EliteXC with a side of Affliction?
So with just less than 2 weeks until EliteXC's HEAT attempts to bring back the numbers to the promotion's ratings on CBS, it publicly pops an added bonus to the card...well, sort of...
In what is a long running tradition at EliteXC, news bits seem to leak out into the media before being confirmed and fully sealed for public consumption. In this instance, the spoiler is Sherdog.com and the very reputable Loretta Hunt, where she states:
Former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski (13-5) and IFL kingpin Roy Nelson (13-2) have been offered a heavyweight bout at EliteXC “Heat” Oct. 4 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla. (Read full write up here)
- B/R Ticket Guide
And while both fighters' representatives are not issuing any statements at all, it seems to follow suit that when stories like this leak out of EliteXC, they most often end up true. In this case it would be a truth that would surely bolster the ratings, the live gate and interest in the event. So Viva La Leakage people.
The rumor is, it will be billed as a co-promotion between EliteXC and Affliction. Neither promotion has confirmed that either by the way...
I would also appear a smart move because while Kimbo Slice can certainly lead the charge for EliteXC to brand itself as a top promotion, he cannot BE the charge. Other compelling bouts like those that will accompany the Slice vs Shamrock fight, as well as this co-promote, should it be real, will round out a nicely built out card.
The ratings should be there this time. The card is strong, the unnecessary dancers, DJ's and rappers are not scheduled and with the new bout between Arlovski and Nelson added (again, if this is made official) the event gets additional star quality. At the least, anyone who chooses to watch reruns of COPS instead of EliteXC, as some Nielsen folks oddly enough did on the last CBS card, should be arrested for X-tremely poor judgement themselves.
Additionally, Kimbo Slice, a man who does do more than his share of promotion, is scheduled to appear on ABC twice. His second appearance is with Jimmy Kimmel Live, tomorrow night 9/25/08 at 12:05am. This one will be very entertaining I am sure. The first one, which airs tonight, 9/24/08, on ABC, is a guest spot on David Blaine: Dive of Death from 9-11 p.m. ET/PT.
While the TV spots both do help the marketing of the show, I am still having a hard time trying to figure out why I want to watch anything Blaine does on TV. I believe he is planning to do something like hang from his ankles for 45 days, only sitting up for water occasionally. That's not really magic to me...more like ancient torture methodology. Now how about we hang Blaine that same way,give him water now and then and just let Kimbo show off his stand up skills on what should be called THE HEAVY BAG OF DEATH? THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT.
**NOTE: EliteXC VP Jared Shaw has been quoted as confirming Arlovski vs Nelson since the initial leak of information. And, the idea of an Affliction Co-promotion has also been made official.
- Yacman
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