EliteXC: Heat proved to be one of the most interesting and circus-like events in recent memory.
This was the third installment of EliteXC's version of MMA on CBS. There was a lot of buzz leading up to it and a whole lot more after the weigh-ins the day prior to the event.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching weigh-ins. Gina Carano had to get naked behind a very poor makeshift towel wall in order to make weight. Nobody except for Carano minded. She was obviously embarrassed throughout the entire process and she left onlookers wishing they had a hairpin trigger on their cameras.
Paul Daley then decided to get extra close with Jake Shields during their stare down, which was more amusing than intimidating for Shields. There was reportedly a skirmish between the two camps behind the curtain shortly thereafter.
The fun did not stop there. Ken Shamrock and Kimbo Slice both took the stage and Slice decided to turn his back on Shamrock while posing for photographers. This prompted Shamrock to shove Slice in the back and another brief melee ensued.
I was wondering to myself how the actual event was ever going to top this.
- B/R Ticket Guide
The night of the event I was thrown for a loop right off the bat like everyone else when I learned that Ken "The Most Dangerous Man a Decade Ago" Shamrock had suffered a cut and would not be able to fight Kimbo "Don't Call Me Kevin Ferguson or Fergie" Slice.
A UFC outcast (0 - 2 record in the UFC) and former TUF alum named Seth Petruzelli would be moving up from the under card to take on Slice in the main event. Seth who?
We learned that Shamrock had to be taken to the hospital to get six stitches. He suffered the cut above his eye during a sparring session earlier in the day. Personally I have never heard of such a thing. What kind of sparring was he doing exactly?
After the on air announcement Shamrock's brother Frank, one of the three broadcast team members, decided to comment on how Ken had officially shamed the good Shamrock name.
Really, Frank? I think he did that a while ago when he decided to stop winning fights and keep fighting into his 60's. Please don't tell me that a Ken Shamrock vs. Frank Shamrock is in the works.
Overall, the fight card was pretty solid (for an EliteXC card). Below is a record of my random thoughts and reactions following the five main card fights.
Benji Radach vs. Murilo Rua
Result: Radach via TKO (Round 2, 2:31)
This was the first televised fight of the night. Radach was introduced as having a background in "face-mashing fu." Stay classy EliteXC.
Rua seemed overwhelmed by Radach's standup the entire fight and frankly he hung in there a lot longer than I thought he was going to. He took some big shots. Radach was constantly pressing forward and putting pressure on Rua. This most certainly brought a smile to Dan Henderson's face, who was in Radach's corner for the fight.
Did someone from the broadcast team say that Radach had "Anderson Silva-like striking?" I will try to pretend I never heard that.
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about 1 month ago
I always enjoy reading your articles. A couple responses:
Don't you think the ref stood Andre and Roy up too quickly in the 1st round?
After watching Jake Shields do you really think he is still a top 5 welterweight. I cant see any way in which he would survive against GSP.
That said maybe he could hang with Thiago Alves, John Fitch, Josh Koscheck, and Diego Sanchez. I have my doubts though.
I would love to see Paul Daley and Thiago Alves in a stand up war!
from about 1 month ago
Yeah, I thought the ref probably stood andrei and roy up too quickly but it's his judgement call and I was okay with it.
You're right about jake shields and GSP. Shields would be in trouble. You can probably say that about every other guy at 170 in the world though.
I'd take shields over fitch and koscheck in a heartbeat, probably diego too. I want to see what he looks like against alves first though. Alves would definitely give shields problems with his aggressive striking, strength, and solid ground game. I'm anxious to see alves fight GSP if he beats diego.
from about 1 month ago
The ref stood Andrei and Roy up WAY too quickly. This was a severely uneducated ref, which is one of the pitfalls of going anywhere outside of Nevada and California. Nelson was working for a kimura and the ref kept telling him to improve position! He was working for a kimura, there is no NEED to improve position! And as soon as he lost the kimura, the ref stood them up. This was HORRIBLE reffing at it's finest.
Of course, nothing should surprise me from EliteXC anymore.
about 1 month ago
Here's a random thought about EliteXC's most recent installment: IT SUCKED.
about 1 month ago
GREAT READ
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