it’s the UFC…
whille I appreciate the mudslinging...
either way, it’s MMA, and I think ladies have a place in it. the more popular it becomes for women to fight, the deeper their talent pool will become. why don’t you like female fights?
The press coverage is good, but I would like to see more focus and introduction on the rest of the guys on the card like Jake Shields, who is the best fighter in Elite XC. I mean how much exposure does Kimbo and Carano need. By not focusing on the rest of the guys on the card, Elite XC could find themselves in the same situation they were in July, where they will always be dependent upon Kimbo and Carano.
by The Bronzeville Bully on Oct 2, 2008 2:38 AM EDT reply actions
Hey look, more UFC bashing
Dana White could have Kimbo Slice, and all of the publicity that comes with him (doubled or tripled by his rise to the UFC), with the flick of a switch. Kimbo doesn’t have any allegiance to EliteXC – first people that offer him more money will receive his services. And yet Dana doesn’t sign him, and watches as EliteXC garners these precious Sportscenter clips. I don’t think he’s mad at all.
Nevermind the Chuck Liddell interview before the Rashad fight and – oh, yeah – the Couture-Lesnar interview that happened the day after the announcement with Josh Elliot. The media storm that surrounds Lesnar-Couture will DWARF – D-W-A-R-F – what you call ‘infuriating’ coverage. The mainstream media cares not about MMA, EliteXC or UFC – just ratings.
What’s funny about stuff like this is that I get as many emails from people saying “Quit bashing the UFC!!!” as I do that say “Why won’t you give EliteXC a chance?”.
So, just for the record, none of us take seriously the notion that we do either unfairly or for any purpose other than to call it like we see it. I’m sure you think otherwise, but you’re completely and utterly wrong.
Who's 'us'?
The BE staff? Your wife and kids? Because I can only tell you that ‘we’ is not every other MMA fan.
I think you’re rooting for the sport just like I am, Luke – we just have different ideas of what’s best for it. You seem to promote competiton among MMA orgs (please, correct me if I am wrong) while I cannot wait for the day that 1-20 in the world in every weight class is in the UFC. But I think this story is a reach because it implies that somehow EXC is holding a card that the UFC a) wants, b) needs, c) can’t get or d) all of the above. And the answer is e) that’s complete bullshit.
by Derek Suboticki on Oct 2, 2008 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I AGREE. couture and lesnar were on mike and mike,first take, jim rome, sportscenter all day long on espn 3 months before their fight. elite is getting more press RIGHT NOW mainly because they are on network tv and the ufc has nothing going on right now (except the ufc 86 replay). i really didnt understand the point of this column except that it was a fluff piece for elite as if to say that they are viable competiton for the ufc? people arent gonna pay $50 for a ufc ppv just because elite has a free show? i doubt it. the big question is are people gonna pay to see kimbo and gina when they have been able to see them for free. i seriuosly doubt it.
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