Maybe not, but I was impressed by their show this evening on Showtime. All of the fights, while not monumental in any way, were very watchable and entertaining. The talent pool isn’t nearly as deep, but if they can continue to produce solid cards, and maybe snag a few quality fighters here and there, I think they could actually be some competition for the UFC. (Granted, I don’t really know much about the business front of things when it comes to EliteXC, I remember hearing something about it being somewhat affiliated with K-1 is some form, which probably isn’t so great.)
The addition of Stephen Quadros to the commentating line-up is a definite plus also. Even though he has about as much energy and charisma as a bowl of paint chips, he knows his stuff. However, with Bill “I’m not doing anything to improve anyone’s opinion of pro wrestlers” Goldberg still rambling incoherent non-sense most of time, it might not really make much of a difference. God, please make Mike and Bill Goldberg go away. There is no reason we should have to listen to these two chuckleheads babble on when neither really have anything worthwhile to add to commentating.
I thought Ninja/Lawler was a pretty weak effort on Ninja’s part. Ninja seemed to come into the fight like an 8 year old on sugar-coated crack and his strategy was kick Lawler in the leg, get tired as soon as humanly possible, and wait for Lawler to knock most of his teeth out. Lawler just waited for him to gas, then finished it. Why Ninja tried to stand with him is beyond me. Had he spent any of that energy on a few take down attempts and keeping the fight on the ground, be would probably still have a belt.
Diaz/Aina was close, but I think the judges picked the right guy to win(for once). I don’t think Diaz was really in any danger. Aina threw everything he had at him and nothing seemed to rattle him, save for the one punch in the second that knocked Diaz down, but he seemed pretty unfazed by it as he rolled to his back immediately and invited Aina down to the mat. And had the third round been five seconds longer, Aina would have got caught in an armbar. Diaz also seems to not be a huge asshole anymore, which is both surprising and admirable.
Gina Carano can full mount me anytime. Provided of course Mauro Ranallo hasn’t already “touched that with a 25cm pole” first. Something tells me Mauro isn’t quite up to speed on his metric/english conversions, or those male enhancement pills really do work.
*Interesting tidbits I noticed:
UFC pads when the camera was in Lawler’s dressing room at the beginning of the show. The camera zoomed in but they were still in the shot. I bet the director or cameraman(or both) got their ass chewed for that.
Mauro calling the cage an octagon and then saying he hopes he doesn’t get sued. Along with several other “shots” at the UFC.
When Lawler was pounding Ninja at the very end of the fight, you can see one of the ring girl/cheerleaders going nuts in the background, then one of her fellow booty shakers grabs her by the arm and pulls her back into her seat as if to say:“Sit yo crazy skank ho ass down!” with a pissy look on her face.