WWElitexc Save the Drama And Put On a Show

The Elitexc card this weekend was packed with good fights.  The only thing about watching Elitexc is the attempt at creating more excitement than is really there.

Elite has a lot of mid level fighters that they try and push as great.  For instance, they brought back Ron Waterman, who was really not all that impressive in the UFC early in his career. 

Now he is just an over the hill fighter.  He seemed slow and lethargic.  Then, they promoted the guy that beat him as a top player in the heavyweight division.  Everyone that has a decent showing they try and pawn off as the next big thing.

They have the dancing girls that are no more impressive as the Nitro Girls from WCW back in the day. 

I read an article published on here talking of racial issues having too much play in the MMA game.  At first, I was extremely skeptical, but after catching the replay of the Kimbo versus Thompson joke, I picked up on a lot of it.  Especially during the Joey Villasenor fight. 

The commentators made reference to his proud Mexican heritage several times during the fight.  You should promote the fighter by his ability, not where his family originated.  I for one found it quite obvious he had a Mexican heritage since his trunks were symbolic of the Mexican flag. 

Back to the card that aired this weekend.  The fights were all in all good, but the drama that seemed just a little staged to me at the end of the event was just ridiculous.  The champion was in the cage after an impressive showing against an experienced opponent Yves Edwards. 

Nick Diaz entered, and they had an exchange that the man doing the interview Bill Goldberg must have been proud of.  Everyone knows that the Champion doesn't promote the organization, but they had a big ordeal staged to draw attention for the rematch.

Wrestling is a popular "sporting event" mostly now because everyone knows it is fake, and it leaves more room for the theatrics that have made it what it is.  MMA fans tune in to see the competition between the fighters, not to watch this soap opera like performance. 

Nick Diaz running his mouth off about KJ Noons being scared and Noons pretending to go after him.  That was a joke, and I think that everyone saw through that from the beginning.

Then for the announcers to bring Karl Noons (KJ's father) into it was ridiculous and right out of the wrestling script.  Anyone that has ever watched wrestling knows about the second generation wrestler whose father happens to be in attendance, and they get him involved and now the father is ready to get back into action. 

Karl Noons was once a kick boxer, which the commentators pointed out as many times as they made sure everyone knew that they had fighters with a proud Mexican heritage the event before. 

One good thing came from this card.  They have stopped promoting Kimbo Slice as an enormous force in the sport. 

The fact of the matter is I tuned into Showtime to watch an MMA event not to see girls doing a dance step between fights, not to watch the drama unfold, and not to hear them promoting the replays of boxing matches that have aired previously on Showtime. 

I don't see Elitexc ever coming out of this slump.  In fact, I think it will only get worse overtime, but fans will keep tuning in and writing good reviews for the fights and bad reviews for the attempt at showmanship. 

The fights were good but not at the caliber of the UFC, so they promoted the UFC fighters that were in attendance.  They were there because they are in a training camp with a fighter that is competing, not because they wanted to be part of the circus.