One of the most amazing things about the EliteXC show was the utter failure to promote for the future. They fell into Cyborg/Carano because of that amazing performance, but we don’t even know if they’re going to do that. Otherwise, they blew it on two fronts.
First, how can they not have an opponent for Kimbo by now? If the idea of this show was to accept a low rating in order to keep building momentum for October, how can they not have a fight lined up to announce to the world? Instead we were treated to an awkward interview with Kimbo.
Second, the lack of KJ Noons or the footage of the incident in Hawaii. A month ago Diaz-Noons II had the potential to be a huge fight for EliteXC. The heated footage in Hawaii would have made perfect build-up material for a big fight, but they blew it. This idea of pure fight promotion without any outside antics is so misguided that I can barely find the words for it. The chance to see two people that hate each other fight has always been a drawing card in the fight game. How many times did we see the Tito-Ken confrontation stuff leading up to their fights? How many times did HBO show Mayweather goading De la Hoya in the build to their fight? Not building the footage was self-sabotage, and not even having Noons there to build the fight was even worse. I can only imagine what the scene would have been in Stockton if they had shown the footage and then Noons had come out there to announce the rematch or something. What a lost opportunity…
I suspect the show in October will do as well as the first one back in May, and while it’s good enough to stay on the air, it’s not really great progress. It’s hard to maintain a reputation as the fastest growing sport in America if there is no growth. Outside of signing a big name to fight Kimbo, the only way I see them doing a better number is if they do Cyborg/Gina and promote it the right way. In case any of them are reading, here is how to do it: 1) Show Cyborg murdering Baszler over and over again; 2) show Gina’s pretty face and have people talk about the fact that she’s never fought someone like this before; 3) have people (including her family) talk about concern for her safety, while focusing on what a physical monster Cyborg is; 4) keep mentioning the fact that Gina’s opponent is nicknamed CYBORG.
If last night is any indication, they will focus on the controversy of Cyborg’s finish and compare it to Gina’s weigh-in problems.
All sarcasm aside, Cyborg/Gina is a money fight. I hope they do it well, because it is a big deal for MMA in general, and a big deal for women in the sport.