After their cluster-bomb of a CBS debut, Elite XC returned to network television, loaded with two title matchups: a middleweight rematch between the reigning champion Robbie Lawler and challenger Scott Smith, and a welterweight bout between Jake Shields and Nick Thompson to crown the organization’s first 170 lbs title holder. The third title match – heavyweight showdown between Antonio Silva and Justin Eilers – was left off the CBS card and instead headlined the preliminary card broadcast on Showtime.
Shayna Bazsler vs. Christiane ‘Cyborg’ Santos (140 lbs women’s bout)
In the first round, Bazsler aggressively goes for takedowns and submissions, getting a near heel hook at one point, but Santos escapes and batters Shayna with punches and knees. In the second 3-minute round, Santos completely takes over the fight, landing strike after strike from clinch until Bazsler collapses. Santos jumps on the top of the cage to celebrate, even though referee Steve Mazagatti did not stop the fight! A few seconds of confusion ensue; Bazsler gets back to her feet and Mazagatti orders the fighters to continue. Santos finishes what she started, knocking out the wobbly Bazsler with only seconds left in the round.
Fight grade: 4/5
Jake Shields vs. Nick Thompson (170 lbs title bout)
Shields gets an immediate takedown, and instantly mounts Thompson. Nick defends well and is able to escape but once again finds himself mounted. Shields secures a guillotine and Thompson taps, only a minute into the fight.
Fight grade: 3/5
Nick Diaz vs. Thomas Denny (160 lbs)
Diaz has recently struggled to make 160 lbs, but came in at the proper weight this time around to take on an opponent close to his size but of much lower skill level. Denny comes out swinging and tries to control the pace; Diaz takes the shots and fires back. Diaz wins the close first round, but absorbs a lot of punishment. In the second, Denny is tired and starting to eat a lot of punches. After Diaz lands a three-punch combination, Denny is out on his feet and finally falls; Diaz follows up with a few more punches and the bout is stopped. Good fight but very strange matchmaking.
Fight grade: 3.5/5
Champion Robbie Lawler vs. Scott Smith (185 lbs title bout)
This title bout is a rematch: Lawler and Smith had an all-out war in the Elite XC’s CBS debut, which unfortunately ended as a no-contest after Lawler inadvertently poked Smith in the eye. A very close first round sees both fighters actively trading strikes, with neither getting a real advantage. Smith’s nose is bloody by the end of the round. In the second, Smith utilizes his elbows to open a big cut on the top of Lawler’s skull; Lawler seems unfazed and hurts Smith with knees from Thai clinch; Smith falls and Lawler swarms him with body kicks and head punches, causing the ref to halt the bout. Lawler retains the middleweight title in another war.
Fight grade: 4/5
Elite XC made a number of changes since their network debut, most notably getting rid of the universally hated announcer and former pro-wrestler Bill Goldberg, and not giving any screen time to promoter Gary Shaw; both positive changes though the announcing team of Mauro Ranallo, Frank Shamrock, and Gus Johnson still have a long way to go towards cohesiveness as a broadcast team. Also notable by their absence from the circular cage were Elite’s most controversial fighters: Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano, though both were in attendance and interviewed from cage-side. This was a solid – though not stellar – show with no gaping controversies like the previous CBS broadcast. My main complaint with this event was the poor pacing; only 4 fights shown that lasted less than 7 rounds altogether, seems a little lacking for a two-hour broadcast. The first bout did not start until 15 minutes into the show, and they could very well have fitted the Antonio Silva vs. Justin Eilers heavyweight title bout in its entirety into the broadcast, instead of just showing the highlights.