Original Article at Rear Naked News
The last time EliteXC held a show on CBS, I typed in "EliteXC" into the search engine on CBS.com to find out the official name for the event. It returned zero results. Two days before the event and zero results.
Well, earlier today I decided to see if CBS had changed things. This time, it brought back 2 results, although the first link simply brings up the main page and the second is just the weekend TV listings. Again, this is a terrible sign for EliteXC.
I went ahead and chose the dumbest sounding new show on CBS and did a search for it. The Mentalist brings 3,405 hits. EliteXC is about to do their third show on CBS and they are 3,403 hits behind The Mentalist. The Mentalist!!!
Why aren't there videos on CBS.com with EliteXC footage? I have always been shocked at how poorly MMA promotions stock their websites with content, but EliteXC missing out on a chance to show their product to millions of viewers each day on CBS.com makes me want to scream.
Kimbo Slice videos regularly draw thousands of hits a day on Yardbarker. That is a site with no where near the volume CBS.com sees. Exclusive Kimbo content would not only help EliteXC, it would also drive numerous MMA fans to CBS.com, a site they almost never think about visiting.
It is missed opportunities like this that have caused EliteXC to be within an eyelash of folding.
(Rear Naked News will have Live Results for EliteXC Heat this Saturday night. The Live Blogs are always a lot of fun. They are different from every other MMA website. You will not only get the play-by-play, you will also get my live and unfiltered take on the event: the fights, announcers, fans, entrances, everything. They end up being epic-sized posts when they are finished, but it's always more interesting to follow along with the show.)
Murilo Rua vs. Benji Radach
I'm still not quite sure why Rua was passed up for a shot at EliteXC Middleweight Champion Robbie Lawler. Instead, Joe Villasenor will face Lawler on Nov. 8. Nevermind the beating Rua gave Villasenor a year-and-a-half ago.
I guess Villasenor's big win over Phil Baroni impressed the EliteXC brass. Rua was the man Lawler defeated to win the belt, and it's not like the first fight was a cakewalk. A rematch makes sense, but with EliteXC, you have to suppress the urge to think logically.
It probably boils down to money. Maybe they are worried about Rua winning back the title and asking for more money. Or maybe they are just idiots who have no idea what they are doing. As far as this fight goes, Radach has not fought in nine months and he will be making his debut with EliteXC.
It is tough spot for him to succeed. Rua has more experience in big events and better overall fight skills. Like his brother, Mauricio, he can win a fight in numerous ways. I think Rua will be happy to stand with Radach.
He will look for an opportunity to take him down following a clean strike. Despite Radach's solid wrestling ability, Rua will get the fight to the mat and work from the top. Do not be surprised if he ditches the offense and looks to tire Radach out in the first round.
Conditioning questions have followed Radach around for most of his career. I believe Rua will land a big shot in the second round, get Radach down, and finish him with a flurry of punches and elbows.
Murila Rua Wins By Second Round TKO
Andrei Arlovski vs. Roy Nelson
Some are trumpeting this fight like it's Liddell/Couture IV. While I think it will produce some stand-up fireworks, it lacks the drama of seeing Arlovski going toe-to-toe with another Top-10 Heavyweight.
It's too bad Affliction dropped the ball and did not in touch with Josh Barnett. Nelson should go right at Arlovski and try to bring him out of his comfort zone. If this fight turns into a technical boxing match, Arlovski will pick him apart from the outside.
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