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Will EliteXC ruin MMA’s image on national television?

by LR 2/28/2008 6:37:00 AM

The sport of mixed martial arts has been growing for years. Fans met with each other at local events to watch local talent square off against each other in cages in the early days of the sport. Nowadays, we have access to televised events on various channels and can purchase pay-per-view events that feature event cards full of great fighters pitted against one another. The accessibility just got a whole lot easier for the masses.

CBS officially announced that they have partnered with ProElite to provide 4 mixed martial arts shows per year in a multi-year deal. All of the shows will have the moniker of the EliteXC brand. It’s a big day for mixed martial arts as a whole, but will EliteXC represent the sport in the best possible manner?

Many people are frustrated and peeved about EliteXC’s sudden rise to the spotlight. Poor production, terrible DJ music over introductions, stripper dancers, and overall bad commentary has made EliteXC the armpit of the MMA community for quite some time. The only real plus has been the matchups and excitement that they have provided for fans, and it has propelled them to being one of the significant players in the North American market, but still well below the UFC’s level.

One of the most concerning problems is how MMA will be perceived by the viewing public. For years, the sport has tried to stay away from the stereotype that is a street brawling, no holds barred bar fight of a sport. Many of the promotions try to stick to a more professional attitude in which safety is of a concern. For the most part, this has been the case in mixed martial arts. The UFC has been one of the most professional organizations in the sport, and many of the other promotions have followed suit. What happens when new fans watching this on CBS suddenly see guys like Kimbo Slice or frequently jailed Charles Bennett all over television? I think the stereotype that MMA fighters are ruthless felons could get attached. Hopefully it won’t.

Felony fighters and some tacky DJ hip-hop music with stripper dancers isn’t exactly how I want to see MMA portrayed as a sport. The UFC is completely opposite of this model and is doing the best business in the market. Can CBS turn the tide of EliteXC and can the crappy music and strippers? It depends on how they really think they can attract the demographic, the same demographic that SpikeTV aims at. Do young men like strippers? Yes. Do young men like rap? Depends on the guy.

Will CBS be conservative and stick with a professional look of the show? I hope they decide to do so. It would do MMA so much more if the sport could enter the mainstream as a professional sport, and not just a spectacle.

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Tags:

CBS | EliteXC

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Comments

February 28. 2008 09:03

I'm all for having more access to good non-ppv events on TV. But couldn't this potentially hurt mma, too? Getting this much exposer could draw attention from groups that would possibly seek to tame the sport.

Last thing I want to see happen are fights ending at the sight of blood or the camera panning to the crowd every time the fight gets exciting.

Bstalf21

February 28. 2008 09:42

Those types of responses come from staple columnists of major newspapers all the time. They write columns reporting on how bad MMA is because it doesn't have any concern for safety. Israel Gutierrez was the most recent one to do so. There will always be those critics, but I see CBS exploiting EliteXC's business and making it a spectacle.

February 28. 2008 14:43

You're complaining about the hot stripper girls? Seriously?

Every promotion has ring girls, what's the problem here? Are they not blowing you enough kisses?

Let's focus on the issues here, not rap or strippers. EliteXC is an exciting promotion with good fighters and I personally wouldn't trust the UFC to show us how it's done anymore than I trust EliteXC.

Sure Charles Bennett is an idiot, but what promotion doesn't have their share of those? And don't go calling Bennett talentless like others have, his fight with Gomi was great.

Also, don't be so quick to disrespect Kimbo, his success has probably played some part in cementing this deal with CBS and EliteXC.

The UFC's hands are just as dirty when it comes to promoting persona's over punching prowess. Their reality show graduates are a good example of this.

February 28. 2008 14:55

I can easily tell you what's wrong with stripper girls. They aren't ring girls in EliteXC, they actually do horrible stripper dances as well during the fights. It makes the sport look like garbage, and they make the sport associate itself with a non-professional sports attitude. Cheerleaders aren't the center of attention in the NFL, but EliteXC manages to make those strippers the center of attention for at least 10 seconds between each round. It's atrocious.

Charles Bennett isn't an idiot, he's a nuisance to society. He has a felony for beating a pregnant women, enough said.

I never disrespected Kimbo. Kimbo brings huge draw for EliteXC, and I actually believe he is the only real thing that they have created that can do some great things for MMA.

February 28. 2008 16:13

Anything that makes a show look important (the big entrances for EXC) is fine by me. It's one of the areas where UFC lacks.

I have no problems with having dancers during breaks in between fights. What's wrong with keeping the crowd engaged?

Pete

February 29. 2008 06:04

I think it's best for the sport to keep as much negative attention away from it's self as possible.

Your already trying to make a violent sport main stream. Throwing sex into the mix ends mma's network life quicker then it will end on it's own.

Good looking round girls in their usually attire is one thing. But, I shouldn't be planning to go to an event with a roll of singles. At least if that event wants to be considered a sport and not a spectacle (exp. professional wrestling).

Bstalf21