So Kimbo Slice is the next great fighter?
According to Elite XC he is.
The street fighting legend who became a household name because of his fights on YouTube and his rags-to-riches story was victorious in his third MMA fight for Elite XC. In the main event role, Slice was a sure lock for interest and ratings for the struggling MMA company as it not only broke through on the national stage for the first time, but represented the entire sport on it's quest for mainstream recognition.
In a fight which seemed right out of the book from Don King's manual, the entire night was built around Slice's fight, his background, and his merits. From the pre-fight interviews and introduction, to the announcers excitement for every Slice haymaker and jab, the night almost seemed disrespectful to the fighters that have learned honed the MMA honor and discipline for years. In what was MMA's breakthrough night, the entire sport laid rest on the back of a two fight, internet sensation.
On the other hand, giving Slice his due, he does put rear-end in the seats and eyes on the idiot box, which must please Elite XC officials. However, for a sport which prides itself on being "real" in more ways than one, and eliminating the politics and fluff that has ruined boxing, Slice's match did more harm for the entire sport than good.According to Elite XC he is.
The street fighting legend who became a household name because of his fights on YouTube and his rags-to-riches story was victorious in his third MMA fight for Elite XC. In the main event role, Slice was a sure lock for interest and ratings for the struggling MMA company as it not only broke through on the national stage for the first time, but represented the entire sport on it's quest for mainstream recognition.
In a fight which seemed right out of the book from Don King's manual, the entire night was built around Slice's fight, his background, and his merits. From the pre-fight interviews and introduction, to the announcers excitement for every Slice haymaker and jab, the night almost seemed disrespectful to the fighters that have learned honed the MMA honor and discipline for years. In what was MMA's breakthrough night, the entire sport laid rest on the back of a two fight, internet sensation.
The fight which saw Kimbo dominated on the ground, including a 30 second period of ravish forearms to his head, yet only to win because of a popped cauliflower ear reeked of fabrication and marketing. Despite a great display of women's MMA, Elite XC's sheer poor representation of the sport and production of a marketing gimmick in Slice did nothing but set the sport of MMA back a few steps.
Although, MMA kingpin and UFC President Dana White must have been happy to watch the terrible production of rival Elite XC, a part of him had to cringe as he watched the sport being maimed Saturday night before a national audience.