Kimbo Slice brought ratings, but didn't sustain ratings, i.e. he didn't create fans of the sport. No one needs to admit he brought ratings - because no one is disputing that. The fact is, short term ratings do not equal long term potency. What has been proven is that basing your organization and production on an internet street fighter with 3 MMA fights will not sustain any sort of success. They can't have the freak factor of Kimbo every event - it is a bad marketing plan, period. This latest event was great and it is what they should have done in the first place. Good MMA will sell itself, they don't need a fucking bearded gimmick. Putting on good and true, quality MMA events is the way to go. It may not mean immediate success, but as we've seen with the UFC, the growth will be gradual and continual and will eventually snowball. If the plan is to make Kimbo the face of MMA, the ship will capsize sooner than later - the lower ratings of this last event is nothing if not the result of that. I actually have a lot more faith in EliteXC after this last event and I think if they continue (and add some sort of marketing) they will rise as a force in the world of MMA.
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