Kimbo Fight on CBS
Elite-XC to Air Show on Network Television May 31st
Elite-XC is the first installment of CBS Saturday Night Fights. The Fightcard will feature Street Fighting legend Kimbo Slice.
Elite-XC will make their cable television debut May 31st from Newark, New Jersey as the first installment of CBS Saturday Night Fights. Gary Shaw, a notorious boxing promoter and brain-child behind Elite-XC has followed the basic handbook for success laid out by the UFC. But there are obvious differences and Elite-XC is certainly trying to reach a new audience, or atleast a broader audience. Elite-XC, which has been featured on Showtime, have recruited a different type of fighter. Not necessarily the top fighters, but some of the most well-known fighters and fan favorites.
For example, the brash, and always entertaining Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett has been a regular on Elite-XC's Showtime fight-nights. Although he did compete in Pride and have exciting fights, he was never a top contender, but did create a following and a fan base, based on his antics and fighting style. In addition, the Elite-XC have attracted big-name has-beens such as Frank Shamrock to be the poster-boy for their new company. One of Elite-XC's most recent aquisitions is Online-Street-Fighting-King Kimbo Slice. Slice's medioric rise to fame came thanks to a streaming bare-knuckle brawl in a backyard. Slice, a former bodyguard, decided to capitialize on his internet popularity and has entered the world of mma.
To this point, he has been babied along, given fights he certainly should win, such as his first sanctioned mma bout against over the hill, out of shape, former boxing contender, Ray Mercer. Elite-XC has done a great job of exploiting his popularity without exposing any of his weaknesses, having him fight no-bodies, and popular fighters with no legitimate skill such as brawler Tank Abbott. But now they are finally taking off the training wheels. Kimbo's next fight is May 31st live on CBS against established former Pride Contender James Thompson.
This will be the first true test to see if MMA Legend Bas Rutten has transformed Kimbo from a street-fighter, to an mma contender. Thompson, a 6'5 265 lb. beast is a threat to dethrone Kimbo before he reaches the mountain top. Since Kimbo burst on the internet scene in 2004, interested observers have followed his every move, believing he could be the next Mike Tyson. Instead of taking the logical boxing route, Kimbo decided to throw his hat in the mma game, despite no ground fighting experience. Kimbo probably knew he would be taken seriously quicker in the growing sport of mma, and therefore make more money in a shorter period of time.
Even with Bas Rutten in his corner, we have yet to see Kimbo's mma prowess. Everyone should tune in for this night of mma fights. A kimbo loss would completely ruin his image and mystique, while a KO win on cable television could make him a super-star. This Elite-XC show has the opportunity to help mma reach new heights, and establish the Elite-XC as a legtimate player on the mma circuit.
