After UFC 84, Kimbo Slice/EliteXC Have Their Work Cut Out for Them

by Luke Thomas on May 25, 2008 3:46 PM EDT in MMA News

I mentioned this last night on Any Given Saturday, but I'll reiterate it again: as good as I think EliteXC's show will be next Saturday, one has to acknowledge they've got their work cut out for them in light of how good last night's UFC 84 event was. UFC 84 is almost everything one could hope for in an event minus a super stellar main event. The Penn vs. Sherk fight was very good, but it was no Rizzo vs. Couture. Sherk looked stoic and Penn looked brilliant, but the fight was quaffable, not transcendent.

And the UFC 84 event overall had quite a bit going for it: a title shot, exciting up and comers, international prospects, "The Ultimate Fighter" veterans, significance, contrasting styles, superstars, knockouts, submissions, and more. Even if the fights at "EliteXC: Primetime" are excellent fights, the significance of the event - aside from its status on CBS - isn't nearly as meaningful as what we saw last night. Part of that isn't their fault and more a product of their status as the new kid on the block. But Dana White has the ace in the hole here. He's the one who can say to the press and curious new fans that his league is the one where there's action and there's action that matters.

Kimbo Slice had better deliver.

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I thought it was a very good night of fights. Arguably the best MMA event of ‘08 thus far. I don’t see any way Elite tops it, but that doesn’t mean they won’t put on a good show. I’m looking forward to Lawler and Smith.

by Popetastic on May 25, 2008 5:22 PM EDT reply actions

Best card so far this year, definitely the most significant. Kimbo can be exciting, but one fighter alone doesn’t make a great card.

by pud333 on May 26, 2008 12:54 AM EDT reply actions

Dana is in control now. It will take a PHENOMENAL show by EXC for Dana to not be able to say “would you rather watch this for free or pay to see the real deal in the UFC?” and have the casual fans not think “Shit, I’d rather pay.”

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on May 26, 2008 1:02 AM EDT reply actions

They need the perfect storm. They need an awesome slugfest culminating in a Kimbo KO in the main event, the same thing in the Carano match, a great fight out of Lawler and Smith (highly likely honestly), and they need a good rating.

With Ortiz’s contract now up (my impression is the time period was up but not the fight total due to his injury), I believe he may be free to show up on Elite XC’s show, even if he cannot fight. I don’t know if that’s correct but there is already speculation he could try something like that. What lengths will Gary Shaw go to to make his show a success?

by Michael Rome on May 26, 2008 3:25 AM EDT reply actions

Tito can go wherever he wishes. He just can’t negotiate with any company for 30 days from his last UFC fight.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison

by Brent Brookhouse on May 26, 2008 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions

My biggest fear for EliteXC

Is Gina even going to make weight? At the press meet’n’greets lately, she’s been impressive as hell with her striking, but she hasn’t looked anywhere close to 140. We know how much she cuts and how close she cuts it (so to speak), but I’ve never seen her look this big a week out.

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.

by jemaleddin on May 26, 2008 9:31 AM EDT reply actions

I’d imagine that they’d work it out to where they fight at a catch weight. The fight is much too important to just get scratched over her not making weight.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison

by Brent Brookhouse on May 26, 2008 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed. No way does this fight not happen.

It must be impossible for Gina to get opponents closer to her correct weight, but if she accepts the fights, she needs to be a pro and make the weight.

"They said you was hung!!"

"And they was RIGHT!"

by BJJDenver on May 26, 2008 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions

That may be part of the problem...

the mindset of “well…if I don’t make weight they’ll make it work anyway”

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison

by Brent Brookhouse on May 27, 2008 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions