Colossal letdown: James Thompson not content with moral victory

[T]

NEWARK, N.J. – Heading into Saturday night's "EliteXC: PRIMETIME" event, many considered James Thompson a handpicked opponent for EliteXC heavyweight and marketing sensation Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson.

Known more perhaps for his reputation of being easily knocked out than any real fighting prowess, the "The Colossus" seemed your standard sacrificial lamb.

Thompson proved the critics wrong by largely avoiding Ferguson devastating strikes – ones that floored his two previous opponents in a combined 62 seconds – and using a significant size advantage on the ground. That was enough for Thompson to take a lead on the judges' scorecards into the third and final round.

Ultimately, however, Slice would earn the victory 38 seconds into the final period.

And while the Englishman's gutsy performance against a street-fighting legend reveled for his powerful hands could be viewed as a moral victory of sorts, that sort of win was not enough for Thompson. The 29-year-old discussed the bout briefly after the event.

"I felt like I had a big chance with this fight," Thompson said. "I don't want to just be the big, entertaining, scary guy who comes, fights hard and gets knocked out. I want to be an all-MMA fighter."

After adamantly protesting the third-round stoppage in the cage, Thompson continued to plead his case with the media.

"I came in, and I tried to fight an intelligent fight," Thompson said. "When they stopped the fight, I was taking some big shots. But I was taking some big shots in the first round, and he over-committed and I took him down. I was sure I was going to win that fight."

Despite Ferguson landing several heavy blows in the final round that appeared to have Thompson rocked, "The Colossus" felt the bout was halted for an entirely different reason.

"I got cauliflower ear," Thompson said, referring to the blood-filled cartilage swelling in his left ear. "It burst, and [the referee] stopped it because I got split on my ear. Usually guys have to fall down."

Thompson then playfully pandered to the gathered media in an attempt to push EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw into committing to a rematch.

"I'm disappointed," Thompson said. "A rematch, that would be nice. Wouldn't it?"

Thompson's voice then grew louder, and he raised his outstretched arms repeatedly in search of support.

"Wouldn't it?" Thompson asked. "What do you think to a rematch? That would be nice. Wouldn't it? A rematch?"

After also semi-playfully inquiring to Shaw if he could be awarded his bonus – which MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) learned would have been good for an additional $25,000 – much in the way Shaw agreed to pay middleweight fighters Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith for their efforts in a bout declared a no contest, Thompson made his way to the hospital in order to be treated for his grotesque ear and what Shaw had earlier described as "difficulty breathing."

The future for Thompson, who is now 2-7 in his past nine fights, is unclear. But the bold statement made on Saturday night, when he nearly unseated the "new face of MMA" from his throne, may have earned the fighter a return trip to the EliteXC cage.

Thompson before Kimbo hit him and Thompson after

[Quintessential Studmuffin]

The fight should have been stopped when Kimbo took 20 unanswered elbows to the head.

If a rematch does happen,it needs to be after Kimbo gts beat by Rogers.

[T]

Originally Posted by Quintessential Studmuffin

The fight should have been stopped when Kimbo took 20 unanswered elbows to the head.

If a rematch does happen,it needs to be after Kimbo gts beat by Rogers.

Agreed.

[Diegonightmare]

Originally Posted by Quintessential Studmuffin

The fight should have been stopped when Kimbo took 20 unanswered elbows to the head.

Eh, I don't agree.

Mind you, I'm not on Kimbo's "side" in any of this...I think he got exposed for Tank Abbott Mark Two that he is.

But those elbows were doing no damage. Let's say I am in side control on you and I proceed to just smack you - not hard, just little pats - on the face and forehead, 20 times. You don't stop me or get up. Should they stop the fight?

Of course not. It seems like a silly analogy but it's made to demonstrate that there is a continuum of force, on one end of which a stoppage is unwarranted and on the other end of which it's mandatory. Those elbows were clearly doing nothing to Kimbo - anyone including the ref could see that - and therefore it was definitely on the "unwarranted stoppage" end of the continuum.

Again don't get me wrong, I actually wanted Kimbo to lose that fight to expose EXC's and CBS' thievery for all the world to see. But, I call em like I see em and the fight should not have been stopped in the 2nd.

[ArMnHC]

Originally Posted by Diegonightmare

Eh, I don't agree.

Mind you, I'm not on Kimbo's "side" in any of this...I think he got exposed for Tank Abbott Mark Two that he is.

But those elbows were doing no damage. Let's say I am in side control on you and I proceed to just smack you - not hard, just little pats - on the face and forehead, 20 times. You don't stop me or get up. Should they stop the fight?

Of course not. It seems like a silly analogy but it's made to demonstrate that there is a continuum of force, on one end of which a stoppage is unwarranted and on the other end of which it's mandatory. Those elbows were clearly doing nothing to Kimbo - anyone including the ref could see that - and therefore it was definitely on the "unwarranted stoppage" end of the continuum.

Again don't get me wrong, I actually wanted Kimbo to lose that fight to expose EXC's and CBS' thievery for all the world to see. But, I call em like I see em and the fight should not have been stopped in the 2nd.

it really doesnt matter whether the elbows were doing a whole lot of damage or not. its obvious Thompson was gassing and he didnt have any power behind them, but the fact is that Kimbo had no defense when he was crammed up against the cage and took every single shot. it was a crap call and the fight should have been stopped. and yeah i saw that tap too that Rogers was eluding to...

i still wonder if Marigliotta was in Shaw's pocket...in the UFC that fight would have been stopped.

[Krazikarl]

Originally Posted by Diegonightmare

But those elbows were doing no damage. Let's say I am in side control on you and I proceed to just smack you - not hard, just little pats - on the face and forehead, 20 times. You don't stop me or get up. Should they stop the fight?

Absolutely the fight should be stopped. You must be INTELLIGENTLY DEFENDING yourself. Laying there while taking any kind of damage, even light damage, and not doing anything to actively defend yourself is not intelligently defending yourself. By the rule that they say before pretty much every fight, the fight should be stopped as soon as this happens.

[POINDEXTER]

The future for Thompson, who is now 2-7 in his past nine fights, is unclear. But the bold statement made on Saturday night, when he nearly unseated the "new face of MMA" from his throne, may have earned the fighter a return trip to the EliteXC cage.

The premature crowning of the "new face of MMA" that had seemingly taken place (prior to last night's debacle) made and continues to make me want to projectile vomit.

[Spain215]

Kimbo Slice is garbage. EliteXC is garbage. Before the fights started i was kinda excited to watch but after it was over i dont think i will ever watch an eliteXC show again. poor fighters, poor fights, and it pretty much reminded me of WCW. The "nitro girls" or whatever they call them were the best part of the show. Kimbo Slice is a terrible fighter.

[Mac]

If Kimbo is the new face of MMA then we are in for a huge downward spiral.

[MMAhole]

My friends and I were discussing this about Kimbo giving the "thumbs up" to try to show that he is not any kind of trouble. The "unified" rules say that a fighter need to intelligently defend themselves at all time, as mentioned above.

One guy was sure that just because he gave a thumbs up while he was getting lightly beaten with elbows and doing NOTHING else is acceptable. I thought this shitty ass fight should have been stopped.

It should have been stopped well before it ever started!!!!

EDIT***Even though I hate how Dana White let personal shit get in the way of business, it makes me appreciate how the UFC can put on such a respectable show. Of course thename recognition involved gives UFC a huge advantage, but that fatass pregnant Shaw could have put on a better fight than this. Half of the time was stupid pointlesss interviews, it was more like WWE without the angry interviews.

Oh, and every times Thompson moved his head and his blood filled earsac was jiggling around, everyone at once would turn their head and say either a since "oh" "ah", or "ew". I was just waiting for Kimbo to punch him in the ear and witness the explosion.