Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson stopped James Thompson in the third round to conclude the first mixed martial arts show on prime time network television in American history.Slice, who until tonight was best known for fighting on YouTube, showed more skill as an MMA fighter -- not just a brawler -- than anyone expected, and the mere fact that it went past the first round was an upset.
But the fight was not without controversy: In the third round, referee Dan Miragliotta stopped the fight while Slice was battering Thompson's bloodied left ear; CBS announcer Gus Johnson thought the stoppage was premature and I think Johnson was probably right.
Overall, the EliteXC show was a mixed bag. The best fighter on the card, Robbie Lawler, was given all he could handle by Scott Smith, but the fight ended in a no contest when Lawler accidentally poked Smith in the eye in the third round and the doctor said Smith couldn't continue. Gina Carano and Kaitlin Young put on a fairly entertaining show, but the other two fights on the card were lackluster one-minute knockouts.
And then there's Slice. Say this for him: His fighting isn't pretty, but his knockouts aren't lackluster.
Previously on FanHouse:
Elite XC on CBS: Gina Carano and Kaitlin Young Finally Give the Fans Reason to Cheer
First Hour of CBS EliteXC Show Contains Two Minutes of Mixed Martial Arts
Elite XC Newark Undercard Results
Elite XC in Newark Isn't UFC in Vegas
Latest MMA Photos
NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal (L) wishes Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) heavyweight contestant Kimbo Slice good luck during the official CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights weigh-in at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey May 30, 2008. The CBS television network will broadcast the fights live from Newark, New Jersey May 31. REUTERS/Tom Casino/EliteXC/Handout (UNITED STATES) MANDATORY CREDIT. NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
Reuters
In this image released by CBS, NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, left, poses with Mixed Martial Arts heavyweight sensation Kimbo Slice at the official CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights weigh-in, Friday, May 30, 2008, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. CBS will broadcast the event live on Saturday, May 31, at 9:00 p.m. EDT. (AP Photo/CBS, Tom Casino) ** MANDATORY CREDIT; NO SALES; NO ARCHIVE; NORTH AMERICA USE ONLY **
AP
In this image released by CBS, NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, left, poses with Mixed Martial Arts heavyweight sensation Kimbo Slice at the official CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights weigh-in, Friday, May 30, 2008, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. CBS will broadcast the event live on Saturday, May 31, at 9:00 p.m. EDT. (AP Photo/CBS, Tom Casino) ** MANDATORY CREDIT; NO SALES; NO ARCHIVE; NORTH AMERICA USE ONLY **
AP
NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal (L) wishes Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) heavyweight contestant Kimbo Slice good luck during the official CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights weigh-in at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey May 30, 2008. The CBS television network will broadcast the fights live from Newark, New Jersey May 31. REUTERS/Tom Casino/EliteXC/Handout (UNITED STATES) MANDATORY CREDIT. NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
Reuters
In this image released by CBS, NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, left, poses with Mixed Martial Arts heavyweight sensation Kimbo Slice at the official CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights weigh-in, Friday, May 30, 2008, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. CBS will broadcast the event live on Saturday, May 31, at 9:00 p.m. EDT. (AP Photo/CBS, Tom Casino) ** MANDATORY CREDIT; NO SALES; NO ARCHIVE; NORTH AMERICA USE ONLY **
AP
** FILE ** In this March 29, 2008 file photo, mixed martial arts fighter Kimbo Slice walks to the cage during the Strikeforce mixed martial arts event in San Jose, Calif. After coming on strong among young men in the last several years, the sport of mixed martial arts is headed for a clinch with mainstream pop culture. CBS on Saturday, May 31, will become the first legacy network to show full matches in primetime. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, file)
AP
** FILE ** In this March 29, 2008 file photo, Cung Le, right, punches Frank Shamrock during their Strikeforce middleweight championship mixed martial arts fight in San Jose, Calif. Le won the fight by TKO to win the title after Shamrock did not answer the bell in the fourth round. After coming on strong among young men in the last several years, the sport of mixed martial arts is headed for a clinch with mainstream pop culture. CBS on Saturday, May 31, will become the first legacy network to show full matches in primetime. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
AP
** FILE ** In this April 9, 2008 file photo, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson arrives for the 2008 Beverly Hills Film Festival in Beverly Hills, Calif. After coming on strong among young men in the last several years, the sport of mixed martial arts is headed for a clinch with mainstream pop culture. CBS on Saturday, May 31, will become the first legacy network to show full matches in primetime. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, file)
AP
Mixed Martial arts fighter Gina Carano speaks during a news conference Thursday, May 29, 2008, in New York. CBS and EliteXC will televise the first prime time network presentation of mixed martial arts on May 31, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano)
AP
Mixed Martial arts fighters, left to right, Kaitlin Young, Scott Smith, James Thompson, speaking, and promoter Gary Shaw attend a press announcement, Thursday, May 29, 2008, in New York. CBS and EliteXC will televise the first prime time network presentation of mixed martial arts on May 31, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano)
AP
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