Mainstream america is not ready for MMA/UFC style fighting. Ignorance of the neuances of groung fighting and the perceived brutality prevents the novice from really enjoying the sport. As a studant of MMA, I enjoy all aspects because I have an idea of what to look for. As we become more educated about the sport I think our appreciation will grow…

I agree, in a way. It is a damned if we do/damned if we don’t situation. If you give main stream America technical ground fighting they’ll get bored and instead of seeing it as a bloodsport, seeing it as something that is portrayed wrong in the media and kind of boring. Basically, hyped for no reason. If they get brutal knockouts, mismatches and awful displays of violence it’ll just re-confirm what the media says. There is no real way to win.

While I’m not Joe UFC Fan, I do think that broadcasting your average UFC PPV or even something as good as the last WEC show would help change some minds (not all, obviously. Some will never be happy).

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I’m more upset with how awful the coverage is on the net. It is like every site (including Yahoo!) is afraid of overlord Zuffa taking away their chance of getting press creds for UFC and WEC shows.

What was the deal with that camera angle from the nose bleeds when Kimbo was in the Guillotine? Marketing fix!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, there is no doubt that it was an awful example of MMA. What I thought was funny was that UFC didn’t want to do this because they didn’t want to add a network PBP guy and wanted complete control over the production. The production was, more or less, outside of the pre-show, fine. Gus Johnson was actually a good, knowledgeable MMA announcer. I mean, he was better than Mauro at least (which isn’t a stretch).

Honestly, I can see UFC kicking themselves over not doing this, as the announce crew didn’t stick to just talking about EliteXC during this show, but instead mostly talked about UFC. Does anybody really think if this was UFC on CBS that they would have talked about EliteXC/ShoXC/Strikeforce or any other tiny MMA promotion? You have to think that UFC could have thrown out a Fight Night-level card for this and gotten good ratings, lots of praise and the possibility of more PPV buys and exposure. Oh well.