EliteXC: Primetime Recap

Gus Johnson introduces us to "a new era in professional sports". *groan* He introduces us to his co-host, Mauro Ranallo. Together they run down the basic history and explaination of MMA. Of course what they don't tell us is the reason that CBS is broadcasting it tonight: MONEY $$$. We're then introduced to the third member of the broadcast team, Frank Shamrock. We then run a short video introduction for Shamrock. Shamrock attributes the birth of MMA to Bruce Lee, who wrote about its arival as a sport and entertainment juggernaut over 30 years ago. Shamrock warns us
that all these fighters can knock us out with one punch or put us to sleep with a chokehold. I'm about to be put to sleep now with all the talk.

We then cut backstage to earlier tonight as Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson and his camp arrive, then James Thompson. They give some details about how Ferguson's streetfighting videos hit the Internet and made him an underground superstar. We go to our first commercial, come back and cut to a pre-recorded segment educating the viewers on the basic fighting styles and maneuvers of MMA. We do some interviews and promos for other fighters, honestly I missed it because I'm also trying to deal with the server LOL.

Brett Rogers (263, 6-0-0) vs. Jon Murphy (260, 4-2-0)

Rogers is introduced with Busta Rhymes as his own personal emcee. The introductions are taking quite awhile. We're introduced to judges Romulo Bittencourt, Eric Colon and Douglas Crosby. Referee is Dan Miragliotta.

We finally get started with Round 1, Murphy with a kick to the leg, Rogers counters with a kick, they trade a few strikes and they clinch, Murphy puts Rogers on the cage, reversal by Rogers, putting knees in the ribcage, Murphy turns it around, they're staying clinched, finally move off the cage and break up, but they slug, Rogers with a right that cracks Murphy's chin and he goes down, GLASS JAW! Ref stoppage.  

WINNER: Brett Rogers, 1:01 of Round 1 by TKO (strikes). We interview Rogers in the ring, audio cuts out several times, I'm assuming censorship. On the replay we see Rogers hit Murphy with a clean right to the chin, and then catches him on the other side of the chin with a backfist. NASTY! Rogers is asked if he wants Kimbo Slice next, he says he'll take on anybody, this is now his full-time job. Off to commercial. We come back for some dancing, short teaser clips with Baroni
& Villasenor, and take another commercial break.

 

Phil Baroni (185, 10-9-0) vs. Joey Villasenor (184, 25-6-0)

A promo for Villasenor plays first, then he goes straight to the ring WELL ahead of his cornermen, no entourage. Promo for Baroni plays next, and Baroni is introduced next, he comes in not with a fight team, not with entourage, but wearing a GAWDY red robe and a pair of strippers. He does a dance on stage and highlights it by grabbing his crotch. He stops in the middle of the catwalk, takes off his robe, the strippers rip the
shirt off his back, and he finishes his strut down to the catwalk. He's sucking it up all the limelight he can right now. After TEN (10!!) rediculous minutes of ring introductions, we finally get to the IN-RING introductions. Fans are mixed as Villasenor is introduced, The fans warm up to Barnoi, especially when he's introduced as the "New York Bad Ass", much to the delight of the New Jersey crowd.

Baroni moves in quick, Villasenor tries a kick, Barnoi catches the leg and throws him to the ground, throws in the strikes, Villaseor kicks his way out and is back on his feet, to the middle of the ring. Baroni moves in and clinches, Villasenor trikes his way out to a break. Villasenor with a short right hook, Baroni staggers, Villsenor moves in and locks in a front face lock into a guillotine choke, into the cage. Villasenor eventually breaks as Baroni goes down, more strikes and Baroni is on the mat, ref moves in and stops the fight.  

WINNER: Joey Villasenor, 1:11 of Round 1 by TKO (strikes). Baroni is cut open over the bridge of his nose. We recap the action, we see that Villasenor actually tried for a gogoplata as Baroni started to mount him, very impressive. Mauro Ranallo descirbed it best, "The New York Bad Ass got smoked in a New York minute like a Cuban cigar". Villasenor is interviewed afterwards, he says that first he appreciates Baroni as an entertainer and respects him as a fighter. Recap the end of the fight, Villasenor gives up on the choke, he didn't think it was secure enough, but he knew he was short on breath and moved in for the uppercuts. Villasenor says he's now 3-0 in his last three matches, he'll be evaluating his next fight.

We take a break, and come back with Karyn Bryant with a backstage interview with Gina Carano earlier this evening. Carano admits she didn't have much time to prepare for tonight's fight, she fights in MMA though because she loves it. She's asked if she gets her fighting spirit from her father, Glenn Carano, a former Dallas Cowboys football player, Carano says she's actually more afraid of her mom. Bryant tells us that both
Carano and Young are Muay Tai experts and should be a great technical stand-up fight. As announced on Friday, Carano weighed in nearly five pounds overweight, and as such Young will receive 12.5% of Carano's fight purse as compensation, although Young had the option to walk away from the fight with 100% of her pre-fight purse given to her. We're off to another commercial.

Gina Carano (144, 5-0-0) vs. Kaitlin Young (140, 4-1-0)

Kaitlin Young promo airs first, then she enters the arena. Ranallo notes that Young made her name in MMA by winning an 8-person tournament in Evansville, IN by KOing all three of her opponents in a combined time of under two minutes. Carano's promo plays next, she enters, and all three commentators discuss the fact that "the face of women's MMA" has been focusing a little more on Hollywood, and note that she will have to split part of her purse with Young because she came in overweight. Kevin
Mulhall is the referee. LORD, they're introducing this as "special attraction women's MMA" match. FUCK, can't they just introduce this straight? Does it really matter that it's two women? They're apparently talented enough to be on the card, just leave it at that, for fucks sake! Both women get cheers, but Carano gets substantially more cheers from the fans. We'll see if her hype and perfect record holds up. We touch gloves
and here we go.

Carano with a left kick, another kick, right to the chest, Young blocks it off. Carano with a left and right, we get into it, clinch, Carano with the mount, Young moves into guard. Carano picks Young back up to her feet, they're cinched but quickly break. Carano with a left that misses, a right kick that misses, but a big right to Young that connects. Young with some kicks that connects, Carano is slugging and kicking, very controlled and methodical. Young sets up a pair of kicks, both connect, moves in and clinch on the cage, Young wraps Carano up and takes her to the ground. Carano tries to user her legs to control YOung's right arm. Carano tries to close guard, Young is fighting it off at 1:10 left in Round 1. Referee calls for them to start working. Carano releases, Young with a right and some kicks, lets Carano stand up, Young tries for a spinning heel kick, Carano with a roundhouse kick with 15 seconds left in the round, Carano is looking stronger here in this round, lands another right as the bell rings to end Round 1. We go through the highlights, both women landing a lot of solid right hands.

Round 2 starts, testing each other again with some swings and kicks, Carano with a right, gets her leg caught, Young drives her to the cage but Carano gets out and responds with some rights, Young with a right kick, and another kick, a high kick, anothe rhigh kick and a roundhouse kick, Carrano with a jab, she's looking winded. Young is sstarting to pick her shots more, connecting on most of them. Carano is dropping her hands, but suddenly Young is blinking her eyes, and takes a right in the
nose, Carano moves in, Young with the clinch to protect herself and close the distance. We finally get to the middle of the ring, Carano with a right, Young is swollen on her right eye. Young is backed up to the cage, Carano is slugging away, Young is trying to cover up, but she's still going, Carano with a left kick that puts YOung in the cage, Carano moves in, Young is bleeding. Carano locks in the rear naked choke, Young drops to her knees and covers up, Carano is trying to lock the choke in, 15 seconds left in the round, Young is struggling now, Carano locks it in but Young refuses to tap as the bell rings, ending Round 2! Young has a NASTY swolen bruise under her eye, close up we see she's cut open badly. The fight doctor moves in, examines and she the match is stopped.  

WINNER: Gina Carano, 3:00 of Round 3 by TKO (fight stoppage).  Carano is interviewed, she says, "I tried to go for a gogoplata? I think it's called that." TELL ME SHE DIDN'T JUST SAY THAT?? Oh lord, that looked REALLY smart. Carano says she was unsure if she was ready to continue into MMA coming into this fight, but she thanks God because now she knows she wants to continue on. Carano admits she felt sloppy in this match and needs to jump back on her training.

We go backstage to Karen Bryant interviewing Kimbo Slice. She asks what's the difference between "Kevin Ferguson" and "Kimbo Slice", he says he becomes Kimbo when he steps into the ring. He thanks his fight team for his training, he says he's not trying to prove anything early in his career, he just wants to have a good fight.

EliteXC Middleweight Championship:
champion Robbie Lawler (184, 15-4-0) vs. Scott Smith (184, 15-4-0)

Referee in charge is Dan Miragliotta, we play the video packages, yadda yadda God this is getting old, I just don't care for how CBS is producing this. Lawler is making his first title defense. We touch gloves and Round 1 is on.

They circle the ring, Smith with a pair of high kicks to start, Lawler shrugs them off. Smith with a spinkick, Lawler steps back. Lawler with a left kick and connects. Smith responds with a roundhouse kick, misses. Fans are booing one minute into the match. Smith charges with somne strikes, Lawler connect with a right, then moves in and starts connecting with some rights and kicks, moves in more and puts Smith on the cage,
Lawler backs up though. Smith with a kick, Lawler pays no mind to it, moves back in, Lawler with a high kick, 2:50 left in the match, fans are booing again. Lawler with a straight left that connects to Lawler, Smith with some rights, Lawler slugs back a few times. Smith with a high kick too the head that connects, a knee, Smith closes in, Lawler circle arounds and responds with some fists. Lawler with another kick, Lawler
with solid rights, not always connecting. Lawler moves in, clinches, rights, Smith covers up as he backs up to the cage, Lawler going with the jabs, but Smith fires back with strikes to take it back to the center of the ring. Lawler backs Smith back up to the cage again then backs off again. Lawler avoids a roundhouse kick, responds with a body kick that gets blocked. Lawler with another body kick and a right jab. Lawler is finding his rhythm as he gets Smith back on the cage again, Smith is protecing more than he's striking, but still keeping it toe-to-toe with 20 seconds left in the round. Lawler with a barrage ofkicks and punches, FLYING KNEE PUNCH PUNCH PUNCH LAWLER ROCKS Smith, bell rings and the ref moves in to stop the action.

Round 2 starts, Smith's face looks like hamburger already. Smith is striking more, but Lawler connects with a right in the middle of Smith's face, three punch combo and a kick by Lawler. Lawler with a left kick to the body, Smith is cut open on the bridge of his nose and under his eye, roundhouse to Lawler's head, blocked. Fans are booing again as they are positioning and feeling it out. Smith with a pair of high kicks and a
punch. Lawler teasing with the right, Smith with a pair of kicks to the legs. Lawler with an uppercut and a jab. Smith is looking tougher, moves in with a pair of knees that are connecting with Lawler's head, missed an uppercut, clinch, Lawler is on the fence, Smith is nailing the rets and rights, Lawler is just protecting, not answering. Smith is in control, but Lawler fires back with a barrage of lefts and rights, it's now a slugfest as Lawler clinches and puts Smith on the fence, Lawler working the body, 2:00 left in the round. Lawler with jabs and elbows, Smith with an uppercut, Lawler with a right hook and left bodyshots, lefts and rights by Lawler, Smith is backed up on the cage. Lawler eats an elbow to the face, another elbow, Smith trying to get of fthe cage, nails a pair
of rights and an elbow strike finally gets off the cage. Smith with elbows and elbows and jabs, Lawler firing with lefts and rights, uppercuts, Lawler has a cut on his forehead, or maybe its from Smith we can't tell they're slugging it out on the fence again, but back in the middle of the ring! Smith with a high kick that connects, more jabs, Lawler with body shots, back on the fences, they're slugging it out, neither man quitting, 10 seconds left, Lawler with lefts and rights, roundhouse kick that misses and the bell rings! The fans are now on their feet.

Round 3 and Smith starts with some kicks, looking more confident. Lawler with some rabbit punches, Smith not phased. Lawler takes a right jab from Smith, Smith with an uppercut, Lawler misses his uppercut. Lawler connecting with a few more jabs with the right, Shamrock says that he's setting up for the left hook. Lawler took the cut on the top of his head, although it's not bleeding. Smith with rights and a missed roundhouse but lawler backs up to the fence. Lawler turns it around and fires with a few elbows and left uppercuts. Smith brings it back to the middle of the cage, right kick to the legs, Lawler is now bleeding profusely from his head, a big red streak down the middle of his face. Smith with some left punches, Lawler with right punches, almost like they are taking turns. Lawler tries for the double leg takedown, Smith with a front facelock to

block, Lawler with a reverse waistlock and Smith gets out of it. Lawler jabs and accidently pokes Smith in the eye, and the referee stops the fight. Smith gets 5 minutes to recover, the fight doctor is in the cage to look at it. She is suggesting the fight is stopped, Smith tries to plead with them to let them go on, but that's it, the fight is over. The fans start a "BULLSHIT! BULLSHIT!" chant and boo, Smith and Lawler meet in the ring and hug, both of them are upset that the fight has been stopped. Shamrock says that both men looked like they had plenty of fight and were still ready to continue. Judge's scorecard sofar: Round 1 - 10-9, 10-9, 10-8 Lawler; Round 2 - 10-9 Smith, 10-9, 10-9 Lawler. Because the bout did not go three complete rounds, the official result is NO CONTEST, champion retains the belt.

New Jersey State Athletic Commissioner Nick Limbo said that Smith told the fight doctor twice that he couldn't see. EliteXC's boss said that these two men WILL fight again,
and BOTH men tonight will receive their fight bonuses! Lawler says that he's sorry that they couldn't complete the fight. Smith says that he did tell the docs that he couldn't see, but he wanted to use his five minutes to recover as allotted by the rules. Smith says that he thinks he broke his right foot during the match.

Lots of promos and time to burn (almost 20 minutes!) for the main event. I got busy trying to get updates on our downed server, so I missed them, not really interested. But now it is time for the main event!

James Thompson (257, 16-8-0) vs. Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson (235, 2-0-0)

Thompson enters the ring, HOLY SHIT he has some damn cauliflower ear! Ferguson enters next, no more promos beforehand, we're done with all that stuff, we're getting right up to the fight as quick as possible. In-ring introductions finally at hand. Dan Miragliota is our referee for the main event. Thompson is getting no respect, the fans are almost all behind Ferguson, and his reputation as an underground Internet star is played up HEAVILY during the intro. We touch gloves in the middle of the ring, bell
rings and Round 1 is on.

Ferguson moves in quick, Thompson quickly evades. Ferguson clinches, knees, Thompson is on the ground, Ferguson with a guillotine choke, Thompson puts him on the cage, Ferguson goes on his back, Thompson in mount, laying in some punches, Ferguson ins protecting himself well, gets back to his feet. Thompson with a double leg takedown, Ferguson with an elbow to the back of the head, gets away with it. Ferguson is in guard now, Thompson moves to side control, side headlock, Ferguson works his
way back up, Thompson with clinch puts Ferguson on the cage, they're battling for control 3:15 left in Round 1. Ferguson with knees, Thompson has positioned for the guillotine choke, Ferguson moves around and puts Thompson on the cage, knees to the midsection, but Ferguson is getting chokes, but he stops and gives a thumbs up. Thompson is cut open above his head. Thompson turns around, releases the guillotine, body lock, Ferguson with a big elbow and that breaks them up, they go back to the center of the cage. Thompson with a left jab, connects. Ferguson with a right punch, Thompson sideteps, Ferguson loses his footing but stumples into Thompson, takes him down, Thompson in half guard, Ferguson tries with a side slam, Thompson evades and mounts Ferguson! Thompson going for a crucifix with 1:00 left, maybe a kimora. Ferguson sweeps and flips Thompson over, Ferguson is in side mount, lays in some elbows, Ferguson looking for the Americana. 20 seconds left, Ferguson with elbows, Thompson wiggling out, Ferguson with a waistlock, Thompson is set up for
the Kimora, the bell rings and a good showing! "Kimbo Slice", for the first time in his career, can't finish his opponent in Round 1, but this isn't a bad thing, he's facing a much more experienced opponent and did very well. I can't wait to see how the judges decided on this one. Judges 10-9 unanimous for James Thompson.

Round two, Thompson tries a double-leg takedown, Ferguson blocks it, rocks Thompson with an uppercut, Ferguson shoots, knee to the head, right, right right, Thompson is not defending, Ferguson with the clinch, Thompson gets put on the fence, Thompson is defending now. Thompson shoots for a single leg takedown, Ferguson locks in a guillotine choke, they go to the mat, Thompson rolls and escapes! No Ferguson doesn't release! Thompson breaks it though, takes side control. Ferguson is
struggling with 3:30 left in the round, Ferguson is on his back, tries to roll, Thompson blocks it. Thompson throwing in some rights, but the referee stands them up. Thompson with a left hook to the jaw, but Ferguson with an uppercut, a right, Thompson is cut, he's not defending, punches to the face by Ferguson, BIG UPPERCUT FROM THE RIGHT LEFT RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT Thompson is not answering, but shoots, and hits a double leg takedown on Ferguson! Ferguson hangs on and it's almost like a DDT. Thompson in half-mount on top, trying to ground-n-pound, small punches to
the face of Ferguson. Slice isn't looking good with 1:30 left in Round 2. Thompson with small left punches to the head, neutralizing Ferguson's right arm and keeping it pinned on the cage. Thompson with left elbow BOMBS AWAY! Ferguson cannot defend himself, his arms are pinned down! Thompson is in complete control, Ferguson is getting pummelled but is not submitting, he's clearly lost here. Shamrock says that Ferguson doesn't know a basic hip escape, but he's hanging on to the bell. Round 2
scoring, 10-9 unanimous for James Thompson again. Ferguson MUST score the knockout or submission here.

Round 3 starts, Ferguson with a big right to the cauliflower ear, popped it!! Thompson is now looking rocked, REFEREE STOPS THE FIGHT! REFEREE STOPS THE FIGHT! Ferguson falls to the mat, he's blown up. We replay, once Ferguson popped the ear, he immediately moved in with jabs and rights, Thompson got rocked and was not defending himself, SIX unanswered punches that clearly had Thompson looking glass-eyed.  

WINNER: Kevin Ferguson, 0:38 of Round 3 by TKO (repeated unanswered blows).  Gus Johnson with the interview, Ferguson says that he thanks God for making it all possible, thanks North Jersey for the love. Ferguson says he didn't underestimate Thompson, but didn't expect Thompson to bring it as hard as he did. Asked about his performance, Ferguson says he still has a lot to learn. Asked whether or not he had Thompson beat, he says that he was glad the ref stopped the fight after popping the ear, because he was going to aim for it again. Ferguson says he's done talking and
walks off.

And we'll walk off into the sunset as well, and I've gotta see what's up with the webserver! LOL. Thanks for reading this report, we'll see you next time AngryMarks readers!