Final Thoughts on Elite XC in Newark

Notes from FanHouse in Newark.

The reaction to Elite XC's inaugural show on CBS has been mixed to negative and after spending the night cageside, I can't argue with that. The stoppages in each of the last two fights was much to quick and the controversy about an uncalled tapout by Kimbo Slice looms as an issue that Elite and CBS will have to deal with to confirm the legitimacy of what they're putting forth.

As you can see in the above picture of James Thompson, the stoppage didn't come completely out of nowhere. His ear is in awful shape. I don't think the context of the fight to that point called for a stoppage but Slice's punches and strikes were doing damage. Thompson's, on the other hand, weren't. He was on top and throwing elbows but, from my spot 10-15 feet away, they weren't doing much to hurt Slice. If Thompson weren't fatigued and/or hurting, I think he would have ended the fight during that moment in the second round but he couldn't muster the necessary might.

As you'll see after the jump, Slice looked better after the fight. Not the best picture, I apologize for my photo skills, but he didn't have a scratch on him.

Continuing with the theme of Slice's fitness to be the "face" of MMA, that definitely took a hit last night. His cardio isn't anywhere close to the level it needs to be if he wants to be taken seriously in the sport. He's a brawler and an entertaining one but that's not enough to beat the best of the best. Thompson isn't that but if he'd survived the third round, based on the scorecards, he was a pretty strong bet to win the fight.

That's why it was good for Brett Rogers to step up and give his unvarnished opinion of the fight during the postmatch press conference. Sure, there was a self-serving aspect to his comments but it was a bit off-putting to see how in Slice's corner the Elite XC powers that be were.

Jared Shaw, son of promoter Gary Shaw, came to the ring with him and the elder Shaw couldn't have been more effusive in his praise for Slice and more insistent that he was carrying the promotion on his shoulders. That kind of closeness casts a shadow around the way the fight played out and the way it was reffed. That's not to say it's illegitimate but it does smell.

As for the rest of the card, there was a lot of talk about a rematch between Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith at some point in the near future. Smith broke his foot during the bout and looked quite torn up but the too-quick stoppage of a competitive fight calls for another go-round.

The best technical fight was the Gina Carano-Kaitlin Young battle which might not say much for the rest of the fighters but does show that there's a place for women in MMA. It's a shame that Carano couldn't make weight but she's attractive, personable and a decent fighter. Expect to see a lot more of her going forward.

And, since we're looking forward, the biggest doubt about Elite XC in the future has to be the depth of their roster. UFC can put together top-notch cards every month with different fighters of great talent. I don't see that with Elite XC, as currently comprised, and they'll need to get better to make a real go of it as a top-flight promotion.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-01-2008 @ 12:58PM

Shevon Kelly said...

WAKE UP!!! Everything about Kimbo Slice is fake. His background is probably fake. He is mo MMA fighter. He is being propped up by fighting chumps. People are hyping Kimbo so they can make money. Kimbo is a chump and a fraud. Every Heavyweight in the UFC would destroy Kimbo, fight would be over in the 1st round.

6-01-2008 @ 1:01PM

anthony said...

This is the first time I have seen Kimbo Slice fight. I've heard all the hoopla and was very unimpressed. The UFC has a minimum of 15 fighters who would take Kimbo out in a hurry. There are several light-heavyweights in the UFC that would take him out. I can't believe a major network would put their money on such a mediocre fighter. What a joke.

frank said...

cheesey, crappy and weak looked like the WWE. not a good representation of MMA to the uninitiated. Kimbo tapped and was handed the win..he should stay on the streets and youtube.

6-01-2008 @ 1:00PM

Kyle said...

Elite-XC in Newark was certainly a disappointing spectical. However, as they will frequently be compared to the UFC..well, there really is little comparison. Last nights affairs proved Elite-XC to be a desperate organization who's trying to make Kimbo Slice the face of the Elite XC. He's certainly no Chuck Liddell and he never will be. I think James Thompson would have lost but I think the ref called it too early. So now there will always be a question of whether or not Kimbo can really beat tough competition. I think they have skilled fighters that would be better served if they were allowed to develop within the organization at their own rate. Elite XCs officials are terrible! They obviously were rookies.

6-01-2008 @ 1:13PM

shipoffools said...

I kept waiting for Vince McMahon to make his enterance and announce that the next Elite XC fight would be Kimbo Slice vs Jerry "The King Lawler.

6-01-2008 @ 1:32PM

andre said...

Dont blame Kimbo. The ref is a bum and should be fired.Elite should have used a vetern ref.Knowing that this fight being on national tv.

6-01-2008 @ 2:44PM

brad said...

what an embarrassing spectacle of shameless self promotion and sub-par fighters. I hope elite xc receives no more oportunities to take the class out of mma. give the cheerleaders, cheesy intros, huge entourages back to boxing and TNA impact.

6-01-2008 @ 2:46PM

Tim Norris said...

25 minutes between the fights,I watched a couple good fights on Vs. and Spike before the first fight started on CBS. They need to get to the fights, that's the only reason we watch!

6-01-2008 @ 2:56PM

Tedfio1 said...

There was no art to Kimbo's MMA fighting techniques.

I give him credit for being humble enough to admit there is a lot he needs to learn.

6-01-2008 @ 4:04PM

JoeT said...

He needs some real competition to test himself.

http://www.fromthecage.com

6-01-2008 @ 6:47PM

bblaylock said...

All Kimbo needs is the Iron Sheik in his corner and someone to toss him a chair. I kept waiting for him to lift his shoulder at the count of 2 (a la WWE) for the first two rounds when Thompson, with virtually no real ground and pound game, had him pinned like a rapist to the mat. Hell half the 205 pound fighters in UFC could beat Kimbo's little talent. How about Brandon 'The Truth' Vera showing Kimbo the truth about MMA fighting ?

6-01-2008 @ 7:06PM

dbiondi001 said...

Up to this point I was impressed with EliteXC from watching it on Showtime. However, I had concerns about it going to CBS and after what I saw last night it looks like I'm right. The State Athletic Commission, CBS, and EliteXC were scared of this whole event being portrayed as "Brutal" or "Barbaric" to the general public that knows nothing of MMA. They were looking for a new audience by bringing this to CBS but were afraid of the public backlashing on it if it looked to violent. This is why they stopped the fights as early as they did. I saw such a differance in last nights fights from what I have been watching on Showtime. It was also obvious on how much Elite XC wanted and needed Kimbo to win this fight. He is their big name and big $$$ attraction for this organization and I can promise you that the ref was told to take that into consideration when working this fight. I've lost alot of respect for ElitXC and I will not watch their events if they decide to continue to show these watered down versions of this sport on CBS.

6-01-2008 @ 11:34PM

MrHideous said...

What is that knot on Thompson's ear? During the prefight exam it looked like rubber and in pics on the Elite XC fighters web sight both his ears look normal. HMM?? UFC has nothing to worry about if this is the best show Elite can put on.

6-02-2008 @ 1:24PM

The Movie Mind said...

Check this link out for an unbiased review of Saturday's fight. Pretty straightforward and not afraid to take a hard line at CBS and Elite XC:

http://www.themoviemind.com/2008/06/02/elite-xc-%e2%80%93-mma-meets-cable-television/

6-02-2008 @ 3:44PM

jokatech said...

I just want to say that kimbo would have been destroyed if Thompson had a brain. I like kimbo but people need to stop expecting godlike performances all the time. And I am so sick and tired of espn analysts talking of barbarics in the mma genre and how it should not haved aired on local networks. For the last time, boxing is way more barbaric as a whole. I Boxed a bit! You have never heard of a death in MMA. But about 5 boxers die a year in the ring!!

6-02-2008 @ 4:36PM

reh said...

Kimbo did fine. He nearly lost the fight multiple times on the ground. He gave a "thumbs up" which people are mistaking for a tap-out.
What about when he was completely on his back with Thompsons whole body over his head and shoulders, Kimbo reversed and flipped the 265lb Thompson with sheer strength and with one arm!! He needs alot of ground work, but otherwise, he held his own against a more experienced opponent.