After a few days of shock, surprise, and then apparent rage, it seems that to review the event virtually everyone on the internet who would read this has already watched would seem to be senseless. However, the reaction to the event and the aftermath are clearly very strong and omnipresent. Maybe that will change after yet another “world changing” episode of TUF tonight, who knows? But for now, its worth noting what’s happened in the aftermath.

-MMA ON CBS: NOT DEAD:

Oh, woe unto those few extremists out there claiming that this would be a ratings failure. In spite of a last minute substitution that could very easily have killed the TV audience, EliteXC posted numbers matching that of their last show. Its a stunning admission to make for most, but EXC has, once again, posted one of the most watched MMA events in history. In fact, they’re offered up the two most viewed in history. CBS is clearly still interested in televising them, and the constant attention paid to Tito seems to indicate some sort of future with him in a primary role. 

What is that future? Well, that’s total speculation. One must assume at this point that Affliction/GBP will indeed play a part in it, something that seemed outlandish to most of the internet intelligencia even shortly after the announcement of Arlovski/Nelson on the card. Would CBS purchase assets? Would someone else? Whoever does would have access to the widest base of viewers available to an MMA promoter right now. You gotta think that’s of tremendous value to a great many folk.

-SETH WAS PAID~! CONTROVERSY:

To put this succinctly: Everyone on the internet going crazy about how this will destroy or deeply affect EXC are in general the same folks who claimed that Kimbo’s win against James Thompson was deeply corrupted in some fashion. The concern is nice and all, guys, really, but its not going to go anywhere. I’d love to see an in depth federal investigation into how the major MMA promoters operate. Its not going to happen anytime soon. Not only is it not going to affect change, if anything, it won’t affect viewership. If Kimbo/Seth Petruzelli did equivalent numbers to the previous Kimbo event, you still have to imagine there was a chunk of people who turned off the TV when it turned out that Ken Shamrock wasn’t fighting. Imagine that: had Ken Shamrock not been knocked out of the main event, its exceedingly likely that the show would have been even more watched than the last. Shows what massive effect the “controversy” had last time.

-WOMEN’S MMA IS A ONE NAME GAME:

Gina Carano/Cyborg-ita is unquestionably the biggest women’s MMA bout in history. While the Japanese have had far more numerous events highlighting women’s fighters, they were generally not in anything larger than the Korauken Hall and shown on cable/satellite providers like Samurai TV to fringe audiences. Carano’s last bout was watched by more people than any UFC fight history other than Shamrock/Tito 3. The fight with Cristiane Cyborg will probably be viewed by even more and could perhaps main event a future EXC event in lieu of Kimbo.

-NO FUTURE FOR KIMBO…EXCEPT THAT HE MIGHT HAVE ONE:

Did you know that Ken Shamrock won a single fight in the 4 years leading up to his second fight with Tito Ortiz? Well, you probably did. Did it change the fact that, well, that was the second highest buyrate in MMA PPV history? Not really.  

Kimbo is the closest thing to a transcendent athlete MMA has. He’s the biggest and most recognizable name, and even being “exposed” as he was, there are ways to still use him as a draw. Can he be expected to carry the company? Probably not, but then if you have Tito Ortiz (and probably Gina Carano), is it absolutely necessary? Mike Tyson was a complete fraud of a fighter from the first loss with Holyfield onward until his retirement, and it didn’t stop people from buying his fights with both nobodies and huge names. Hell, he could probably still make a ton of money fighting right now should he ever come back. Kimbo is merely a more modern take on the Kimo and Tank Abbott type stars of MMA’s early days, and he can certain;y provide significant interest as a supporting role player for sometime into the future. Ken Shamrock/Kimbo is now a “last chance bout” of sorts for both should it ever take place.

-JAKE SHIELDS: LOOKS REALLY SMART:

Jake Shields passed on the UFC because he felt he was getting lowballed. While he’s not getting a chance to beat many of the top 170 lb fighters in the world, Shields has still done plenty outside the UFC to establish his true value whilst being a “champion” of sorts and making significantly more money. With the welterweight division completely tied up until perhaps the middle of next year (if even then), Shields would likely have been in a standstill position for a long time with no room for negotiation had he ended up with Zuffa. His position would be similar to where guys like Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Karo Parisiyan, Thiago Alves, and so on are, and he’d be getting paid merely a fraction of what he currently makes in front of a much smaller audience. Even if EXC closed down tommorrow, his name is now worth enough that he can demand real compensation either from current/future Japanese promotions or varying US groups.

Really, the only true forecast coming from this show is that the future is as cloudy as its ever been. We’re no closer to a Zuffa monopoly than we were in April, nor does it seem that the MMA media has advanced to where it is finally up to the task of doing its own investigations when the government perceivably fails them. While I wait for fire and brimstone to eventually come, I think I’ll watch Ultimate Fighter tonight. The previews seem to show a fighter drinking excessively and acting irrationally as a result. That sounds truly innovative.