Elite XC, MMA's Next Sinking Ship

Look past the fact that they're seeking additional funding to make it through the year.  Look past the fact that a bunch of their top executives have jumped ship.   However one thing you can't look past is the fact that  Elite XC's event on October 4th is a make or break event for the embattled company.

While their network television debut on May 31st was a success ratings wise their sophomore effort flat lined, even though it had both better production and higher quality fights.  If having two championship belts on the line couldn't bring in viewers perhaps bringing back their two best known fighters can.

Internet sensation Kimbo Slice and "the face of women's MMA" Gina Carano are tasked with bringing back those viewers.  However the question still remains, was the May 31st event's success due to the fact that it was the first MMA event on network television or because it featured both Slice and Carano?  While Slice and Carano are definitely a draw, the extra media attention surrounding the first event couldn't have hurt.

If Elite XC wants to prove that Slice and Carano can bring in the viewers they might want to announce some opponents for the two fighters, or at least add the event to their upcoming events page.  There's plenty of speculation regarding who these two will fight but with only a little over seven weeks to go the actual opponents need to be named now, not later.

One of the biggest promotional tools available to Elite XC is totally free.  The discussion and debate that begins on message boards, chat rooms, and in article comments once opponents are named.  Fight fans love nothing more than to point out the flaws in one another's picks and fight breakdowns.  Kimbo Slice vs. TBA just doesn't work the same way Kimbo Slice vs. Brett Rogers does, it's as simple as that.

Over at the UFC, folks who know a little something about running a successful MMA organization one can find the full roster of fighters for UFC88, Ultimate Fight Night Diaz-Neer, UFC89, and the fighters for the three main bouts of UFC90.  Obviously the UFC sees the merits in announcing its fights well in advance of the actual events.  If you're looking for proof just look at the discussion surrounding Anderson Silva vs. Patrick Cote, the main event at UFC90.