MMA HQ - Mixed Martial Arts News and Analysis

EliteXC returns to Showtime this Saturday night with their “Street Certified” fight card headlined by Kimbo Slice vs Tank Abbott. The fight card has some very good matchups with some veteran PrideFC and UFC fighters on board.

Main Card

Kimbo Slice vs Tank Abbott - EliteXC is taking the correct steps in slowly building up Kimbo Slice as an MMA fighter. Unlike the UFC’s handling of Brock Lesnar, EliteXC has chosen the “slow and steady” path for Kimbo and I think this fight with Tank Abbott is a perfect next step for Slice.

Even in his “glory days,” Tank Abbott was never a skilled fighter. Sure he could KO anyone with a shot to the face, but when it came right down to it, he never had the other necessary skills to be a top fighter and never showed any desire to learn those skills and improve his career.

Kimbo Slice has shown that he is taking the sport of MMA seriously and has left street fighting behind him. Working with legend Bas Rutten can only have improved Slice’s skills both on the feet and ground. I really don’t think that Tank Abbott will pose any kind of threat to Slice, other than the cliched “strikers chance.” For whatever reason, Tank still has a name in MMA and a win over him will help Slice’s career even more as he will now have defeated a well-known, “named” fighter. I look for this fight to be over late in the first round, since I don’t think Tank’s conditioning will allow him to do much past the first 2 minutes. Winner: Kimbo Slice

Ricco Rodriguez vs Antonio Silva - Ricco Rodriguez has become more of an entertainer than a fighter over the past few years. Rodriguez’s weight has been a roller-coaster reaching as high as 360 and as low as 250. While Rodriguez was one of the best heavyweights in the world between 1999 and 2002, he definitely no longer falls into that category. Antonio Silva on the other hand is a super-heavyweight who is just starting to realize his full potential. It’s tough finding decent matches when you are in the 265+ division. If you’ve never seen Silva fight, you are in for a treat. Silva has the skills and movement of a much smaller fighter and should be able to overwhelm Ricco with his kicks from the outside and quickness in the clinch. Winner: Antonio Silva

Kyle Noke vs Scott Smith - Kyle Noke is another one of EliteXC’s rising star class. Noke is an Australian fighter with a current record of 14-3. Scott Smith has a record of 12-4 and after a successful run in the WEC, joined the UFC in 2006 at UFC 59 where he lost to David Terrell in a controversial ending. Since then Smith has been inconsistent and appeared on season 4 of The Ultimate Fighter: The Comeback. Smith has excellent strikes and can be a very dangerous fighter when he is moving his feet well and using good defense. For some reason, I just get the gut feeling that Noke is going to win this fight; wish I had a better technical reason than that, but I don’t. Winner: Kyle Noke

Yves Edwards vs Edson Berto - Veteran Yves Edwards will have his hands full with up-and-coming fighter Edson Berto. Edwards’ performances have been somewhat of a mixed bag recently and he needs to come prepared for a battle against Berto. I anticipate Berto wanting to take the fight to the ground and working a submission game against Edwards’ which we have seen Yves be susceptible too recently. I like Yves and I think his experience will be a big benefit in this fight and I see him pulling out the decision victory. Winner: Yves Edwards

Brett Rogers vs James Thompson - James “Colossus” Thompson is always fun to watch fight, but doesn’t win too many fights. This is most likely another one of those fights and will be a good stepping stone fight for Brett Rogers. Both guys will stand and trade blows and this fight should end by KO in the first round. One thing you can count on is Thompson’s patented “bull charge” as soon as the bell rings. Winner: Brett Rogers