Elite XC Primetime

How could I possibly call myself a huge MMA fan and not blog about the first ever MMA event on live network television? You're right. I can't. So here goes.

James "The Colossus" Thompson (14-8) vs. Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson (2-0)
This one promises to be a real slobber knocker. I dont see either fighter wanting to go to the ground. Given the press surrounding this fight, Im sure these two guys will give the fans in attendance and the millions at home exactly what they came to see...two big men standing toe to toe throwing punches. Thompson is a huge man. At 6'5" and 265 pounds, I doubt Kimbo faced anyone with those dimensions on the mean streets of Miami. Despite being a huge underdog and losing his last two fights, he does hold notable wins over veterans Don Frye and Dan Severn. The knock on Thompson is his weak chin. Seven of his eight losses come by way of knockout. Kimbo on the other hand has a remarkable chin. Granted, he has not been tested by a top level fighter and still won't have been after this contest. Bottom line is, for the enjoyment of the fans and the good of the sport Elite XC needs to sign some top heavyweight talent so we can see if this guy is for real.

Prediction: Slice by knockout, first round.

Scott "Hands of Steel" Smith (13-4) vs. "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (15-4)

This fight will be for the Elite XC middleweight championship and should also be a standing affair. Of their combined 28 wins, 23 have come by way of knockout. Lawler has more notariety having fought on the big stages in the UFC. I honestly see this fight going either way. Whoever lands the big punch first will take it.

Prediction: Lawler by Knockout, first round.

Kaitlin Young (4-1) vs. Gina "Conviction" Carano (5-0)
I have to be brutally honest. I dont know a thing about woman fighters. Carano has the name recognition based on the fact that she is "Crush" on American Gladiators and she is being promoted as the face of women fighting. Any prediction here would be ridiculous on my part as I have never seen either one of these ladies throw a punch. Either way it goes, lets hope for a great display of MMA skills that brings positive attention to the sport.

Phil "New York Bad Ass" Baroni (10-9)vs. Joey "Smokin Joe" and "Dream Smasher" Villasenor (25-6)
This is my prediction for fight of the night. Phil Baroni is a very exciting fighter who is easy to hate. He is a loud mouth, pompous, arrogant guy....that I love. After a previous win in the UFC he climbed to the top of the cage and proceeded to yell, "IM THE MAN" 27 times in a row. He is exciting for one reason, he either hands out a beat down, or takes one. History says he needs to come out swinging as his record is 1-5 when the fight goes to the score card. Joey Villasenor however has quietly made a nice career for himself with a very respectable record rattling off a 15 fight win streak at one point in his career. He also holds the MMA record for fastest knockout when he dispatched Hank Weis in 5 seconds. Villasenor is well versed in submission fighting but also has knockout power. Look for him to score the take down and pound it out.

Prediction : Villasenor by TKO, second round

Jon "The Sherpa" Murphy (4-2) vs. Brett "The Grim" Rogers (6-0)

Murphy is a relative unknown heavyweight. He does posess knockout power with 3 knockouts in his 4 wins. Brett Rogers is also a devastating puncher with 5 fights stopped by way of knockout. His last fight was a win over tonights main event underdog James Thompson. This is another fight set up to be a slugfest.

Prediction: Rogers by Knockout, second round.

This should be a good night of fights. Elite XC has done the smart thing by loading the card with fighters that like to throw. Considering the average person tunes in to see the knockout, Elite XC appears to be giving the fans what they want.

In my opinion, this is the biggest MMA event in the history of the sport, not necessarily because of the fight card, but because of the fact that two of the sports most marketable names in Carano and Slice have a real chance to push this sport to the next level. I for one hope they deliver.

If you are a straight UFC fan, dont worry. Spike is running an all day TUF marathon followed by a Chuck Liddell special and then the Wanderlei Silva vs Chuck Liddell fight from UFC 79.