EliteXC Primetime - Colossal Kimbo?

Size of the Fight, Size of the Marketing

2008. may 31.




Introduction

Mixed martial arts clearly became a significant form of both mass entertainment and - as Bruce Lee put it - an expression of the human body, the latter being, no doubt, the original field of operation of these ancient traditions, now living and breathing through competitive events around the world. Though many may consider men who enter the proving grounds little more than hired human pitbulls to rip each other apart for hard cash and radical amusement, I tend to utterly reject this rudimentary view, concluding that professional level mma is the combat of highly disciplined human spirits, opposing each other for the duration of the bout, probably ending up as unified in the process as we could conceive, simply through their magnificent shared experience of being in a cage where the damage one suffers is the wit one failed to exhibit. That is how, in my opinion, the mma fighter fights against herself/himself.

Japanese people compete to gain an insight of their own current abilities through the collision process of their skills with that of other's. To me, the ultimately glorious moments of mixed martial arts are not of those of KOs and submissions. They are of those of hugging the formal rival at the end of the bout, circulating the most honest, uncompromised, pure respect each fighter deserves simply by stating themselves on the proving grounds, regardless of the results. The ensuing peace between fighters after a good collision is such a palpable, legit sensation that it never got old so far - and won't ever will.

This here is a review of the EliteXC event EliteXC Primetime May 31, time to punch that Read more button, baby!

Introductory thoughts about the more significant lineups

- with BONUS notions about EliteXC marketing strategies -

Now that EliteXC has former internet sensation now-professional level mma fighter Kimbo Slice in it's warrior roster, it remains a question if the ex-street fighter is ready to face top level competition, or must he familiarize himself first with a wider array of mma tools beyond knocking the hoile spirit out of someone for a brief, yet sticky period of time. Remember EliteXC Street Certified? Kimbo destroyed Tank Abbot there, a victory he claimed his second professional mma triumph with. Though Tank remains both a pioneer of the sport and a significant persona to enrich proving ground vibes with, his game essentially boils down to one punch kills: something he got famous for, and something he chose to stick around with as primal instrument of destruction. This is all cool, in my opinion, the fact though that Tank becomes relatively yet painfully out of place, dare I say: clueless as soon his devastating introductory shots do miss: is not that cool.

Tank is not an mma fighter, he is a human nuclear bomb who Smashes All that and whom his fists connect with via full impact, but, when they do NOT connect, then it is very unlikely that the Tank will amaze you with his diverse skill set in the clinch or on the ground. Tank is not the kind of fighter who comes to introduce tactics, let alone an elaborate gameplan: Tank comes to reveal a dimensional gate in anyone's face fool enough to enter the proving ground with him. Yet, now that I have seen some fights with him, I think it is safe to say that though Tank indeed possesses senseless nuclear power in his fists, he does not enjoy struggles. Tank comes to kill you with one punch, if this not succeeds: then Tank already have lost something. The image have been damaged, and here is why: Tank not only dislikes struggles in which he has to gain the upper hand, the worst of all remains that he does not look good and does not perform well in struggles, either.

Thus this warrior comes to destroy his rival in the first five seconds, if this plan fails, then the cause of this failure probably is that the Tank himself got stopped. That is what happened in EliteXC Street Certified and frankly, this is probably what the EliteXC wanted to happen, which is of course an OK.

Now Kimbo has a sequence in his highlight real knocking Tank out silly, thus the former internet sensation claims a trophy for himself that undoubtedly has a special meaning to it. As one dimensional Tank's game might be, he, in my opinion, remains a face you WILL and MUST remember from mma, yet I stick to my opinion that Tank Abbot needs serious, seeerious work on his versatility if he plans to compete on on the professional level. Imagine a warrior with Tank's punching power and a solid clinch/ground game.

- EliteXC marketing notion 1. -

Check these marketing magic tricks the EliteXC operates with. By the night of the Kimbo vs Tank fight, ( - EliteXC Street Certified, please don't click on the ads) James "The Colossus" Thompson battled with Brett Rogers. I have already voiced my opinion how I absolutely LUV the little gesture the Colossus makes to greet opponents and the crowd before his bouts. Now I might have found the solution: don't you think he got that from Scorpion's harpoon special move from Mortal Kombat? Check carefully and inform me if it is where the term "geek" ends at or is it where it starts at?

Anyway: Brett Rogers kicked The Colossus's ass. Now, what should happen next? You would say that Rogers moves on to claim a chance against Kimbo, yet the organization chooses to collide Kimbo with the LOSER of the Rogers vs Thompson bout. This is actually a very smart thing to do, as it throws The Colossus back in the top EliteXC mix: if he wins, he solidifies himself as the Kimbo Stopper, and Kimbo should do battle with Brett Rogers. Everything is cool for everyone, including the audience. If The Colossus loses, then Brett Rogers finally emerges to challenge Kimbo. Notice how the act of colliding Rogers with the internet sensation makes no fiscal sense by the period: a nice decision that builds on three fighters as opposed to getting away with only two of the trio.

And a - bizarrely - co-main event: current EliteXC Middleweight Champion Robby "Ruthless" Lawler emerges to render a title defense against challenger Scott "Hands of Steel" Smith, an mma veteran who usually puts up passionate, decent fights against his opponents prior getting choked out. Notice how Kimbo's phenomena weighs in more than some casual, semi-undercard title defense herein.

Gina Carano vs Kaitlin Young

Ladies first, and this was my first female mma bout. I mean, the first I saw, not the first I took part in. To tell you the truth, I never thought that women should not do this sport, and here is why: women who consider themselves both keen and capable to knock each other around certainly do possess both the desire and the will to fight. Even better: Gina Carano actually looks quite pretty, yet gives Kaitlin Young a stable, integral beating nevertheless. Credit for the aforementioned rival who informs us how she kind of likes to beat people up, kind of nice to familiarize yourself with a subject matter you kind of like, indeed. A brief period in which Young goes for a successful takedown is of note here, apart from this impressive move she utilized though - a move she can not redeem to punishment, as Carano exhibits stone solid ground defense - she has not much to deliver against Gina. Some nice leg kicks are of note, yet the higher variants remain inaccurate and sloppy. Kaitlin Young's roundhouse kick is the grimmest blaming of roundhouse kicks. Carano dominates the proving ground this time around with a superior and more courageous standup, keeping both the pace and her rival to bend according to her will. The second period comes to a conclusion with Carano trying to claim a tapout out of Young who collapses as result of a nice straight kick Gina throws quite a few of, finally connecting pretty much full impact. The bell saves Young from a submission, yet she is declared to be unable to step into the third period due to the damage she suffered in the first two rounds.

Brett Rogers vs Jon Murphy

The massive Rogers is closing on on Kimbo Slice, no doubt, as he scores an impressive one minute KO in the first round over Jon Murphy. Though Brett's rival manages to connect with a nice uppercut which momentarily dazes the massive competitor, he grows - in my opinon - semi-emotional and crushes Murphy with the relentless opposition he exhibits firstly at the fence, wrapping it up with a right hand that connects firm and clean on Jon's chin. When asked whether he is ready to face Kimbo, Rogers states that he is ready to face whoever the organization puts in front of him, and I bet this is the answer you and me wanted to hear. One thing is for sure, though: in my opinion, Rogers does not want to get emotional against Kimbo, because Kimbo has way too much experience in THAT game. Probably has the most of it in among all professional level mma competitors.

Phil Baroni vs Joey Villasenor

Phil "The New York Badass" Baroni still has the body of a demigod but also comes to this bout on a losing streak composed of three losses. Joey Villasenor, on the other hand, is on the rise, last time we saw him in was EliteXC Strikeforce Shamrock vs Le where he scored a knockout victory over Ryan Jensen. Baroni needs to get his stuff together, I am telling you that: he has a brilliant moment right in the very start,getting a hold of Villasenor's leg which he used to throw a high kick. The New York Badass puts Joey to his back and unleashes some of his good old trademark ground and pounds abilities, but fails to keep Villasenor on the ground, even eats in a hard punch in the debating process. They end up at the fence where Joey manages to soak in an arm to choke some essential gas out of Baroni - the punches Villasenor follows up the choke attempt with do leave a badly damaged and massively fatigued New York Badass behind whom Joey Villasenor disposes of hastily, effectively.

Robbie Lawler vs Scott Smith

The co-main event delivers both highly memorable moments introduced by two passionate competitors, also, as we will see, the EliteXC marketing monster is among the audience. Call me paranoid later please, when I will share my view with you on the unfolding events that we are about to account on now. A nice feelings out process start this one out with mutual respect tangible between the warriors. The first round is characterized by Smith's impressive head kick to influence the Champion's head, yet Scott's entry to move in for the kill proves to be either early or not quite ruthlessly stated - more probably: both. Lawler gains an upper hand in the ensuing exchange, throwing more accurate and more devastating attacks than his rival manages to. Finally Robbie throws two vicious body kicks in a consecutive fashion that do claim a toll on Smith's composure - the first round comes to a conclusion with Scott effectively crumbling to his corner via the - quite appropriately - ruthless beating he got administered with at the fence.

You got to admire Scott Smith's fighting spirit: he comes back intact and turns the second round into a back and forth stand up battle with highly successful attacks introduced and suffered by both warriors. It is actually Smith who appears to perform more accurately, punishing Lawler by sly, little elbows that do come out of nowhere yet they do deal damage on the Champion. The round gives you two heavily fatigued fighters and the scent of approaching drama in the air, the scent that is always a pleasure to greet.

The third period delivers a Lawler with the initiative at his disposal, yet the jabs he throws so keenly do connect with a diverse efficiency factor, let alone how Smith emerges to introduce some furious charges from time to time, these are moments he is able to score some convincing shots from. Lawler probably grows unsatisfied with how the round would turn out if the progress this way all the while, thus he goes for a takedown, which is though ends up as an unsuccessful attempt. Then the good old controversy kicks in: Lawler accidentally sinks his fingers in Smith's eye when trying to block. Pause, check on by a ring doctor. Despite that two minutes after the accident Scott claims that he is ready to go on, the doctor decides to put an end to the match, making it a no contest bout as it was scheduled for five five minutes rounds.

Please notice this, and call me paranoid: there is no way one who have seen this match would miss out a second collision between Lawler and Smith, and I go the feeling that this very idea have occurred to the EliteXC decision makers, too. Why wrap a confrontation up with two more rounds when you can sell it as a full price attraction one more time soon? Scott Smith WAS able to continue, but the organization comes off better this way, having an attraction to deliver soon that fans can't resist to buy their tickets for. Urge to do so is even greater now, and that is what EliteXC hoped for and nicely accomplished, too. Memorable match nevertheless, and do not we forget that EliteXC President Gray Shaw payed full salary + bonus for both warriors. Something for something, you got to buy a stoppage. At the end of the day, the organization delivered a very nice match, also a match it was that started to build anticipation factor for an inevitable second variant of it by the moment it was stopped.

Kimbo Slice vs James Thompson

I was fond of the Colossus by the time this bout have started, now that it reached a conclusion, I am a fan of him. James Thompson pushes Kimbo to the limit AND beyond via wrapping the second round up by a ground and pound period The Colossus subjects the internet sensation for for a length of steady, stable two minutes. A memorable match, even a memorable opening period: Kimbo does a great job connecting with his trademark punches, and let us notice the replays: these are the scenes in which you got to see what the warriors are actually going through. Look at that uppercut - left hand combination Kimbo punishes The Colossus with. In real time, it seems "just" a punch but take heed at the replay what kind of punch those are, not to mention how Thompson eats in a whole series of those.

First and foremost, credit for Kimbo as he didn't look THAT bad initially when he was forced to the ground, though The Colossus eventually took him to parts the former street fighter was not particularly familiar with, nevertheless his training with mma legend Bas Rutten is of evident significance, also it is something that fortunately starts to show. Kimbo is not entirely uncomfortable on the ground anymore, he even has a nice reversal in this match, espacing and countering a situation in which The Colossus were going for a choke.

In fact, it is Kimbo himself who "takes himself down" with a strange maneuver very reminiscent of Jake "The Snake" Roberts's - yes, naturally, the WWE phenomena - finishing move, and this is the maneuver which leads Kimbo wide open for a very lengthy ground and pound assault Thompson unleashes on him. Though Kimbo is hardly anxious to go on after the bell, - heck, there is a moment in which you wonder in if he can stand up at all - you can not refuse to appreciate the determination he exhibits after that thorough, old fashioned beating he took from this giant man, let alone that the internet sensation comes back relatively integral for the final round. I am pretty sure that many would have quit.

The third and concluding period indeed delivers a conclusion. There is much you can tell about The Colossus, having the most beautiful left ear God's creations could have ever witnessed is: not one of the accusations Thompson would have to fear of, though. Kimbo damages the puffed ear which starts to bleed heavily, and it is but a question of the consecutive strikes that convinces - in my opinion, absolutely legitly - Referee Dan Miragliotta to put an end to the contest. True, Thompson was still defending himself and he was still in the game, though heavily assaulted and dazed. But why, why, why would you let a fighter permanently damage another one? That is what could have happened, as you can clearly see that The Colossus is in utterly grave danger in the moments Miragliotta steps in. I agree that he is STILL in the game - but the price he pays for being in the game is too much to pay. Yet another strike to that damaged ear - which Kimbo have planned to land, as he states - and The Colossus could have fall for good. Better this way, much better this way. Thompson is unhappy with this decision and even expresses this, fortunately Miragliotta proves to be a very sober Referee and it does not even occur to him take The Colossus's reaction that I hinted at into consideration.

As usual, Kimbo looked and proved to be very dangerous in the stand up, yet it was the first time we have seen him in evident desperation due to the deficits he currently suffers from concerning his ground game and general versatility. The fact that Kimbo exhibits a willingness to wage war on the ground is a very pleasant development to encounter though. After the match the internet sensation looks so excessively fatigued and immensely used up that it is very hard to not feel sympathy for him. Just some weeks ago UFC President Dana White claimed that Kimbo would be murdered in the UFC, yet they are ready to negotiate with him as soon as he beats someone credible. Whether they consider The Colossus credible is an interesting question, as well as how much Kimbo worths for the EliteXC. Addendum: The Colossus had some immense success in Pride! and in other organizations but his record is not very impressive at the moment - 14 wins and 9 losses after the Kimbo collision. Nevertheless excessive credit goes for Thompson whom we will see soon again, hopefully. I truly can't wait to see the dude score a win finally, I think he deserves it, especially after this passionate, persistent performance he put up against Kimbo.

It was a very memorable night that delivered but a few matches, but all it delivered had the respective special appeals to them, in my opinion. As a UFC fan stated in Quebec via a transparent:

It is not the size of the dog in the fight, it is the size of the fight in the dog.

A truly nice notion of which this night gives truly sober, yet similarly passionate understanding of. Hope you had a fine evening and found the review useful - thank you for reading it, and see you next time.

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