We’re about one week away from Elite XC: “Heat,” which will air next Saturday night on CBS, featuring a main event fight between Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock — it’s perhaps the biggest event in the history of the organization.
In the meantime, the eighth installment of the monthly Showtime “Challenger Series” known as Sho XC is set to go off live from the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif., tonight. The Showtime telecast begins at 11 p.m. ET and will feature five main card bouts.
For the first time ever on a Sho XC card an Elite XC world title will be on the line when jiu-jitsu stud Wilson Reis meets King of the Cage Bantamweight Champion Abel Cullum for the right to become the company’s first featherweight champion.
There are several other intriguing match ups taking place on the main card. To get you ready for those, we’ve dissected each fight and came up with some quick-hitting analysis and predictions.
Check them out below.
Wilson Reis (5-0) vs. Abel Cullum (11-1) for vacant Elite XC featherweight title
Reis has earned his place in this title fight. He’s very young (24 years old) and inexperienced ( only five pro fights), but he’s been very impressive in his three fights for Elite XC.
Here’s a snip from Reis:
“I have grown up in a hurry in the cage and this is my chance to show how much I’ve developed. My last three fights have all been against fighters with more experience. But it hasn’t been a problem yet. Cullum is a legitimate fighter with a lot of experience, too. This is going to be an excellent fight. The fans are going to love it. I am going to take him.”
Cullum is a replacement for the injured Bao Quach who had some facial injuries and couldn’t compete. He’s been fighting professionally for three years and already has a legit title with King of the Cage.
The knock on the Brazilian is that he doesn’t have very good stand up. Nobody can argue that his ground game isn’t solid, but he has yet to stop an opponent with his striking.
Cullum, on the other hand, has demonstrated the ability to end fights with his striking, as well as boasts a strong submission game to go along with that. He’s a tough, well rounded fighter.
Here’s what he had to say about his opponent:
“I want to break Reis, take the fight out of him. You do that to someone, it makes you feel good. I can see it in the eyes.”
Wilson Reis is a beast at 145 pounds. He’s short, but he’s lightning fast and very strong. Plus he is one of the best jiu-jitsu players on the Pro Elite roster. As long as he can keep the fight on the mat, he should be able to control Cullum and wear him out for a late submission or a decision.
Prediction: Wilson Reis via unanimous decision
Shane Del Rosario (4-0) vs. Carl Seumanutafa (4-0)
This should be an awesome fight.
Both of these guys are bangers and know how to finish fights. Other than Seumanutafa’s debut lasting to the second frame, neither of these guys have had an opponent last through round one.
Sure, a case can be made that both fighters haven’t necessarily faced great competition, but nonetheless, these guys have finishing power.
Del Rosario is a blue chip prospect, but Seumanutafa seems like the meaner, tougher guy. My money is on him in this slug fest.
Prediction: Seumanutafa via technical knockout in round one
Matt Makowski (3-0) vs Erik “Bad” Apple (9-1)
This fight has a ton of potential.
Makowski put a beating on Nick Serra at the fight CBS event on May 31 in Newark. He’s an athletic, well rounded fighter with a nice stand up arsenal. He used a lot of kicks and knees against Serra.
Apple is well rounded, too, and has a decent resume. His only loss is to Brock Larson, which is nothing to be ashamed of. Plus he has a little bit more experience. He’ll be a tough out for Makowski, but Matt really impressed me in New Jersey. I think he gets his fourth win here against a quality opponent.
Prediction: Makowski via unanimous decision.
David Douglas (3-1) vs. Malaipet (3-2)
This will be Malaipet’s first fight since being disqualified in the main event of Sho XC 5 after repeated illegal elbows to the back of Thomas Denny’s head.
He’s an accomplished Muay Thai fighter and obviously has a strong stand up game. He should get a chance to show it off against Douglas who also likes to bang.
This fight could end up being the most exciting on the card because it’s anyone’s fight. Malaipet is top notch with the Muay Thai, but Douglas is an absolute animal — I think he’ll be too aggressive for Malaipet and overwhelm him.
Prediction: David Douglas via technical knockout in round two
Givanildo Santana (11-0) vs. Jaime Jara (19-5)
Santana is known as “The Arm Collector” because 10 of his 11 wins are from armbars all in the first round. He’ll look to add another to his collection tonight, but he’ll have a hard time finishing Jaimie Jara in the first round.
Jara is the more experienced fighter and he’s high on confidence having only lost once in his last 16 fights. He knows Santana’s strength is his submission attack. I think he’s seasoned enough to be able to defend that successfully.
Like Rampage said, “You can’t be a one trick pony in this sport.”
I think Jara either gets a knockout or wins by decision.
Prediction: Jamie Jara via technical knockout in round three
The action begins at 11 p.m ET tonight on Showtime. Don’t miss it!
9 Comments »
On the subject of ProElite:
I would like to turn your attention to a very important matter that will be coming up in the next couple of months. The FREE AGENCY of Gilbert MelendeZ. Gilbert is a legit top 10 lightweight with only 1 fight remaining on his ProElite (strikeforce) contract. I BEG Dana white to do what he has to do to get this kid signed to a 6 fight UFC contract. There are endless DREAM fights avaiable for Gilbert in the UFC and I have been wanting to see the Ceaser Gracie boys in the UFC for a while now (Nate Diaz is the only 1).
From an interview I read with Gilbert he seemed to really want to re-match Ishida and Thompson who are both signed to strikeforce but it also sounded like he wanted to accomplish bigger goals. He did not mention what the bigger goals where but fighting in the UFC would seem to be a good guess.
What’s Beef? Beef is when a top fighter like Ishida signs to a strikeforce contract for like a measly $1,400 per fight! U r telling me Dana couldnt have made him a better option? Ishida, like Arona is tailor made for the UFC!
Gilbert is a Strikeforce fighter, which has nothing to do with Pro Elite. Two totally separate promotions that are forced to co-promote a certain amount of times because of a dispute that involves Frank Shamrock.
Mania: So which companies are ProElite? Just EliteXC and Cage Rage?
No Matter who Gilbert’s checks are signed by. His next employer HAS TO BE Dana white! I have wanted to see him in the UFC since his rumble on the rock days! Get this kid in the Octagon ASAP!
I agree john…I like Melendez a lot and I was disappointed with his last performance. He didn’t look like himself. He was slow and just didn’t fight with any sense of urgency at all. Here’s a quote from Gilbert about the UFC.
“There’s a big chance,” he said about possibly landing with the UFC. “That’s an organization I’ve always liked to be a part of and a lot of the guys in there I would want to fight. A lot of those guys motivate me. It’s motivating to test yourself in front of the world. That’s the most motivating thing about going to the UFC is that you really get to showcase yourself.”
El Nino would make a great addition to the UFC and the matches are endless for him. I know he wants to avenge his loses to Thompson and Ishida but there are bigger fights for him in the UFC.
Thanks for the quotes Buster!
Does anyone else’s TV say that this is on from 11-12??? It can’t only be an hour with 5 televised fights????
Mine says 8-10 on the west coast, but on east coast showtime.
It doesnt make sense that both Ishida and Misaki both got paid 1400, you know that there is more to it then that . Gotta remember when these figures are released that they are only what was required by the promotion to report, and are not always what the promotion paid. There are lots of different ways to pay fighters that arent reported to the comission.
This is a really exciting card featuring a lot of prospects. Should be real fun to see.
Most of the GracieFighters fight for EliteXC, so it would actually make sense if Gil signs with EliteXC or the UFC. David Douglas fighting tonight is a Cesar Gracie fighter, so you may actually see Shields and Gil there tonight.