I’ve refrained from commenting on Kimbo Slice’s main event tussle with James Thompson for the mere fact that I had a premonition as to the absurd comments that other writers would begin making when it came to who likes Kimbo and who doesn’t. It seems that the blogosphere is beginning to become what many Chicago radio personalities and opinion-editorial columnists call “a haven for absolute crap rumors and analysis”. While I think my analysis has been fairly accurate over the years and it shows in my betting account, I do take offense to the assumption that hardcore fans are outraged that Kimbo will be representing MMA in this new era of network television.

Reading posts day in and day out and reading Wetzel’s rant about how Kimbo isn’t good for MMA right now, I’ve come to the conclusion that I really don’t care what happens with Kimbo Slice in the long run. Analyzing the current landscape of MMA, it continues to grow, but will stalemate without some type of progression in how it is perceived by the general public. Moving to network television is a step in helping others accept it as a legitimate sport. We can go through the numbers: deaths are lower, more skills are used, safety is first, and the list goes on and on for hours. The fact of the matter is that Kimbo Slice isn’t going to kill MMA’s chances of growth. Eventually, the UFC will make its way to network and put on a show in a more professional manner with some of the best fighters in the world at their trade.

While I’m not discounting the CBS and EliteXC can pull off that kind of show, I will say that I’m skeptical. However, I’m not going to bitch and moan about the main event between Kimbo Slice and James Thompson. People are writing long posts about how Kimbo Slice is horrible for this sport because of his appearance, his attitude, how he has had a low amount of fights, and how he hasn’t fought a single competitive fighter. Here’s a scenario…

CBS comes to you, asks if you’d like to buy some time on Primetime television, and you jump at the chance to get your promotion major coverage. At the time, Kimbo Slice just knocked out Tank Abbott and grabbed the largest gate ever for the promotion. What are you going to do? Go with your hottest product at the time coupled with other hot products (Gina Carano). Many fans act like they don’t understand why Kimbo is the main event, but it’s obvious. It's so obvious that it's unbelievable that we have hundreds of articles littering the blogosphere that can't believe it!

Don’t be ignorant. That’s the lesson. Hardcore fans really don’t care what happens with Kimbo Slice. He will either win and continue to cruise until he fights someone legitimate, or he’ll lose and fade into the black. Either way, what does it matter to those of us who’ve followed this sport for so long? Why should I be bitter that Kimbo made a splash into the sport without really paying his dues by fighting competitive competition? It isn’t his record that gets him a paycheck; it’s his legacy on the Internet, his drawing power, and his style of fighting.

His fate will be determined in the coming year. Hardcore fans watch tons of MMA every year, and we see more than our fair share of spectacle fights. Japan is great for a plethora of spectacle fights that are there to sell events. This is no surprise to us. The sport could be damaged, but it won’t die, and it’ll always have a solid drawing in the United States, especially for the UFC.

BloodyElbow writer Collin Welsh writes:

Hardcore fans dislike his quick rise to main event status, don't trust his skill outside of hitting hard, and firmly believe that he will fight over hyped tomato can after tomato can. Time will only tell if this will be true or not, but for now appreciate his story. MMA hasn't ever had a story like this or a character with such universal superstar potential. So sit back ,relax, and  enjoy the fight. People like Kimbo Slice don't come around too often.

Actually, I don’t dislike Kimbo for his rise to main event status. I understand the business, and I’m not going to dislike the guy because Gary Shaw felt he had the most drawing power. It’s absurd to believe fans as knowledgeable about the sport and about the business would believe that.

Do I think Kimbo will fight can after can? Probably, but what do I care? He will eventually have to fight a legitimate opponent, and EliteXC will eventually have to produce better fights. If he continues to fight can after can, the promotion will die. It’s like the universe will self correct itself. Why should we be so worried?

To be perfectly honest, I wouldn’t want to know a hardcore fan that is as stressed out as Collin has described above, nor do I know any who are that crazy about how Kimbo is a main event fighter. The view being portrayed in that article is likely that of the MMA blogosphere, and not necessarily that of hardcore fans everywhere. Sure, I want this sport to succeed and CBS/EliteXC could portray is badly, but telling me that hardcore fans dislike a certain fighter because of his quick rise against tomato cans is a stretch. If anything, we understand the reasoning behind it.