Announcer Mauro Ranallo Loses Credibility, Suggests We Give Kimbo Slice 'a Mulligan'

The mixed martial arts commentator Mauro Ranallo is prone to hyperbole, and I don't have a problem with that: Hyperbole has been part of the fight game for as long as the fight game has existed.

But as far as I'm concerned, Ranallo lost all credibility with his comments at the end of tonight's EliteXC show on CBS.

After Kimbo Slice gave what may have been the most pathetic main event performance in the history of mixed martial arts, getting knocked out in 14 seconds by a low-level fighter named Seth Petruzelli, Ranallo was asked how we should react to seeing Kimbo flat on his back on the canvas.

Said Ranallo: "We give him a mulligan."

Said me: Give me a break. Kimbo doesn't deserve "a mulligan." He deserves to be finished in the sport of mixed martial arts.

Ranallo tried to maintain a shred of dignity by later saying, "This is a huge loss, a huge setback." And then he lost that shred of dignity by saying, "But he goes back to the drawing board."

No, he doesn't. Kimbo is finished. I admire him for trying to take up MMA at age 34, but he simply doesn't have the talent. He's never going to be a good MMA fighter, and if your job is to analyze MMA, you shouldn't pretend that he will.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-05-2008 @ 12:12AM

Eric said...

I would like to know how Kimbo's game plan would have changed if he had know he was going to fight Petruzelli ... ? Yea, it wouldn't have ... he's a one trick pony, and the trick isn't even that good.

10-05-2008 @ 12:32AM

rokstar said...

yep , 15 mins are up , leave this to the real mma ! and next to go is block lesner? yes

10-05-2008 @ 1:14AM

Rev said...

As they commented on Hulk Hogan's attendance, Frank Shamrock was right when he said perhaps Kimbo chose the wrong profession.

10-05-2008 @ 1:50AM

JC said...

Excuse me, sir, but Mauro did not lose any credibility.

That would imply he had any to start with.

Ranallo may have his place in pro wrasslin announing, and he may even have some use in the world of MMA, but he has ruined far too many events for me.

His whole act is as a cheesy cheerleader for whatever promotion has rented his services and suit that night, so his seriousness as an analyst is suspect at best.

A) EliteXC is paying for a shill, not an objective commentator or journalist;
B) Ranallo has been (Kimbo mentor) Bas Rutten's beeyatch for, like, ever.

Therefore, asking him to be objective about Kimbo Slice is like asking him to put down the blow dryer before going to air. Ain't gonna happen.

Even Frank Shamrock, an intelligent and talented fighter, and a very good broadcast analyst, too often sounds like a shill for the promotion as opposed to the journalistic servant of the viewing MMA audience.

MMA may have entered the mainstream, but MMA media has a long way to go.

A good start would be to reserve Ranallo for work on the struggling (and soon to be bankrupt) Fight Network, where he can shill to his heart's content.

10-05-2008 @ 3:52AM

Joey said...

One loss, huh. Just wonder when Brock Lesnar's 15 minutes of fame will be up now.

10-05-2008 @ 8:50AM

Scottvt said...

At least Brock is a skilled wrestler ( not WWE wrestler) but a highly skilled college wrestler. It's a completely different set of circumstances. Kimbo is a thug with a big punch and thats it!. Kimbo should have lost his last fight to the English fighter with the messed up ear. In this arena of skilled, talented fighters Kimbo is nothing but a guy with a punchers chance. I think he should publicly admit that he is way out of his element and go back to fighting other thugs in alleys.

10-05-2008 @ 9:09AM

Smith said...

Slice needs to take some Tae Bo classes. Billy Blanks could restart his career.

10-05-2008 @ 10:01AM

Earl said...

Brock is gonna kick Randy's ass. Said an done

10-07-2008 @ 12:39PM

Floyd said...

First of all he didn't take up MMA at 34 he took up MMA at 31 and 2 one loss ?? How many MMA super starts today have started off fighting guys that have over 20 fight average ?? None

so give the man a break and lets see what he does after losing .

10-05-2008 @ 10:56AM

fistandatilus said...

The fight was a sham.Watch it again in slow mo limbo didn't even get hit but fell like a ton of bricks.When he was down he only got hit a few times, alot of the punches missed. I think he was paid to take a fall so that when he fights again more people will watch to see if kimbo gets beat again.

10-05-2008 @ 11:42AM

Tedpride said...

A WHITE BOXING COP BEAT HIS ASS ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. YOU DON'T HERE A WORD ABOUT IT. PROMOTERS USE KIMBO FOR $$$$

10-05-2008 @ 8:08PM

kaisersosea said...

Thanks John, Like you said ,he wasn't even hit hard.Although his apponent looked like he was not informed of the dive.Dana please continue on with the integrity we deserve.
kaisersosea

10-05-2008 @ 4:29PM

chad said...

I can't believe all this I am hearing. Kimbo Slice is not done. He has only been in mma game for a couple of years. Give him time he will be a world champion. That seth guy was so scared in the beginning running away like a va jj and then he lands a lucky punch. I think this is a bunch of bull. Dana I hope Kimbo Sticks with it cause he is going to be the best and you will be sorry you said different

10-05-2008 @ 4:25PM

Paul said...

they aren't saying anything about Seth not being prepared for kimbo so STFU.

10-05-2008 @ 10:11PM

Bobby Dee said...

chad droooed: "That seth guy was so scared in the beginning running away like a va jj "

Is "va jj" the newest slang term among you queers?

10-05-2008 @ 10:31PM

mma fan said...

i can't believe there are so many haters who talk alot of sh!t but have least knowledge of the sport and the dedication and hard work it takes to make it. kimbo is not done he isnt the greatest fighter but he is a fighter who is probably better than 60-80% of the mma wannabe fighters who take up the sport after participating in a seminar and then think they are the greatest. brock lesnar isnt that great he in the same league as kimbo, just because brock is a wrestler dont mean squat kimbo can box are you saying only wrestlers are the best fighters? hell no, only thing wrestlers can do is pin and takedowns nothing else thats why its called mma it takes a variety of skills besides if bas rutten thinks kimbo is good enough then its good cause in his prime aint no one that could compete with him, plus kimbo got clip on the chin didnt get ko but just dazed just like anybody else who ever got clipped, the fight was stopped prematurely because seth wasnt landing any flush shots just missing with looping shots. kimbo has a better fighting record than TUF fighters who never fought or trained before and just jumpin on bandwagon. besides the fight kimbo lost to the cop was illegal due to it being a bare knuckled FIST Fight and no chokes were allowed which is how he lost. kimbo never said he was the best but he puttin his dues give him respect, he trying on his complete game, like brock(punkass who'll lose to fedor&randy anyday)

10-05-2008 @ 11:57PM

pedro said...

to be honest, i dont like brock lesnar, and i have never liked kimbo slice. like most real mma fans know, that dude is a joke and as soon as he fought anyone with a good ground game, he was done for. apparently he didnt even need to get taken to the ground. i do believe lesnar is next, but i dont think its fair to put him in the same catagory as kimbo. i dont like lesnar because he hasnt, in my eyes, earned his shot at any kind of title (hes fighting for ufc HW title in nov.). i think he hasnt fought enough people and he hasnt proven he deserves a shot... yet. seeing him fight, hes proved he CAN fight. obviously kimbo can fight, but he never was and never will be an mma fighter. while kimbo and lesnar are both overhyped... lesnar has shown signs of being a good mma fighter. lesnar would destroy kimbo.

sucks for elite xc, no matter what they say about kimbos loss... this will hurt them. they should just be glad they werent stupid enough to put kimbo against arlovski.