EliteXC Renegade Review

Results

The fire-breathing dragon on the entrance ramp is gone. The show instead opens with an MMA-inspired gymnastics routine. It seems like something happens on this show every time that is so ludicrous that even I couldn’t make it up. The gymnastic opening is that very thing. This is probably the worst card that EliteXC has made since its inception. KJ Noons doesn’t quite have the main event luster as Frank Shamrock and Renzo Gracie. Nor is he even close to Robbie Lawler and Ninja Rua. He takes on Nick Diaz in the main event for EliteXC’s 160-pound title in their Lightweight division.

Antonio Silva vs. Jonathan Wiezorek (Super Heavyweight)
Referee: Kerry Hatley

Silva looks way more comfortable in the cage than Wiezorek. Wiezorek tries some half-assed takedowns but Silva just sort of brushes him aside. Silva landed some calculated punches that put Wiezorek down to the mat. Silva took his time and did whatever he wanted with Wiezorek. Silva had some opportunities to finish with a rear naked choke as Wiezorek gave up his back numerous times but he instead tried to pound him out. Silva could not resist any longer as he finally took the choke that was given to him and forced the tapout.
Winner: Antonio Silva by rear naked choke at 3:12 of round 1.

Seth Kleinbeck vs. Kyle Noke (Middleweight)
Referee: Steve Armstrong

They circle to start, trading kicks for minute before moving to punches for the next minute. That was kind of weird. Kleinbeck caught a kick from Noke and forced the takedown but Noke immediately pulled half guard and actually did some good work from the bottom. Noke almost pulled of an armbar from the bottom but had to let it go. Noke got back to his feet and they finished the round on their feet.

They scramble to start the second and Kleinbeck cannot get the hiptoss to turn Noke over and Noke ends up getting Kleinbeck’s back. Noke goes for the rear naked choke. Kleinbeck turns into Noke and ends up on top of Noke in a nice transition. Both men are showing patience on the ground. Apparently too much as the ref stands the guys up. Seemed like everything was going well on the ground to me. Noke gets a takedown off of a combination. Kleinbeck is cut over his left eye. It’s pretty nasty and the ref stops the fight to have the doctor look at it. Oh yeah, that is indeed nasty and the ref stops the fight. These two were putting on a good fight until the stoppage that was caused by an elbow from Noke.
Winner: Mike Noke by TKO at 4:22 of round 2.

Jake Shields vs. Miky Pyle (Welterweight)
Referee: Kerry Hately

Shields goes for a takedown but Pyle defends with the timeless classic knee to the face. Pyle goes for a choke but doesn’t really take the attempt seriously. They stand up in a clinch but Shields takes Pyle right back down. The announcers mention that Pyle trains with Couture about 50 times in three minutes so I guess it merits a mention here in this write-up. Shields controls Pyle on the ground. Pyle makes a mistake allowing Shields to get his leg hooks in and it is over quickly after that.

There were grumblings of making this an EliteXC Welteweight Title bout but those plans were scrapped prior to the fight. The guys new about it so it was essentially a play-in game for the title fight that should be forthcoming. Shields looked good and won his 10th straight fight. It will be interesting to see who EliteXC matches him up with.
Winner: Jake Shields by rear naked choke at 3:39 in round 1.

Kimbo Slice vs. Bo Cantrell (Heavyweight)
Referee: Steve Armstrong

Slice is a streetfighter made popular by the Internet. You probably know him but if not:

So Kimbo rules for a lot of reasons, none of which have to do with him fighting on the Internet. First, he proved he is taking this MMA run seriously by bringing Bas Rutten in as a trainer. Second, he’s responsible for putting Bas Rutten back on my TV. Third, I think he shaved his chest and stomach hair to resemble a spear. Anyone who consciously styles his body hair is a winner in my book.

The crowd is hyped up for Kimbo. Cantrell begins the fight by whiffing a spinning backfist. Kimbo stalks Cantrell up against the cage and sort of lands an uppercut to the body that rocks his opponent. A follow up punch definitely misses and Cantrell goes down and taps as Kimbo goes in for the kill. What the hell was that? I’m not really sure what to think about this. I want to believe that body shot finished him but the finish looked a bit staged.
Winner: Kimbo Slice by KO at 0:19 of round 1.

Nick Diaz vs. KJ Noons (Lightweight Title Fight – 160 lbs)
Referee: Kerry Hatley

Diaz grabs a single-leg but Noons escapes it. Noons lands a few good shots and sprawls another takedown attempt. Diaz lands a nice jab but Noons counters with a nice right hook. Both guys have good boxing pedigrees. Diaz finally gets a takedown but suffers a cut in the process over his right eye. Noons scrambles to his feet. The cut is looked at by the doctor but he decides to let him continue. Noons catches Diaz with a right that puts Diaz down on his ass. Noons goes in for the kill but backs off, not wanting to get caught in some slick Diaz submission. Diaz is cut over his left eye now from a knee on a shoot attempt. Noons dominated this round and Diaz returns to his corner a bloody mess.

The doctor stopped the fight in between rounds. Diaz is understandably pissed. KJ Noons is hoisted up by his corner and Diaz flips him off. Diaz walks up the ramp and flips off the cage. Diaz turns around and give a full frontal flip off to anyone that will take it. Noons is the first EliteXC Lightweight champion. A rematch would be nice but given the way this fight ended, I would be surprised if Nick Diaz returned to EliteXC.
Winner: KJ Noons by TKO at the end of round 1.

Final Thoughts

The two most hyped fights turned out to be the most disappointing with their finishes. Silva, Noke, and Shields all looked good but the two featured bouts ended too abruptly to consider this a good show. Former UFC and PRIDE fighter Yves Edwards was on the untelevised undercard and churned out a first round rear naked choke victory over Nick Gonzalez. It was a night of quick work as only one of the televised fights made it into the second round. I will admit that it is fun to see this organization create new champions. KJ Noons was made into one tonight and Jake Shields and Antonio Silva may not be far behind.