CBS Will Televise MMA Events

CBS made the stunning announcement recently that it will air four mixed martial arts (MMA) shows per year on Saturday nights, starting on April 26.

This deal is a surprise for two reasons. First, it will be the first time MMA has appeared on network TV. Second, the deal was not made with the clear No. 1 group in the country, Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Instead, Elite XC will be getting this huge exposure. The promotion started last year and has been producing events on Showtime.

While this is great news for Elite XC, it also puts the group under an enormous amount of pressure. Many fans will be watching the sport for the first time, so the first show must blow fans away to keep them coming back for more.

That means the production must be as good as UFC, and the announcers will have to explain the moves and techniques to new fans.

One major challenge facing Elite XC is the lack of star power compared to UFC. If you name the first five fighters who pop into your head, most or all of them work for UFC.

However, Elite XC has a chance. Its most recent Showtime event drew its largest audience to date on Feb. 16 when Kimbo Slice dominated Tank Abbott. Slice will probably headline the first CBS special, and Elite XC will need to work extra hard to educate fans so they can accept the Elite XC fighters as major stars.

Elite XC has a pair of Showtime specials later this month. Thomas "Wildman" Denny (25-16) will fight Muay Thai fighter Malaipet (3-1) on March 21; and Frank Shamrock (23-8-1) will defend his middleweight title against Cung Lee (5-0).

Another way Elite XC could prosper is by featuring its female fighters, such as Gina Carano and Julie Kedzie. UFC doesn't have a women's division, and the media would give a great deal of publicity to Elite XC because of its female fighters. Elite XC should talk about the women on the first show and promote a big women's fight on the second show.

MMA expert Dave Meltzer talks about the Elite XC in his column on yahoo.com. He fears that if the Elite XC show is a big flop, it would set the sport of MMA back. I disagree. The UFC is already established on Spike TV and pay-per-view, and the UFC wouldn't suffer a bit if Elite XC fails.

If the new group succeeds, it could lead to an even bigger deal down the road if UFC gets onto a network. It may also lead the sport of MMA to its holy grail: regular coverage in mainstream newspapers and magazines. It worked for NASCAR. Let's see if MMA is next.