In spite of a few mindless protests about Elite XC's network television debut, CBS is fast-tracking another Saturday night prime-time broadcast to air on July 26th. The tiffany network was more than pleased with an average of 4.85 million viewers and a peak of 6.51 million.

You wonder what outrageous claims will be made this time around by the out-of-touch 50+ crowd that pollutes the cable television news channels. My favorite was Bill O'Reilly guest Jane Hall likening MMA to public executions.

According to Josh Gross of SI.com, the next Elite XC event could be in the St. Louis market (Uh-oh, St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bryan Burwell won't be happy).

The main event will be a rematch of Scott Smith and Robbie Lawler.

Gross says:

According to EliteXC Vice President Jared Shaw, Jake Shields' opponent for the newly created 170-pound title will be determined this week. Potential challengers include International Fight League champion Jay Hieron, former Bodog champ Nick Thompson, or

Former

MMARATED SPEAKS WITH MIKULA (CLICK TO LISTEN)

UFC heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski appeared as a security guard on The Jerry Springer Show back in September of 2007, now he’s a candidate to sit in one of those coveted chairs on The Springer Show stage.

Word out of Chicago this weekend says Arlovski got the ultimate kick in the groin when arch-rival Tim Sylvia was seen hanging with the Belarusian’s old flame Patrycja Mikula. Sylvia was attending the Adrenaline MMA show at the Sears Centre in Arlovski’s backyard.

Is this a WWE-style ploy to build to a fourth Sylvia-Arlovski fight? The angle has ‘Chris Benoit stealing Kevin Sullivan’s wife, Woman’ written all over it.

Is Mikula actually smitten with the 6-foot-8 ‘Maine-iac' Sylvia? Or is she using poor Tim as a pawn to get back at her old boyfriend? And is it cheesy for Sylvia to be scooping up Arlovski’s leftovers?

Mikula is actually more than a leftover. The big Russian had dated the Polish beauty for over two years. She gained

Unless you're writing for Family Guy, the answer is both.

In the battle between a Mixed Martial Arts League CEO and a blogger, the IFL's Jay Larkin and Fightticker.com's Pramit Mohapatra both come out as losers.

Though, we give the jerk edge to, Larkin, who WAS running a multi-million dollar corporation and once controlled Showtime's boxing division for 25 years. He should know better.

The scrap featuring insensitive and stupid jokes was launched by Larkin.

In an MMA piece by Portfolio.com, Larkin commented on a slow-paced MMA fight that he had witnessed:

'This isn't my idea of fighting," Larkin says of the world's fastest-growing spectator sport. "To me, two guys rolling around on the floor is tedious, like watching gay foreplay.'

Cue the rimshot!

This outraged Mohapatra, who demanded an apology from Larkin on behalf of MMA fans and the gay community. Unfortunately, the former Baltimore Sun and SI.com writer's request for an apology was a bit too vitriolic:

'Someone needs to get

Elite XC looks to be building a decent stable of heavyweights led by Brett Rogers and Antonio 'Big Foot' Silva.

After watching D-level heavyweight James Thompson (2-7 in last nine fights), nearly destroy Kimbo Slice during Elite XC's CBS debut, promoter Gary Shaw has to be careful about who he matches against his big meal ticket.

Check out Dave Herman mauling Ron Waterman, you'll see it's safe to say Kimbo won't be battling 'Pee Wee' anytime soon.

Waterman isn't much better than Thompson but he does have wins over former UFC heavyweight champ Ricco Rodriguez and Kevin Randleman. That said, unlike Kimbo, 'Pee Wee' didn't jerk around with Waterman into the third round.

Herman (11-0), 23 years old, is a legit heavyweight at 6-foot-5, 250 pounds.

UFC president Dana White said he had a big announcement on the way that would change the direction of the business over the next five years.

The hot rumors include:

• UFC getting clearance from New York which will lead to nationwide clearance
• The WWE's Vince McMahon and White are buying out UFC owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta
• Randy Couture and Fedor Emelianenko are facing off in the fall under the UFC banner

All appear to be untrue.

Randy wife's, Kim, appeared on ESPNRadio1100 in Las Vegas to dispel the notion that her husband will fight again for UFC:

'It's just amazing how all these rumors get started' said Kim Couture. 'People put whatever they want out there.'

Kim also said that she and Randy don't worry about when he'll be back in the ring or octagon:

'Me and Randy don't get involved in it. We don't even know what's going on with it. We let the lawyers handle it. We don't let it affect our lives. I assume they'll call us up when we're free and clear. He plans on fighting this

Nick Diaz is a tremendous fighter and you won't get a strong argument that he isn’t one of the best in the world between 160-170 lbs. But ask most if he’s a buffoon and there won't be much debate on that topic either.

The Stockton, California native solidified his fighting reputation with a 5-4 record in UFC that included quality losses to Karo Parisyan, Sean Sherk and Diego Sanchez. This was all before the age of 24.

His reputation away from the ring isn’t so hot. He tested positive for marijuana after his win at Pride 33 over Takanori Gomi. Diaz was suspended six months and fined $3,000 by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

He’s also had numerous run-ins away from ring. The most notable was his post-fight brawl at St. Rose hospital in Henderson, NV. The Henderson Police Department was called to the scene when Diaz and his opponent earlier that night at UFC 57, Joe Riggs, were going at it in the emergency room.

Diaz further stained the sport this weekend when he failed to make