Most people expect Elite XC’s second event on CBS dubbed “Unfinished Business” set for this Saturday, July 26 to draw less ratings than the record breaking network debut on May 31. Count Pro Elite CEO, Doug Deluca, among them.
Here’s a snip from the head honcho:
“We certainly are managing all of our expectations. It is summer. And we did have a number of good PR items going for us on the first event. It was the first event on primetime network television. That alone drummed up a huge amount of press for the event and a lot of people were interested in seeing. But, look, I’m confident in our fight card. I’m confident in mixed martial arts and I’m confident at what we can do at EliteXC in terms of producing events and our PR team is second to none. So we’ve got a lot of press for this event as well. We understand the numbers might not be as big as the first time, but (still) we’re all expecting to do some good numbers. I really couldn’t tell you what a success is, or what a success isn’t. I’m just looking forward to putting on the best event possible and getting as many people out to watch it as we can get. But, you (know) some people were interested to see what Kimbo would do. Those people tuned in as well. If you watch the viewing patterns, people came and the momentum just kept building and building and building and nobody left. So I think it speaks volumes to the fighters; it speaks volumes to the sport.”
It’s hard not to agree with that last part.
Kimbo’s starpower and intrigue without question had a lot to do with the success of the first “Saturday Night Fights” event. Actually, it was pretty apparent that was the case because the ratings steadily climbed throughout the night and reached their peak during the Miami natives fight.
However, it’s likely several of those fans who tuned in just to see Kimbo may have been won over by the back-and-forth battle between Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith. In fact, Elite XC is probably banking on that and hopes those same viewers will tune in for the rematch as well.
But at the same time, it can’t expect record numbers each time out.
The real test will come during the third installment on CBS. That’s when the network executive and Elite XC officials will know if they had a one hit wonder with the first show, or if they have something from which to pull consistent numbers.
Elite XC apparently understands that, to. Its well aware that a solid (not spectacular) show needs to go down in Stockton this Saturday … and it’s very possible that can happen. But, the promotion is also gearing up for a huge show in October for its third CBS event.
We know Kimbo and Gina Carano are expected to be on that card. And that’s huge because both are big time draws for big time different reasons.
In addition, Frank Shamrock could be healed up and ready to fight somebody. He’s talked recently about wanting a shot at the winner of Lawler and Smith. It looks like that’s a real possibility for this October card.
There’s also a pretty big lightweight fight that fans are begging for between champion, KJ Noons and fan favorite Nick Diaz. It’s only a matter of time before that rematch happens. Why not on CBS in October?
Or what about a man named Eddie Alvarez? It shouldn’t be forgotten that the only fighter to go undefeated in the 2008 DREAM lightweight grand prix tournament is under contract with Elite XC. Maybe he’ll make his network debut in October as well. Heck, maybe he’ll fight Noons for the belt.
Who knows?
The point is there are plenty of options for Elite XC to make this October CBS event the best of the bunch. I’m not even mentioning Paul Daley, Joey Villasenor, Ninja Rua, or some of the other stars on Elite’s roster who could be competing.
Or the possibilities of a light heavyweight title fight, a welterweight title defense, or a heavyweight title defense … the possibilities are endless. The pieces are there, it’s up to Elite XC to put it together now.
It’ll be interesting to see if anything is announced or talked about during the show on Saturday.
43 Comments »
yeah yeah…and yeah! say what you want…
“i’m first!”
I think that slowly, EliteXC is getting a better and better roster. I think this show will be a very solid show, and in October thay will probably have a stacked event. Gotta love Competition in mma!
I am a HUGE Eddie Alvarez fan but we NEED to see DIAZ vs. Noons, because If Noons fight Eddie, Eddie will destroy him, take the title back to philly, which will make the Diaz/noons rematchg loose some of its luster.
since Tim Sylvia isnt signed exclusively to anyone. I would like to see him Fight BigFoot at the EliteXC october show. That would be a great fight between 2 Giants!
john , out of curiousity, do you think BigFoot could take Couture? If nothing other than sheer size and strength, I’m thinking he just might be able to.
THats a great question and its hard to answer because BigFoot is so up and down. Sometimes he looks unstoppable, other times he looks mediocre. It would be a good fight. On a good time, Silva has the ability to destroy Couture, standing or Via submission….But on 1 of his slow days, Randy would have a good shot at winning the fight.
BigFoot still lacks consistancy so it is hard to say. I guess it all would depend on what BigFoot shows up the actual day of the fight. but He does have the tools, size, and athletic ability needed to defeat Couture. I think he would be a top notch UFC HW fighter….Has he been fighting at 265 lbs? or is he still fighting at SuperHeavyweight, like when he fought Cabbage?
His last 2 have been at HW
Boardrider: why r u even on this site? U came on here, posted that you were 1st, and didnt even try to make any points about mma…..U didnt even comment again on this thread!
Find a chatroom to play in!
Cut n Paste job…Its a good read! Dana has a “NEW Special Announcement”:
If replaying one of the best Pay-Per-Views of the year free on Spike TV weren’t enough, Dana seems to have one more trick up his sleeve. Do you remember what happened last time Dana White said he had “a special announcement”? Do you recall how much media attention that garnered? Well he’s done it again. Tonight on UFC Unleashed, a commercial aired that said during the cable TV premiere of UFC 84 this Saturday night, “UFC President Dana White, will be making A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT“. Oh man. This guy is a genius. Trust me, this is no coincidence and not happenstance. This is a carefully calculated marketing ploy by Dana White himself to take attention (and viewers) away from Elite XC on CBS and put it on the UFC on Spike TV.
The obvious next question is, what will the “special announcement be?” I’ve quit trying to guess these announcements. I’m always wrong and never ever close. But if someone else were going to guess, they might say Dana’s big announcement will be, “Zuffa has purchased the IFL. They re-signed Tito Ortiz to another contract or….Anderson Silva is moving up to Super Heavyweight.” I will say this to Dana’s credit: every time he says he has a big announcement, it usually is very significant.
Anderson moving up to superheavy weight would be way to obvious.
no this will not work again… the last time he had a special announcement everyone thought it was something huge and all it was was one of the fertitas was comming to the ufc… he lost all his luster right there noone will tune in for another let down announcement… if he would have made a big one last time maybe but he blew it so who cares.. i’ll wait till monday to find out
it will probably be another LAME announbcement by Dana. My guyess is that he will announce is purchase of the IFL….Whopppidyy Doo!
Kory, I agree, I just saw the commercial last night, and I felt I should pass it along to you guys to get a laugh at how, NO ONE will GIve a CRAP!!! Dana cried Wolf 1 time too many, and now whenever he says he has a big announcement, no 1 believes him! U reep what u sow!
I am curious….when Mania puts up the thread for Dana’s announcement, will ANYONE post their predictions for it? Not me. Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me 2,3,4, 5 times? I’ll tell you to suck it.
True that!!
I love Dana, and you know im one of the biggest “pro-Dana” maniacs around this site, but I have to agree 100% john..I will never get my hopes up for his big announcements because they are never fullfilling to how hyped they get.
It is obvious Dana knows the attention these “announcements” get, so, No doubt he is planing on that “news” to help the ufc84 showing, to compete agianst EXC.
My guess is the IFL purchase aswell. But to keep it original, and not just use your guess, I will say he is announcing a new sponsor..-whoooooo Cares?-..
UFC 84 was great, but I will be watching the EXC fights on CBS.
yeah, atthis point, i wont be shocked if its another sponsor. Like you said, who the F cares? I just thought I would throw it out there because I saw the commercial last night….No reason for everyone to start speculating because like Chefdaddy said “Fool m,e once, shame on me…..”
Its funny7 to me that nobody really seems to care anymore. Dana cried wolf 1 time to many, I dont see the news even getting a lot of coverage on the internet.
I wont watch UFC 84 saturday because I prefer a free, new, EliteXC card, but I cant wait to find out what BS announcement Dana tried to pull on us to get us to hate on EliteXC…..Pathetic DANA!!!!
I thought they bought IFL two weeks ago. Or was that just speculation then?
he’ll probably announce that ufc 89 is gonna be free (no new news). maybee he’s gonna move it to oct 11 to counter afliction, but those are big maybees. i’m with ya’ll its probably just another dud that wont matter to the fans at all. to bad i’ll be watching jake shields, nick diaz and lawler/smith 2 to see it. i’ll just have to wait for the replay of the fight or find out on the net. good info though JOHN.
all i saw was very bad calls from the officials and a rigged kimbo match
i guess you saw the NJAC control the outcomes of all the fights rather than the fighters… but that is MMA for you.
Early stoppages, rigged fights, chicks getting their faces smashed in, and big, old, fat, white version of Don King doing anything for screen time = bye bye elite xc
I know a few people have said that they have seen a lot of ads for this, but I have to say that I am not one of them. I have not seen any press for this even at all, and most of the people that I know have completely forgot about this card after the UFC and Affliction shows. It seems that their 2 biggest stars are Gina and Kimbo. Kimbo is going to be a problem, because eventually they will run out of cans that are bad enough for Kimbo to beat.
*even = event
The only place I’ve seen them advertise this or their first event was on CBS, which is pretty standard procedure for promoting broadcast television shows.
After the way Brett “Grim” Rogers dogged Mimbo after the first event, Mimbo pretty much has to fight him. Then it’s good-bye Undefeated Internet Street-Fighting Sensation. If Mimbo fights anyone else besides Rogers then we’ll all know that Mimbo is just being fed cans for sideshow value.
kimbo sucks is all anyone found out.. i watched just to see gina the first time i won’t lie
http://www.friendproject.com/games/game/20186/Soccer-Ball.html
that game is more intriguing to me then another kimbo fight
I’m with you on that one. I hate women’s MMA, but I’ll watch every Gina Carano fight.
Gina should consider Jell-o wrestling.
I hear that Gina is fighting Kobalt (I forget her 1st name) from MInnesotta, its not a definite, but right now she is believed to be the front runner!
I am pretty sure she is fighting the winner of the female fight tomorrow, and it will be for the first Elite XC women’s title.
It will be another nail in the coffin of EliteXC. This next card on Saturday will be good (I will not watch because I refuse to support EliteXC or give them ratings), but they are still done. Hopefully Diaz and all the other few good fighters they have will jump to the UFC, Affliction or Dream.
as long as your not a neilson home, you watching it wont affect the ratings at all. im with you on the irst show, i was just as disgusted, but it seems cbs is tring to do away with all the things they did the 1rst time around. gary shaw is in the background, no more long entrances or rappers/dancers, much better fighters this time around. you might want to rethink your boycott for at least 1 night, but if you dont i cant say that i blame you.
If Chuck Norris was a Neilsen home the show would automatically get a 100 rating.
LOL!
u said it,the ufc needs nick and nate both in the ufc…elitexc is a complete joke,,,nick is 1 of my favorite fighters so i will keep turning to it jus to watch his fight then by by
if cbs wants good ratings every time for a mma show then shell out the money for ufc and give dana full control then cbs u will have ratings every time
considering elitexc had majorly good ratings the first time i highly doubt they will want out of the contract although they know the ufc can bring in much better ratings they don’t wanna spend the money and lose what control they do have ya know?
and nick won’t last in the ufc because he likes fighting whoever whenever and in whatever promotion and you know how dana white is about that
Article poster: You might mean “RIFE with possibilities”. Look into it.
This card looks more like an MMA show and less like a freak show. I’m sure the production will turn it into a freak show again, though.
I am curious on how much time they are going to give Kimbo to train before they put him in the ring with Grimm Rogers. I can’t wait to see Kimbo loose…
That depends on how long it takes Scumbag Shaw to drive Grim out to a few shallow and unmarked graves in the desert outside of Las Vegas and explain how it would be in Grim’s best interest to lose to Mimbo.
It’s a good time to be an MMA fan. A good time to be a poor MMA fan too. UFC free on Spike. Elite XC free on CBS. And WEC free on Vs. Now Fox SN needs to air Affliction events for free. At least they could air Affliction:Banned for free just before the next Affliction PPV to build interest.
I don’t understand all this UFC, Elite XC turmoil… I just love to watch people get their face smashed in. lol So Why choose one over the other? Thats why I got TiVo baby!!! I watch it all and love every second of it. Good fight, bad fight it just don’t matter fighting is what its all about right?