The MMA News Report 10.08.08

Posted by Morgan Marx on 10.08.2008

An official response to allegations of wrongdoing at EliteXC: Heat, Brian Stann will have to wait to make his UFC debut, and fight additions to upcoming UFC cards. Plus, a few thoughts on this Saturday’s EliteXC card, but I’ll hold the outrage to a minimum, I promise…

INTRODUCTION



I'm disappointed.

From the opening bell to the closing shock, EliteXC's Saturday night broadcast kept me entertained. Despite a card heavy on mismatches, and the mess that was the Ken Shamrock situation, the organization benefited from exciting fights. Ninja Rua and Benji Radach engaged in a slugfest that could have ended at six different strikes. Gina Carano once again lived up to the hype and women's MMA once again put on a great show. Andrei Arlovski and Jake Shields met with a little resistance, but pulled out expected wins. Seth Petruzelli provided a real "pick up your phone to call your friends" moment by stunning Kimbo Slice.

Other than a horrendous stand up during the Arlovski v. Roy Nelson bout, the evening was a solid A, one of the better MMA events of the year.

And then, all heck broke loose.

Instead of focusing on the positives, the MMA media is left debating whether EliteXC intentionally influences fights, whether Petruzelli was paid to fight a particularly style, and whether the company will survive long enough to present another card.

I'm disappointed that so many negatives from outside the cage have overshadowed the actual fights.

My area of expertise is not the financial status of EliteXC (that would be MMAPayout's turf). Nor is it the general douchebaggery of Jared Shaw (that would be Fightlinker). So I'm going to pass on the commentary this week. By this point, you've probably read 17 different reasons why Kimbo was overrated, 24 explanations as to how EliteXC deserves to go under, and 45 conspiracy theories as to how Petruzelli was paid off.

I will say that I'm not disappointed in Kimbo Slice. The general backlash against the brawler took me by surprise. Sure, many keyboard jockeys couldn't wait for Slice to slip up, just to throw their "I told you so" into the ring. But even mainstream media outlets like Sports Illustrated and Yahoo rushed to bury Kimbo. Where were these strong opinions leading up to his last three fights?

Fans turned off by Kimbo's sudden mortality aren't really MMA fans. No one in this sport is unbeatable (except Fedor). Every fighter has weaknesses that can be exploited (except Fedor). What's more, thanks to the arbitrary nature of the sport, fighter's can be beaten at their own game (say it with me now…except Fedor).

If you knew Kimbo was overrated, than this defeat shouldn't change your perspective of the fighter. A flash KO doesn't invalidate Kimbo's presence in the sport, just his status as the "face of MMA." Hopefully, this loss shifts the spotlight to more deserving fighters. Urijah Faber, Georges St-Pierre, and Anderson Silva are more than ready to step up as the top figure in the sport. One thing they all have in common with Kimbo is the presence of an L on their resume.

I hesitate to say that Kimbo will "be back" because he hasn't really gotten anywhere yet. Dropping one of your first five fights is almost expected in MMA. Hopefully, he'll learn from the experience, continue rounding out his skill set, and work towards becoming a true mixed martial artist.

One complaint I will levy toward Kimbo's managers is at the notion that they had no idea who Petruzelli was. How can a competitor from The Ultimate Fighter, especially one that lasted decently long on the show and had two fights in the UFC, be an unknown? Without any research or re-watching of episodes, I remember Petruzelli as a "giant killer" that enjoyed fighting larger men. I also recall the numerous kicks he relied on in those fights…kinda like the teep he set up the short right with.


THE READERS QUESTION

The Reader's Question: Did the quality of Saturday's show change your opinion of EliteXC? Or did they shoot themselves in the foot with the ensuing controversy?

NEWS LEG KICKS

"No Wrongdoing" says Florida Commission



Seth Petruzelli's comments regarding a financial incentive to stand and trade with Kimbo Slice were met with an uproar of criticism from online MMA media outlets. Many sites called for a formal investigation into Petruzelli's claims, remarks that were quickly rescinded by the fighter.

According to MMAWeekly, the commission responsible for overseeing Saturday's fight card found no impropriety in the events that transpired. Florida State Boxing Commission representatives attended the event, and commented through Department of Business and Professional Regulation secretary Alexis Antonacci. Said Antonacci:

We take Petruzelli's comments to mean that he got paid more to move up in the card. Which is accurate and perfectly within the regulations. Because without someone, him in this case, stepping in to be part of the main event, the event would not have gone off.

Now, that's not the most definitive of statements. While Petruzelli's original comments were vague and left room for interpretation, I'm not sure many cynical fans will agree with the interpretation of Mr. Antonacci. The secretary continued:

Our interpretation is that the comments made were in reference to the promoter asking him to join a fight that he wasn't originally scheduled for. We don't believe any wrongdoing occurred. That being said, if someone believes that wrongdoing did occur, they can file a complaint with the commission, with the department, and we will look into it.

Does this put an end to the controversy? Probably not. No matter how definitively EliteXC officials deny any attempts to influence the outcome of the fight, the actions of Jared Shaw mid match left a bad taste in many viewers' mouths.

My opinion on the matter isn't particularly relevant, but the interpretation that Petruzelli was referring to his bump up the card is hard to swallow. Petruzelli clearly referred to the style of the fight, not the card placement.

Perhaps this controversy amounts to nothing more than a giddy fighter "misremembering" the events that led up to the biggest victory in his MMA career. Or perhaps EliteXC officials do more than simply stack a card in an attempt to determine outcomes. Either way, the online MMA media won't forget this story, despite the apparent indifference mainstream media outlets have shown it.

With the number of muckraking MMA sites out there, someone will get to the bottom of things.

Sources: MMAWeekly.com


Injury Postpones Brain Stann's UFC Debut



Brian Stann has withdrawn from his scheduled UFC debut due to a foot injury, according to FiveOunceofPain.com.

Stann, the former WEC light heavyweight champion, was set to face Steve Cantwell in a rubber match at the event, dubbed Fight For The Troops. A replacement for Stann is not known at this time, leaving Cantwell's status up in the air.

Stann, who began his MMA career with six consecutive wins and the WEC title, suffered a TKO loss to Cantwell at WEC 35. Following the bout, Zuffa, the parent company of the WEC, followed through with its plan to incorporate the WEC's heavier weight classes into the UFC, leaving the WEC to focus on the welterweights and under.

Where Stann and Cantwell fit in the stacked UFC light heavyweight division remains to be seen.

Sources: FiveOuncesOfPain.com

UFC Adds More European Flavor

As the UFC continues to expand into the European market (including an upcoming show scheduled for Dublin, Ireland, which is not part of the UK), more European based fighters have found their way onto UFC cards. One such fighter might be Abdul Mohamed who, according to MMAJunkie.com, has signed on to appear at UFC 93.

Mohamed, a lightweight, has compiled a 15-6-3 record fighting primarily in the Cage Rage and Ultimate Force promotions. He holds victories over notables such as Ross Pointon (semi-notable) and Jess Liaudin, and a draw against recent EliteXC competitor Paul Daley.

While European UFC signings have had hit-or-miss careers inside the Octagon, one positive Mohamed has going for him is that he trains with the Wolfslair gym. The addition of Cheik Kongo and Quinton Jackson to a stable of fighters that already includes Michael Bisping and Paul Kelly has vastly improved the status of the Liverpool fight club.

No opponent has been named for Mohamed to date.

Sources: MMAJunkie.com

Johnson v. Burns Added to TUF 8 Finale



After a controversial first go around, Anthony Johnson and Kevin Burns will hold a "do over" at the finale for the eight season of The Ultimate Fighter, according to MMAMania.com.

The two welterweights met at Fight Night 14. While Burns won via TKO, it was readily apparent than an illegal eye poke provided Burns with the opportunity to finish the fight. Johnson, who underwent surgery to correct damage to his retina, protested the decision, but to no avail.

Instead, the two will fight again December 13. Johnson, a highly touted prospect at 170, was expected to win the first meeting. Burns, who made his UFC debut by upsetting the heavily favored Roan Carneiro this June, has made a habit of overcoming stacked odds.

Will Johnson enact revenge in the second meeting? Or will Burns prove that he doesn't need an inadvertent eye poke to win?

Sources: MMAMania.com


CONCLUSION

That's it for an abridged edition of the Wednesday News report. We'll be back next week with a look at the upcoming card for UFC 89. Take care, and thanks for reading.