Are EliteXC's Moves To Prevent Their Fighters From Fighting Top Fighters Hurting?

hunterkiller · #1 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 10:52 AM

So Gina Carrano won't get to fight Cyborg Santos and Kimbo Slice won't get to fight Brett Rogers. We already saw Bigfoot Silva not fight top competition when he was fed Justin Eilers. Is this "feeding" their fighters going to help or hurt their business in the long run?

I can see it from both sides. On one hand, if Kimbo and Gina lose, their marketability goes with it. On the other hand, can fans continue to take them seriously if they keep getting handpicked opponents?

Right now Elite seems to be going the pro wrestling route. Not where it's fake but where the outcome is all but decided before the fight even starts.

The one thing that I wonder is what if Kimbo and Gina flourish under a little tougher competition? That could make them even bigger.

My recommendation for Kimbo would be to slowly bring him along against strikers that are around his level but not known for their ground game. If you really want to protect him, give him some guys you don't have to worry about submitting him but you are at least solid strikers.

For Gina, I think she's legit and would do well under better competiton if she can get her weight under control.

As for Bigfoot, he's got a year for them to figure out what to do with him, if they're still around.

xrjxarsonx · #2 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 11:08 AM

they are definitely holding back the competition to keep their stars on top. i dont think it will really hurt them for a while because they are going after the average fan/newbs, most of those people dont know much other than what they are told and will believe any hype elite can come up with. i was telling a casual friend of mine yesterday that it looked like kimbo would fight shamrock next and how i would prefer rogers, he said rogers was a midcard fighter at best and shamrock is one of the most feared fighters of all time. so, elite may be turning away hardcore fans, but the will make those numbers back easily while on CBS

MasterShake · #3 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 11:23 AM

I say holding back right now is a double bladed sword, they are doing it trying to get people to see how great there fighters are, but in the same time your only as good as your best competition, so by not challenging there best fighters with other good fighters when they do start to get established and actually get some top tier athletes there fighters are going to get owned and it will make there orginization look ridiculous.

Its like building a glass building in a tornado zone. Yeah it looks real good when the sun hits it and starts shining, but when that tornado comes through that building gets blown to shit, and doesnt look to appealing and no one will want to step in it so to say.

Sorry I watched a show on tornadoes last night those things are bad ass.

Oats420 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 11:24 AM

I think if Kimbo lost, it would only make him stronger... atleast I would hope so. But if he keeps going at this pace, his ego will grow more than his rep. Bad for him and bad for business.

He needs to fight someone up top... win or lose it should either way help with his marketability. Personally, i'd rather watch him fight someone good and get tuned, then keep fighting cans and winning.

Gurry · #5 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 02:13 PM

dude you need to use a thesaurus when you make a thread.

LebenTysonTank · #6 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterShake

Its like building a glass building in a tornado zone. Yeah it looks real good when the sun hits it and starts shining, but when that tornado comes through that building gets blown to shit, and doesnt look to appealing and no one will want to step in it so to say.

Worst analogy ever?

MasterShake · #7 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 02:24 PM

^^^^^^^
Lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by LebenTysonTank

Worst analogy ever?

Says the man with the Manson Av

I worked hard on that it took me awhile to come up with such a beautiful analogy of the situation, why do you think I appologized before hand, I knew it was bad but I dont care. But I will try again.

This is as good of an idea as my last analogy was clever.

Bigshanks666 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 02:39 PM

From a marketing standpoint it makes sense. They dont want there cash cows to lose. In the long run if Elite doesnt end up going bankrupt its just going to hurt them. There fighters will have no credibility what so ever if they are coddled and never fight legit competition. It just makes them look like a bunch of fuckin clowns when they claim to have all these top tier fighters that they only match up with cans.