EliteXC is No Threat to UFC (Yet)

Sorry about the long layoff folks. But we're back with updates from the world of MMA.

EliteXC made it's network television debut Saturday night with a terrible production of fights. It appears they have the talent in the organization but it's no threat to the UFC at the moment and Saturday's display was evident.

It was marred by controversial stoppages, poor commentating, and horrible reffing. On top of everything, Gary Shaw, the EliteXC president, couldn't keep his mug off the cameras for more than a minute. He's taking a huge page out of Dana White's book.

On to the fights:

For the first time in his professional MMA career, Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson was tested. The centerpiece of EliteXC's network debut was in a battle with British veteran James Thompson.

The event was the first live MMA event ever to air on major U.S. network television.

Despite an 11-fight undercard that resulted in a few controversial outcomes, the 8,033 spectators at Newark, N.J.'s Prudential Center were there largely for Ferguson, who moved his professional career record to 3-0 with the victory.

However, unlike his previous two fights, which lasted a combined 62 seconds, Ferguson's clash with Thompson was far from an organized street fight. Thompson repeatedly put the 34-year-old on his back, stung him with punches and elbows, and in the waning moments of the second round, tested his resolve with an extended ground-and-pound assault.

After the event, Ferguson admitted he that he's far from a polished and complete MMA fighter, but he's also not about to overlook the progress he displayed during his fight with Thompson (16-9), a former PRIDE fighter who's now lost seven of his past nine fights.

I got his big ass off of me, didn't I?" Ferguson asked.

The fight, of course, wasn't without controversy. Many watching the event, including media members in a post-event press conference, questioned the referee's decision to stop the bout while Thompson was still standing. Ferguson blasted Thompson with an early-third-round punch that popped open and bloodied the Brit's ear. However, Thompson was already wobbly before the blow and showed no signs of recovering anytime soon.

Also causing a few raised eyebrows were referee Dan Miragliotta's sometimes-hasty decisions to stand the fighters soon after the action hit the mat. Those stands-up, some of which came when Thompson was in clearly favorable positions, almost always benefited Ferguson. However, few referees are immune to the crowd's desires, and what seemed to be a largely casual fan base repeatedly called for the fighters to be restarted on their feet. Additionally, despite the stellar position, Thompson wasn't always able to do much with it.

A humbled Kimbo Slice admitted he's got a lot more work to do but was in good spirits afterwards.

In the night's co-main event, EliteXC middleweight champ Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith provided a mixed bag for viewers. At times, the bout was electric as both fighters threw punches and kicks with abandon. However, a slow start to a fight largely considered the night's unofficial main event had many fans growing impatient.

Lawler took the first round on aggressive striking and sent Smith staggering back to his corner. However, round two was an incredibly close contest that bloodied both fighters and had each within grasp of victory. The final blow, though, wasn't one of Lawler's vicious uppercuts or Smith's big rights. Instead, it was an inadvertent poke to Smith's eye at the 3:26 mark of the third round. Lawler immediately apologized for the accidental poke, and officials rushed into the cage to check the damage. Despite his claims that he was OK to keep fighting, Smith was told he'd be unable to continue.

The crowd was irate with the decision, and the anger only intensified when New Jersey State Athletic Control Board representative Nick Lembo announced that the fight would be declared a no-contest. As he explained, championship fights require the completion of at least three rounds before the result can be determined by the scorecards.

Both Lawler (15-4) and Smith (13-4) were disappointed with the result.

"I wanted to go back out," Smith said. "I probably would have been knocked out, but at least I would have been knocked out in the fight."

In other action, despite a sad new level of criticism that was further fueled when Gina Carano failed to make weight for Saturday's event, the Prudential Center crowd was firmly in her corner come fight time.

In the night's lone female bout, opponent Kaitlin Young was booed lustily upon her entrance to the cage. Carano, meanwhile, was cheered mightily with chants of "Gina!" drowning out the pre-fight promos.

After a fairly even round, Carano controlled the second with a Muay-Thai-inspired assault of punches and knees from the clinch. A kick ultimately sent Young to the mat, and only the bell could save her from Carano's subsequent rear-naked-choke attempt. However, so battered was Young's face after the round that she was declared unfit to continue.

Carano (5-0), who was lambasted by her critics after she weighed in three-and-a-half pounds over the 141-pound limit for her fight, admitted that a hectic schedule had a major impact on her preparations for Young (4-2).

"I just came back from filming 'American Gladiators,' and I didn't really put my heart into the training the way I usually like," she said. "That kind of sucks, but [Young] is cool. She took the fight, and we moved on."

In the typical war of words that precede most Phil Baroni fights, Joey Villasenor proved to be a surprisingly worthy adversary. However, once the verbal jousting was replaced with the real stuff, it was Baroni who was no longer the game competitor.

After a head kick missed its mark, Villasenor opted to stand and trade with the notoriously hard-hitting Baroni. Villasenor, though, struck first, using a left-right-left combination to force Baroni to his knees. His prayers went unanswered, and the referee was forced to halt the bout seconds later to award Villasenor (26-6) a surprisingly quick victory over Baroni (10-10).