"So tonight we get to see how MMA does on network TV with no "mainstream stars" and a very weak marketing push. Is MMA a strong enough draw as a sport alone that it can pull meaningful ratings without the UFC banner or a Kimbo slice level attraction for the curious?"
- from the Bloodyelbow.com, the rest of the post is here
My thoughts exactly, I don't think tonight’s event hurts the sport, but it seems like a waste to put on a show with little press exposure. MMA is the fastest growing sport in America, but it has not reached the point where you can just throw up a card on Saturday night and it will be followed. Even if the UFC, with all it's street cred and popularity, put as little effort into this event as Elite XC has for this event they would not do well either. Take nothing away from the people on the card, because I think the fights will be exciting tonight, but they probably won't get the reception they deserve from the national audience. Gary Shaw has been conspicuously absent from this event and no one is really sure why he has suddenly taken a back seat. Say what you want about the guy, he knows how to promote fights, something the people in charge of this event clearly don't know how to do. Bottom-line, the sport deserves better and Elite is doing a disservice not only to their business, but to the sport in general by not bringing more attention to the event.
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