MMA mailbag: Rants and raves

I'm pleased that a mixed martial arts card has finally been broadcast on a legacy television network. I'm pleased that the rating was good. And I'm pleased that, despite all the glitches, the fights weren't bad.

But I'm just disappointed that the first MMA card ever on a legacy TV network didn't include the two bouts from Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday.

Miguel Torres stopped Yoshiro Maeda at the end of the third round of their WEC bantamweight title fight in what, in my mind, is the frontrunner for Fight of the Year.

And in the card's main event, WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber showed another side to his game, outstriking a brave Jens Pulver over five rounds to retain his belt.

If those two fights had been shown on CBS on Saturday, I guarantee the sport would have thousands of new fans Sunday morning.

But Saturday's card generated significant amounts of email, so I'll delve right into your questions and comments. My answers are in italics.

LIKE PRO WRESTLING

Hi, Kevin. I, too, was looking forward to this event. I felt it was time this truly pure sport was seen by the masses. I had never seen Elite XC before. All I could think of was pro wrestling. CBS wouldn't give Dana White total control over the content, so they didn't go with the UFC. Big mistake. The WEC would have been a better choice, also.

Gary French
Westminster, Vt.

The fights weren't bad. The ridiculous entrances and the dead time between fights was. Let's hope Elite XC and CBS officials fix that before their next card.

BLACK EYE

Thank you for the extremely well-written article about a debacle of a sports spectacle. Your words reflected my opinion of the event, which to me was a black eye to the sport of MMA.

Gian Christian S. Tenorio
Guam

I had no problem with CBS' open, which took plenty of time to explain the game to new fans. But it was the stuff after that which bothered me. Why take so long for Baroni to get to the ring? If they had gotten the fighters into the ring during the commercials, they might have been able to show a fight or two from the non-televised undercard.

KIMBO TAPPED

I agree with you completely about the Elite XC event on CBS. It was one of the most boring and long lasting MMA event I've ever seen. The best fight of the night was the Gina Carano fight. I wish the UFC or WEC would get a women's division and take Gina from Elite XC. The Kimbo fight was given to him. If you watch the fight again (like anyone would want to), Kimbo tapped out in the first round, but the ref let it go. In the second, Kimbo was warned to defend himself but didn't and the ref once again didn't stop it. I kind of hope that they do air another one on CBS, but learn from the UFC and WEC how to do them. They also need to get an MMA announcer instead of a boxing one.

Joe Getchell Jr.
Pittsfield, Maine

I didn't think Kimbo tapped. A lot of people whom I respect say they thought he did, but in my view, he did not. The biggest problem, in my opinion, is that the fight was stopped way, way, way too soon.

PAID OFF

You and the other guy who covers MMA for Yahoo! Sports must have a financial interest in the UFC, because both of you can't find a decent thing to say about CBS. Considering the situation, I think the show was a success. The great fighters are under contract elsewhere and can't go on Elite XC. The main event was designed to get people to tune in. Kimbo Slice was not there as a showcase of great MMA, he was there as a circus attraction to get people to watch the show. And those people who tuned in got an eyeful of great MMA from Gina and the middleweight title fight. I agree, the pace of the show was too slow and unprofessional and the fight with Kimbo was not a crisp and clean as many other fights; but make no mistake, Kimbo Slice is a giant payday for event organizers, just like Tank Abbot used to be. Furthermore, Kimbo endears himself to the public with his candid and personal statements. Kimbo Slice may never be a champion, and he may never have more than a puncher's chance against elite competition, but he is good for the sport. People talk about Kimbo around the water cooler. I have never heard anyone talk about Anderson Silva, or GSP at the office. With Kimbo and that cutie Gina as the faces of MMA on CBS, people will be talking and tuning in and actually learning about the sport.

Sean Noel
Atlanta

No doubt, Slice and Carano are going to bring a lot of viewers each time they fight. But you wonder how many folks got turned away by what they saw Saturday?

TIMING IS STUPID

I do not think CBS made a mockery of MMA. You never know how long a fight is going to last, so your comments about how much action there was is just plain retarded to say. You sit down to watch MMA and boxing knowing that fights can go all 12 or 3 or 5 but the most don't and that's why we watch. I disagree with you that CBS fouled up the show. I loved all the fights and would love to see more.

Dillon Jones
Colorado Springs, Colo.

Based on the early ratings – my colleague, Dave Meltzer, reports on his Wrestling Observer web site that the final number is expected to be a 3.0 to a 3.3 – you will get to see more, Dillon.

NOT ENOUGH FIGHTING

You nailed it right on the head. CBS made a complete mockery of what so many have worked hard to legitimize. They focused more on glamour and glitz than on the actual fighting. It resembled more of a WWE event than an MMA card. CBS did damage to MMA's reputation in a few hours that will undoubtedly take months to repair. How many people are going to think MMA is a joke after watching those fights? If Kimbo Slice is CBS' biggest draw, I see an imminent end to Elite XC. I wouldn't have paid a nickel to watch any of those fights. Luckily, they were free. I'll stick with the real talent at the UFC and WEC.

Jon Gergely
Eau Claire, Wisc.

Even though Elite XC's talent pool isn't close to the UFC's, my issue Saturday was not fighter talent. It was in the extraneous things that were done which took away from the fights. I'd have been more pleased had they eliminated the walks down the ramps, cut the pre-produced interviews in half and then shown additional fights.

BARONI WAS AWFUL

I am in total agreement with you. CBS made a sham of the sport and its production standards smack of the early days of pro wrestling. To see Phil Baroni come into the ring like he did made me wish he would have taken an even more brutal beating than he did. I hope CBS loses many millions on this debacle and let's hope the UFC gets a chance to mainstream a real professional show.

Rick H.
Detroit

MMA fans have long sought to escape identification with the WWE, but that's what the CBS broadcast seemed to emphasize.

DISGRACE TO REAL FIGHTS

Thank you for writing this article. They made a mockery of MMA and slapped fighters like Georges St. Pierre, B.J. Penn, and Anderson Silva in the face for saying it was MMA. It looked like UFC had a drunken one-night stand with WWE. It was disgusting, as a long-time true MMA fan, to see that spectacle of a show and main event. CBS, as well as Elite XC, should be ashamed of themselves. My dad, who doesn't watch MMA, saw the main event by accident when tuning in to watch the 11 p.m. news. He was laughing at how pathetic it was. This is the kind of idea they give the novice viewing public. Sunday's WEC fight card that featured a featherweight title fight between Urijah Faber and Jens Pulver, put the Elite garbage to shame.

Nick D.
Los Angeles

As entertaining as the Faber-Pulver fight was Sunday, the Torres-Maeda fight put it to shame. It was that good.

CHANGE DOCTORS

You got it right with your MMA commentary. The only thing I would add is that I hope CBS finds another venue that doesn't have a ring doctor who comes into the ring looking like a worried mother. A couple of fights, including that last mess, were stopped too early.

Rick
Allentown, Pa.

I think everyone was gun shy because the fights were on CBS, including the commission. The doctors were very jumpy and I felt there were a number of early stoppages.

KIMBO SHOWED SKILLS

Where do you think you get off talking crap about Kimbo Slice? Even though you probably won't consider this, in my opinion Kimbo displayed decent fighting skills considering how inexperienced he is in MMA. I want you to meet up with Mr. Slice in the cage and see what's up. Maybe he couldn't beat a world champion, but he has only had like three MMA fights. I give it two or three years with the kind of training he seems to be doing, as well as his determination, to be looked at as even more of a legitimate fighter.

Nicholas Burnis
Manistique, Mich.

I agree that if he keeps working hard, he has a chance to be a decent fighter. I've written that in numerous columns. But Saturday, can you honestly say you believe he would have beaten any decent heavyweight?