CBS to Air MMA Live in Primetime

Sherdog.com ^ | 2/29/08 | Staff

[Callahan]

The CBS Television Network and ProElite Inc. announced a multi-year deal on Thursday that would make Elite Xtreme Combat, the mixed martial arts promotional arm of ProElite, available in primetime on major network television.

Four two-hour Saturday evening specials will air live on CBS in 2008.

"Mixed martial arts is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and a wildly popular entertainment vehicle for upscale, young adult audiences," Kelly Kahl, Senior Executive Vice President, CBS Primetime, said in a prepared statement. "It's original programming for Saturday night; it's live, creating an event-atmosphere; and it's something that hasn't been seen on network television, until now."

[Callahan]

Cool. Big move for MMA. As a fan of the sport, I hope CBS doesn't get too stupid with the street thug angle and WWE-style nonsense. I hated Goldberg's EliteXC commentary on Showtime for that reason. I think Kimbo Slice is making a serious effort to improve on his backyard beatdown roots and will likely become a big time star from this kind of mainstream exposure, but he's not exactly the poster child for MMA as a serious sport.

[BufordP]

UFC/MMA ping

[SlapHappyPappy]

Elite XC seems to recruit fighters less likely to work on the ground game, and is looking for fighters more interested in strikes and kicks. From a marketability standpoint this is probably a very good move as many more fans are drawn to this type of action, and knockouts.

[Callahan]

I’d say it important that these events show all aspects of MMA or they run the risk of setting everything back. There is alot of ignorance and dopey bias in the sports media about this sport and a Kimbo vs. Tank style brawl (while entertaining) isn’t the model for changing people’s minds.

[SlapHappyPappy]

Unfortunately the crowd reaction to the Abbott/Slice fight shows that a larger audience wants that kind of fight.

[SShultz460]

Thanks for posting this.

The other big news is the Budweiser sponsorship deal for the UFC

[Manic_Episode]

I'm sure we will see a nice mix of technical fights as well as the brawls.

The competition to the UFC this popularity is bringing should hopefully bring PPV prices down. I enjoyed seeing Brock Lesnars UFC debut but I hated paying the extra 5 bucks for that 1:30 minutes.

[BufordP]

No, kudos to Callahan. I just did the ping.

[SShultz460]

Good Stuff!

UFC/MMA Ping list is on my FR profile, use it :)

I have Hendo stopping Silva 4th rd

[BufordP]

I am Showtime and Pay-Per-View impaired. I’m too cheap.

I rooted for Hollywood when he fought Rampage. I didn’t have a favorite fighter until I saw Dan on Pride.

[Callahan]

I like Miguel Torres the scrawny WEC bantam champ. Looks like street trash but very fluid in the cage with sweet BBJ. He would probably be knocking over 7/11’s if he wasn’t fighting. Glad MMA gives him something to do.

[Callahan]

Uh oh Miguel has his own BJJ school. He’d kick my ass for judging him by that bad mullet and mustache.