Good News From EliteXC's Show

by Michael Rome on Oct 11, 2008 9:37 AM EDT in News Comment 9 comments

Lost in all the scandal is the fact that there is a ton of good news for EliteXC on CBS coming out of their last show, even if Pro Elite is basically on death watch. Dave Meltzer sums it up well:

On a night loaded with major sports competition, an MMA card came out ahead in the ratings in males 18-34 and 18-49. This was on a night with college football games on ABC and ESPN, two major league baseball playoff games including a major market Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs battle, and a first-time ever airing on television tape of a major UFC pay-per-view event. Even with the advertised main event of Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock not taking place, it ended up as the third most-watched MMA event ever in North America.

Carano, for the second time on CBS, established herself as a huge television ratings draw. Her match with Kelly Kobold, based on the final Nielsen numbers, added 1,022,000 new viewers to the show. In particular, during the course of her match, males 18-34 increased 69 percent. It was the second straight Carano match on CBS to add a million viewers, a figure establishing her as an elite-level draw. The only other MMA match this year to do this was Anderson Silva vs. James Irvin on a UFC show in July.

There's a lot more too. With CBS taking over, I think there is a lot to be optimistic about. They just need to clean up the swamp.

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I didn’t think that “Heat” would significantly increase the number of viewers over the May show, but I think achieving similar ratings, as they did, was an achievement considering the competition.

I’m not confident that CBS will clean up EliteXC. CBS hasn’t been interested in the original Petruzelli statement and the subsequent contradictions. While they’re providing ProElite with the funds to operated and hold a significant share of the company’s stock, CBS hasn’t addressed EliteXC’s shoddy management. It’s understandable that they don’t want to tear the company apart at this point and inhibit the ability to produce shows, but at the least, the Shaws should be jettisoned from any public role. Their presence only tarnishes the product.

An otherwise great show was somewhat overshadowed by the soap opera that surrounded it. I’m generally cynical about TV execs and their willingness to address the long-term standing of the products under their supervision. I really haven’t seen anything to allay my fears regarding CBS’s role in MMA. While controversy may attract viewers in the near term, I have no doubt that it’s a recipe for long-term failure. I don’t know if CBS views EXC as an easily disposable product, but they need to correct the mistakes that have been. Without that I won’t be sold on a scenario where CBS runs an MMA promotion, if that is the chosen path. CBS has the power to elevate EliteXC, but do they have the knowledge, will, and desire? I’m not so sure.

by Cannon Jacques on Oct 11, 2008 8:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nothing against Seth, but if Shamrock would have fought and Kimbo won, I think we would all be saying what a huge success it was. Maybe even of Seth just hadn’t have talked.

I think we all knew and have now been proven right, that EXCBS was making a huge mistake by hitching its hopes on Kimbo. Now let me say, i don;t mean this as a sleight against Kimbo. He works hard, takes the sport seriously and is fairly respectful, aside from the glove touching. he doesn’t really talk a lot, unless he gets called out, which is to often, imo. Unfortunately, I think much of EXCBS’ audience, is of the type that thinks a loss is the end of a career, or at least a huge setback, like in boxing. This is where I’m afraid they may lose viewers and ultimately fail. Now we all know a loss is not a huge deal in mma. It happens, the fights get stopped quick for safety and there are so many ways in which to lose. look at Randy, he loses a third of his fights, yet is considered one of the all-time greats. Does anyone think a boxer that is 16-8 would be considered to be at the top of the sport? All I’m saying here, is that the Kimbo loss is getting way blown out of proportion.

The thing is, he was thrust into a position that shouldn;t have been put on him for a few years. is it fair? Yes and no. He is getting paid big, but his career is being mismanaged to a degree.

The failure that is EXC is greatly due to their management. they have ignored their prospects and sold their soul to the devil (network deal), so to speak. The Shaws are a joke and have done great damage to the org and maybe the sport. Does anyone really want CBS having any more input into EXC?

Imo, they need to almost go back to start and try again. They need to co-promote with other orgs and build their FIGHTERS, not just the personalities. Guys like Noons, Shields, Alvarez, Feijao, Reis. And the one person that is both already, Gina. Take a step back with Kimbo, get him on track and build his career the way it should be done.

http://eliotmarshall.com/

by BJJDenver on Oct 11, 2008 12:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

She is being exploited badly

I saw the the fight payouts and this woman is being horribly exploited. She should have been paid more. Her manager should be shot.

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Oct 11, 2008 11:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think the Kimbo loss is a great bargaining chip for her to demand more money. She is now their biggest legitimate draw and she should be getting paid.

http://eliotmarshall.com/

by BJJDenver on Oct 12, 2008 5:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In Theory

but look what happened to KJ Noons when he took a stance against being screwed.

by mythbuster on Oct 12, 2008 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I considered that, but in reality, few people are tuning in to see KJ and a million are for Gina.

http://eliotmarshall.com/

by BJJDenver on Oct 12, 2008 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have a hard time saying that Elite should be paying ANYONE more with the way their finances are going.

Yes, with all they hype and hoopla surrounding Gina, 25k does not seem like a lot of money, but Elite is bleeding money here, I don’t really expect to see any salaries go up any time soon, until this incarnation disappears and something else takes it’s place.

by Phildo on Oct 12, 2008 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree completely, but it would be one of these scenarios, imo:

1) PPV card so perhaps higher pay
2) CBS picks up the tab
3) (most likely) lower pay to other fighters, Kimbo for example.

I’m not saying they go from 25k to 500k, but I think 80-100k would be appropriate.

http://eliotmarshall.com/

by BJJDenver on Oct 12, 2008 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know what’s appropriate, but CBS is in control here. Make no mistake about it. Certainly, Gina deserves more money when you consider her relative drawing power. The sad aspect is that the women don’t get paid much, and at the time she signed the contract, it probably looked pretty good. The bad thing about her contract is that it’s long-term as Kim Couture said. That’s where her previous agent let her down. Gina’s in a strong position, but her promotion isn’t in a good position to meet her demands. I think it all depends on what CBS wants to do.

By the way, Kimbo’s $500,000 is way out of line. Where else could he go and get that kind of money? That speaks to how shitty ProElite management is.

by Cannon Jacques on Oct 12, 2008 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs