EliteXC Xtinguished. AOTS explores the story

I've been a fan of the "newer" version of G4TV's Attack of the Show since Olivia Munn has become co-host. It's become a broader-focused show, still leaning towards the tech-conscious young male "nerds." But the show really does have it's pulse on what young males really follow, including MMA.

AOTS has been a leader IMO of how a show successfully moves across different platforms to promote and grow its own brand. I'm talking TV show, homepage, web-specific content, internet prescence(podcasts, embedable video, webcam interactivity.) When I was involved with Metromix there were ideas I wanted to implement based on various AOTS segments but because of several different reasons at CLTV(short-staffed, limited or unavailable resources, conservative/visionless decision makers, lack of budget, etc) implementing these ideas was a long-shot.

I still view AOTS a great template of how to execute a television show/brand. One of the TV show segments I like is the expert in-depth breakdown franchised as "The Loop." Usually this is a moderated multi-panel/opposing viewpoints discussion/debate focused on a specfic issue/topic. Lately, they've been content to go with one expert/viewpoint which is fine for the most part.

In this Loop, host Kevin Periera(usual moderator) explores the demise of EliteXC with Dave Meltzer, Yahoo.com MMA columnist.



AOTS remains as a guide/influence of how I'd like to execute my MMA show.

MMA TV show Combatwire

The summer of 2008 I enjoyed an MMA victory without having to train a single armbar, double leg takedown or touch the Thai pads. I got my vision of an MMA newsmagazine show on the air in Chicago.

Combatwire lasted 11 episodes from May to August on Chicago's 24 hour cable news station CLTV.

Although the show did not last I still take this as a victory for several reasons:

• Successfully pitched it to management
• Pretty much had 99-percent creative/editorial control
• Got the hosts I wanted
• Cooperation from UFC/WEC/Zuffa to use images and more importantly video. Not even Inside MMA on HDNet has this.
• Made local MMA connections
• Got good feedback from MMA fans
• Showed there was a enough to support 30 minute show content wise.

So although my show is off the air, the fact I got it on air means I can better package it for some other station to pick up.

I also learned a lesson about the growth of the sport. Although the UFC gains popularity, the struggles of EliteXC on CBS and failure of IFL on Fox Sports Net and MY Networks suggest the sport of MMA isn't keeping up. I truly believe there are UFC fans, and then there are MMA fans. Also, with the sports just entering the infancy stage there's still little money in the game. Sure new MMA ventures are arising in merchandising and clothing, but these start-ups have a long way to go. My programming director summarized the situation:

For many reasons we were unable to secure enough sales revenue to keep the project going.

The financial world of MMA is tricky and it seems a select few hold the keys to the larger sponsorship dollars.

Many of the smaller players just don't have the money to help support a television program.

It's unfortunate and I wish it was not the case.

In the meantime enjoy some clips from Combatwire and stay tuned, I am not finished bringing MMA to the local Chicago TV market.

Axe Murderer blunted

Wanderlei Silva took a tough loss against Chuck Liddell at UFC 79: Nemesis. The Iceman came away with a unanimous decision in a contest which had some exciting exchanges. Everyone expected this would end in a KO, but it didn't go down that way.

Before the Silva seemed like a re-born fighter. He left Chute Boxe and took residence at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. He sparred with noted striking coach Shawn Tompkins, and had Rafael Alejarra(conditioning coach), Ulysses Pereira (Boxing) and André Galvão (BJJ) as his personal coaches. Every report I read from Silva's training camp noted how focused and rededicated he looked. I was expecting a better than ever version of Silva in the Octagon. I'm not so sure that particular fighter came into the cage on fight night.

They call Wanderlei the Axe Murderer due to his relentless aggressive style. He's known as an attacking machine constantly putting the pressure by coming forward, regardless of the opponent facing him. For some reason we watched a different Silva against Liddell. Maybe he was showing respect for Chuck's knockout power. After all, Silva came out aggressive and CroCop in their Pride fight, chasing him around the ring, and ended eating a head kick en route to a knock out loss. Surely he wouldn't want the same to happen.

Against Liddell Silva didn't press forward as much as I thought he would. He played mostly a counter game, sitting back and exchanging wild swings with the Iceman from long range. Not a particularly good idea since Chuck has the longer reach.

Another surprise came in the clinch game. I expected Wanderlei to handle Chuck in this phase of the game, but the few times they actually locked up Liddell got the better shots. In fact Liddell outworked Silva in the clinch. Wanderlei usually puts on a plumb clinic in his fights, not only with those devasting knees, but how he maintains control and usually manages to pummell into the double necktie. This did not happen at UFC 79 as Liddell managed out position Silva and get in nice shots, including a solid elbow, on the breaks.

Now Silva is talking about rededicating again and moving back to Brazil and reconnecting with former Chute Boxe teammates. He also mentioned hooking up with K-1 legend Ernesto Hoost in Holland to improve his Muay Thai. Suddenly he feels like he has all these weaknesses which need fixing, like his wrestling. He also feels he needs better training, although he maintains his last training camp was great and his coaches had him properly prepared.

Obviously no knows better about themselves than themselves. But I think Silva may be a little off in assessing what went wrong. He needs to dig deep and find the original beast within which made him dangerous. I think he sat back too much trying to play counter fighter in his last fight and needed to just blast forward and let his weapons loose. He's never been a technical striker like a Cung Le or Rich Franklin, so why does he feel the need change his style now? Get back to you bread and butter which is overwhelming the opponent with punches and kicks.

I'd also like to see Wanderlei dominating in the clinch again. Before the CroCop and Dan Henderson losses there was this feeling that once it got close and Silva had chance to grab you and lock you with the vice grips of his, it was inevitable the barrage of wrecking ball knees would bring you crumbling down to the mat. The Muay Thai plumb was his world. He needs to reclaim his place as a brutal clinch fighter.

Essentially I am saying the mindset and approach Silva took was wrong. His skills did not fail him. Once he gets back to his roots and finds the man he was when he faced Rampage, Sakuraba, Guy Metzger and all his other victims, then we will once again see Wanderlei standing with his arm raised in victory.