I have the Showtime package. I have had it for about 8 months. Until last night I probably had logged about 6 hours total on any of the Showtime channels. Bottomline, I am of the opinion that it is a crappy version of HBO so I don’t watch it. Anyway, when it was announced that Showtime was starting a new MMA production, I got excited. Well, after seeing the debut in its entirety, the EliteXC, like Showtime, is a crappy version of the UFC.

First the good

The knockout from Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett of Mr. Noons was sweet. Make no mistake, Bennet has some dynamite in those fists. Aside from the Horse being disrespectful to a fallen opponent, he was entertaining and I enjoyed watching him. Even more impressive than his knockout was his backflips off the top of the cage after the knockout. He sold some tickets to his next fight by way of his antics. Tupac’s got nothing on this thug.

Gina Carano beat the crap outta Julie Kedzie. The casual observer (me) could see Gina was winning the fight, but when it was all over by the looks of Julie’s face one would have thought she fought the Krazy Horse instead of Miss Carano. Gina on the other hand, looked like she had just gotten finished shopping, not fighting. If anyone was able to get a picture of Julie after the fight, send it to the guys over at The Smoking Gun. It would fit in nice with the Courtney Love or Yasmine Bleeth mug shots.

No A.C. Slater. I wish he would get in the ring with the Horse. I can’t stand Mr. Lopez. Again, what kind of loser cheats on his wife the night before they are to get married.

Now the Bad

Thanks for the cheesey intro’s Talk about some crap, the intro’s were major league horse crap. Nothing like a terrible sounds system coupled with fighters who looked like they were getting ready to take a nap (i.e. The Crow) as they walked in to really pump up the crowd. I was underwhelmed to say the least.

The Cabbage man either needs to lose some weight and focus on being a student of the mixed martial arts game, or give up fighting alltogether and set his sites on Kobeyashi.

Where did the real Crow go? What’s happened to this guy? Someone needs to tell him that he’s allowed to throw a punch before the last 30 seconds of a fight. Neither of these fighters looked like they had been in a fight after the final bell rang. Money has changed everything. I like seeing guys who like to fight and aren’t afraid of losing. Guys who would fight even if the money wasn’t there just to prove something to themselves.

Frank Shamrock is apparently a joke. I can’t stand the Gracies and was looking forward to Frank ceremoniusly retiring Renzo (I actually dislike this Gracie the least - if he wasn’t a Gracie I’d probably like him). Instead it seems like he might have realized he was beat and thought the only way to protect the potential revenue for his Baroni fight later this year was to get DQ’d. During his post fight press conference he tried to convince us that he had Renzo right where he wanted him. If having a Gracie with side control dropping bombs on your noggin is “right where he wanted him”, then Frank may just be the best fighter ever. I will say this though, the whole time Renzo had him pinned, Frank was throwing kicks to his mid section and did not appear to be tired or in any serious trouble. Oh well, I stayed up after midnight to see a 2nd round DQ in a main event. Thanks. I’m sure this is exactly how Showtime wanted to announce to the world that the EliteXC is a premier fighting league.

Outtie Five Thoutie…