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MMA weekend preview: Elite XC and WEC

submitted by Dewey
May 30, 2008  |  71 comments  |   Email to a Friend
Sunday the Yard will be ringside at WEC 34, which pits challenger Jens Pulver against champion Urijah Faber. Watch our preview video here, and stay tuned for fight updates in the comments. Saturday there is a nationally televised Elite XC event featuring Kimbo Slice, who despite his growing popularity hasn't really fought anyone worth mentioning. The last guy he fought (Tank Abbot) has only one victory in his previous nine fights (spanning 10 years). Saturday night they've pitted Kimbo against James Thompson, who is 14-8 with two straight losses. One of those fights he lost 10 seconds into the first round. What kind of challenger is that? Absurd. Clearly the Elite XC has a vested interest in making sure Kimbo wins a few fights so they can build his brand and compete with the UFC. And Saturday night also features challenger Kaitlin Young against champion Gina Carano, who failed to make weight but will still fight (with a 12.5% purse penalty).

The Sunday night fight, available free on Versus network, is going to be the best fight of the weekend, in my opinion. Jens "Lil Evil" Pulver has intense power with his left hand, and Urijah "California Kid" Faber is a ground-and-pound submission specialist. For more on this fight, watch the video, which features myself and Yardbarker colleague Andrew Machado dishing the dirt on Sunday's main event. In case you're wondering, yes, the video was filmed in a prison, and no, not everyone that works at Yardbarker looks like Mr. Clean. Machado (a.k.a. Mr. Machine) also breaks down the other top fights on Sunday night.

KENNETH ALEXANDER vs. RAZOR ROB McCULLOUGH: Fresh off his loss to Jamie Varner, Razor Rob is ready to get back on a winning streak. What's interesting here is that Alexander stopped Rob back in 2002 via decision. Look for Razor to take this via knockout.

CHUCK GRISBY vs. MARK MUNOZ: Grigsby comes strapped with one hell of a record (13-3). Currently he is riding an eight-fight losing streak. Munoz is way too new to the sport; expect Grigsby to submit this kid quickly.

YOSHIRO MAEDA vs. MIGUEL ANGEL TORRES: Maeda brings a lot of experience to the table, but Torres is amazing. He seems stronger than everyone, faster than everyone, and possesses incredible submissions. This fight goes two rounds with Torres winning via triangle choke or armbar.

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ELITE XC: SATURDAY NIGHT (CBS): 9PM ET (6PM PT)

WORLD EXTREME CAGEFIGHTING: SUNDAY NIGHT (VERSUS): 9PM ET (6PM PT)

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VIDEO PREVIEW : Champion Urijah "California Kid" Faber vs. Challenger Jens "Lil Evil" Pulver
How much do you know about Mixed Martial Arts? Find out with Yardbarker Quizzes.

70 Comments On: "MMA weekend preview: Elite XC and WEC"

 
 1. pelechati , May 30, 2008  |  Reply
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I'm pumped to see The Manic Hispanic and Lil Evil this weekend.

1.1. oflarity , May 31, 2008  |  Reply
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I love your brain fart around 5:25 - hard to spit out Nogueira?

2. fat2rak005 , May 30, 2008  |  Reply
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I can't wait to see these fights live! ARCO ARENA HERE I COME!!!!

3. Latinferno , May 31, 2008  |  Reply
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I have it set on my TIVO. Only for the Slice fight mainly. He's been fighting washed up bums thus far. And it looks like another bum is on the menu tonight. Oh well. He's still pretty new at MMA so I don't fault them for pitting him up against top notch talent. He would be destroyed. Give him some experience and then we can see how good he is in the next year.

4. GSWgirl , May 31, 2008  |  Reply
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Ringside?!
I want your Job, Dewey.
and how the hell do you fail to make weight when you have a weight class made just for you?! Should be fun to watch either way.

5. tedhill , May 31, 2008  |  Reply
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KImbo, FTW!

6. DMontana , May 31, 2008  |  Reply
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what channel is it on i got direct tv ?

6.1. Dewey , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Versus Network tonight.

7. etg4902 , May 31, 2008  |  Reply
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The ref stopped that fight way too early! He's the worst ref I've ever seen!

7.1. GSWgirl , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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I totally agree.
No one thinks it's fishy - though that Kimbo was getting his face pounded for about 30 straight punches (not hard ones - but he wasn't defending himself) and then the ref stopped the fight while the other guy was still standing?
They should've let him finish it.

7.1.1. FSUx407 , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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are you kidding? he was getting knocked to the point where he couldn't defend himself. You said yourself Kimbo was defending.

Also, if you pay attention to any type of boxing or fighting, when there is excessive blood or when there is a chance of severe injury the fight should be called. Thompson's cauliflower ear POPPED, i think that is grounds for stoppage.

...now the fight where the guy got poked in the eye, that might have been a little early.

7.1.1.1. GSWgirl , June 01, 2008
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where did I say Kimbo was defending himself? I said he wasn't.
His ear popped awhile before they stopped it.
And if you pay attention to MMA they do not stop fights unless the blood is getting in thier vision.
I have seen fights continue when blood is spurting out like a fountain.
And his ear was destryoed long before he got in the ring with Kimbo.

7.1.1.3. FSUx407 , June 01, 2008
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WWE? ignorance is bliss.

7.1.1.4. etg4902 , June 01, 2008
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You must be one of those WWE fans who have crossed over because your analysis of the fight and why it was stopped tells me you're a new fan. Don't get mad about it either. You are an obvious Kimbo fan who is biased here. I'm sure Kimbo would have won during that round, but it WAS stopped too early.

8. theoneandonly , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Yea I agree with etg for once. He stopped the fight to soon, but Thompson was definitely going down after a couple more punches. The ref was a tool. As for everybody dissing on James Thompson, dont talk about things you dont know about. He has a great chin, a lot of people said he had a glass jaw. It was definitely the exact opposite. Kimbo needs to work on some stamina! This fight was a great fight for him to go back and watch and learn from his mistakes. His stand up was okay, he was sloppy, but definitely can throw some combos... I thought James was going down a few times, but he impressed me a lot more than I thought he would.

8.1. etg4902 , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Amen! Needs more combos and stamina. His ground defense was better than I thought, but his ground game attack wasn't up to snuff. He'll learn a lot from this fight. I'm glad it went more than a round. I actually though Kimbo would loose this one after watching him get hammer fisted for one straight minute. He looked like he gave up. The ref did jump in too soon and everyone that was over watching was mad. Well, we'll see what he learns before his next fight and we'll see if his stamina can increase. Now all the die hard Kimbo supporters, you know who you are, the ones who think he can beat anyone, now you can all shut your mouths. He almost lost to a so so fighter with a strong chin. Peace, I'm out.

9. FIVERINGS , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Kimbo needed that knockout because if he would have on the ground again, he wouldn't have won that fight.

10. Chuster33 , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Jamesis known for having a glass jaw, and Kimbo couldn't knock him out with some solid shots. Now Kimbo's punching power might come into question along with his ground game. How bout that ear though!

11. FSUx407 , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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There is no way you can question Thompson's chin. He took 4-5 major hits at the beginning of rounds 2 and 3. Kimbo, however, couldn't finish him due to his stamina being non-existant.

That ear was not only gross after the fight, but before. A bunch of us were just laughing at it (due to us being grossed out) when he was standing there.

As for the ref stopping it too early...HE DIDN'T. If he would have stopped it during the first few hits that made Thompson woozy then we would have an argument, but his cauliflower ear POPPED, that is not only gross but unsafe and dangerous for both fighters. Kimbo defended himself on the ground and the match kept going like it should, Thompson got woozy after the early round 3 punches + the ear popper = unsafe, match was ended.

now, the guy who got poked in the eye, that ending might have been a little premature


12. Dewey , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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The Pulver/Faber fight will be better than anything we saw last night, save for maybe the Carano fight.

13. sh74731962 , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Yeah the chick fight was the best skilled fight of the nght

14. sh74731962 , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Kimbo needs alot of work before he fights for the Big-boy belt. He wouldn't even be in the top 20 Heavyweights in the UFC.

15. pelechati , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Dewey and I are live from Arco. Expect updates throughout the day. Go Pulver!

16. Dewey , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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My prediction is Faber in the first. Undercard is scheduled to start in five minutes.

17. Dewey , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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First bout, Cruz nearly ended it in the first, heading into the third just about tied up.

18. tylerdoney , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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thanks dewey, keep the updates coming

19. pelechati , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Back forth both guys just slugging it out. Charlie can't get passes the reach disadvantage. He is getting jabbed to death.

20. Dewey , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Cruz had too much reach, and Valencia lost by unanimous decision and took a beating in the process.

21. Dewey , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Alexandre Nogueria vs. Jose Aldo, who at 10-1 is nine years younger with more reach. But it's his first WEC fight and he looks nervous.

22. tylerdoney , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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who's up next...nogueira?

23. pelechati , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Nogueria ran around the ring for 5 minutes. Round one all Aldo.

24. Dewey , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Nogueria went for the shoot with a minute left in the first, and failed, but otherwise spent the entire round in retreat.

25. pelechati , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Nogueria just did a backflip off the cage. It was absurd. Poor nogueria they are putting him back together after a ground and pound.

25.1. Dewey , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Celebratory flip, of course. Not during the fight.

26. Dewey , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Nogueria is lucky to be alive. Got his arm pinned and took about 12 blows to the head at close range. Fight called in the second.

27. tylerdoney , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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wow

28. Dewey , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Sapo vs. Serdyukov.

29. pelechati , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Sapo slips and falls down. Alex jumps on him gets mount and pounds him until the bell sounded. Sapo is unable to continue.

30. pelechati , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Next up Lang vs McKenzie.

31. pelechati , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Mckenzie has the mohawk braided and is ready to give Lang his first loss.

32. pelechati , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Lang dominated. MckenIe did elbow him from bottom position and cut him real bad. Round one Lang ten to nine.

33. pelechati , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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What a round. Lang shoots and takes Mckenzie down. Gets a rear naked choke but mckenzie escapes. He gets the choke again and again Mckenzie escapes but turns it over and now he is in his guard. Pounding ensues until Lang scrambles to his feet. Round is too close to call.

34. pelechati , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Lang just gave him a nut shot to kick off round three. Time out. Mckenzie hits a knee as Lang shoots in. Lang is rocked and Mckenzie hits a guillotine and puts Lang too sleep!

What a comeback!

35. pelechati , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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next up Will Ribeiro versus Chase Bebe. Let's see if Bebe gets back on the winning track after losing his belt to Torres.

36. Dewey , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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I cannot believe what I just witnessed. More details tomorrow, but in short: Lang could have won this fight, but he let McKenzie escape two guillotine holds, and after receiving a cheap shot to the nuts, McKenzie recovered and choked Lang cold. It is a shame they did not televise that fight. McKenzie demonstrated toughness equal to anything that I have ever seen.

37. pelechati , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Rebeiro showing some awesome kicks. Had Bebe in two guillotene chokes. Chase rolls the second into full guard reigns down punches and elbows. Scramble back to feet. Ribeiro lands spinning backfist bebe is hurt. Round over.

38. pelechati , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Bebe looks to be outmatched. He is losing the battle on his feet and is barely surviving on the ground. I say round two might be for Bebe just do to him pushing the action on the ground.

39. Dewey , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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The crowd is getting hostile toward the cameramen, who block 1/4 of your view from some seats.

40. pelechati , June 01, 2008  |  Reply
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Decision coming but Bebe lost round three. 29-28 Rebiero 29-28 Bebe 29-28 Rebiero. Split decision win.

41. pelechati , June 01, 2008  |