Five Highlights From EliteXC: Primetime
By Rory MacLeod
-Brett “The Grim” Rogers
With three first round knockouts in as many tries under the EliteXC banner, Brett Rogers has established himself as the promotion's resident heavyweight bruiser, despite only having been a professional MMA fighter for two years and lacking the credentials of some of his peers like Antonio Silva. His quick KO of Jon Murphy in the night's opening fight may not have been the greatest demonstration of technical prowess, but he has the size, athletic ability and raw power to potentially be a force. After the show, EXC Promoter Gary Shaw deflected talk of booking Rogers vs. Kimbo Slice, instead suggesting that Silva may be the next test. Jonathan Wiezorek is perhaps another name worth considering at this point. Whoever he fights next, The Grim Rogers is one to look out for.
-Gus “Rise and Fire” Johnson
Perhaps known best for his effusive calling of NCAA Basketball games, Gus Johnson has garnered a cult following among sports fans as a top-notch broadcaster who can capture the excitement of any event. He surpassed all expectations for a first-time mixed martial arts commentator, delivering a very knowledgeable and thorough account of the action on Saturday. It was particularly nice to hear his detailed commentary of the striking exchanges during what were mostly cage kick boxing affairs over the course of the night. He made some slips, such as sidling up to a dejected Scott Smith while addressing Robbie Lawler on the PA system (he saved himself, subtly sidestepping towards to the correct fighter), but overall he did a great job, , effectively integrating Mauro Renallo and Frank Shamrock into the mix without a shred of ego, while bringing the broadcast a “real sport” feeling of legitimacy.
-Wilson Reis vs. Justin Robbins
At 8-3-1 with three submission wins to his credit, Justin Robbins seemed on paper to be a worthy challenge for Wilson Reis, a highly-regarded Brazilian-born jiu-jitsu black belt. But in a clinical display of grappling prowess, Reis dismantled his more experienced opponent in just over four minutes. A cringe-inducing armbar midway through Wilson's assault reportedly broke Robbins' arm, and it was a transition from triangle to omoplata which ultimately led to Reis securing the back and sinking in a rear naked choke finisher. Wilson put on an electric performance, and it was disappointing that time couldn't be made to at least show a highlight of the finish on the televised portion of the card. Here's hoping he is featured prominently on the next show.
-Robbie Lawler vs. Scott Smith
Its unfortunate that so many people will remember this fight mainly for the controversial third round stoppage (due to an eye poke), because for two and a half rounds, it was one of the most blistering and intriguing stand-up battles in recent memory. As Lawler confessed in the pre-fight video, his strategy has evolved drastically from his early career, and it was evident during this match. His patient attack was spearheaded by a stiff jab, powerful body kicks and a strong clinch game. Scott Smith showed a lot of heart and a solid chin in surviving the first round, and in the second managed to stun Lawler with some well-placed shots during an incredible back-and-forth exchange inside the pocket and in the clinch. In the end it was a spectacular fight despite ending on a bad note, and hopefully EliteXC will see the wisdom in making the rematch one of the main attractions of their next CBS card.
-Mixed Martial Arts, not Ultimate Fighting
Despite the questionable main event that has seemingly seized all attention away from the rest of the night, EliteXC did a good job of recognizing they were bringing mixed martial arts to people who may have never seen it before. The segment with Frank Shamrock explaining some of the basics wasn't exactly rocket science, but such introductions help ease new viewers into the fold. And at a time where Randy Couture has been banished entirely from all UFC broadcasts, it was refreshing to see EXC not resort to such a rigid “branded experience”. The commentary team discussed Robbie Lawler's early struggles in the UFC without hesitation, as well as mentioning him among middleweights outside the promotion like Anderson Silva and Cung Le. All in all, it came off as a very even-handed presentation of the sport.
