Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith met for the second time in less then two months on Saturday, July 26. The event, called ‘Unfinished Business,’ CBS’ second MMA telecast, featured the two competitors as the main event, after their first attempt to decide the fate of the EliteXC Middleweight title was stopped do to an accidental eye poke. They did not disappoint.

Both men came to fight, and both showed a decent aptitude for changing their game plans to be more effective in the stand-up game. Lawler refused to be bullied by Smith but did respect his power, swimming inside and using short uppercuts, hooks, and knees to the body to keep Smith guessing. Scott ‘Hands Of Steel’ Smith stuck to his same explosive style but picked his shots in intelligent fashion and kept the pace, refusing to empty the gas tank unless he really needed to.

Smith had Lawler rocked several times, wobbling him in the first round and almost stopping the fight. Robbie endured the punishment, survived to the second, and employed a very effective Thai Clinch, pulling Smith’s head towards the mat and landing knees that eventually finished the fight. A great fight, explosive and exciting. I’m not sure who’s really left for Lawler in EliteXC. Read more

Tonight at 9pm [EST], EliteXC and CBS will team up again to present their second offering of MMA on basic cable to the fans. While this card lacks the big eyeball magnet names like Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano, it does have some very exciting fights, including 2 with title implications.

Robbie Lawler v. Scott Smith, Second Go-Around

Those who watched the first CBS card will remember their first fight. A stand-up war where we saw both men give as much punishment as they took. Smith was the underdog, and for sure was losing (on points) in their first meeting, but we never got to see the end thanks to an accidental eye poke from Lawler that led to the doctor stopping the fight early. Well, now we get to see them go at again. Look for the Champ (Lawler) to play the same game he did last time, spend a round or two feeling Smith out, avoiding the power and picking his openings carefully. The competitiveness of this fight lies in the hands of Scott Smith. If he does as he usually does, he’ll probably punch himself out by the middle of round two and then start dropping his hands. Perhaps having already fought this fight once will lead him to a more tactical approach.
Prediction: Lawler by TKO. Read more

So, EliteXC wants to be a player. They want to be the UFC. They want to be a premiere MMA organization. That’s fine. I’m all for more MMA org’s popping up. It’s good for the sport, as they say. And more importantly, good for the fighters. In comparison to boxing, MMA fighters are getting paid like they’re playing professional tiddlywinks–a few million a year, at the absolute top of the heap (Couture, Liddell, Ortiz), while Mayweather and the Golden Boy bring in $30 million a fight. More organizations means more money and negotiation space for the fighters. They don’t have to ’settle.’

So excellent, you are helping, EliteXC. And while there’s nothing wrong with you wanting to be on top, could you please make that yearning seem a little less desperate? Because right now, you are straight embarrassing yourselves.

First, there is your ridiculous production scheme. Did you really feel it necessary to upgrade the ‘ring girl’ concept by putting dancers on the ramp in between rounds? Sure they’re hot, but honestly during a three round fight, I want to see the corners of the fighters when they take their one minute break. Also, am I the only one who notices those girls are dancing completely out of sync? And don’t even get me started on Bill Goldberg. Literally the worst commentator in sports history. Read more