EliteXC: Street Certified Review

Results

The baddest brawler of today takes on the baddest brawler of yesterday. Both have awesome beards. Don’t expect any ground transitions as Kimbo Slice takes on Tank Abbott in the main event.

James Thompson vs. Brett Rogers (Heavyweight)
Referee: Troy Waugh

Speaking of brawlers, we have a matchup of two guys that like to slug it out to open up the televised card. Thompson has fought numerous times in PRIDE and seems to get knocked out as many times as he knocks others out. Thompson shoots out of the corner like a cannon. He goes for a takedown but Rogers fights to stay on his feet. Thompson gets the takedown but Rogers scrambles to his feet. They stay in the clinch as Rogers lands many unanswered shots to Thompson’s body. Thompson trips Rogers back down to the ground but Rogers again scrambles to his feet. Rogers lands a knee out of the clinch to create separation and follows with a five punch combination that initially wobbles Thompson and ultimately finishes him. Thompson pulls the standard groggy fighter move and tries to wrestle the referee.
Winner – Brett Rogers by KO at 2:24 of round 1.

Yves Edwards vs. Edson Berto (Lightweight)
Referee: Jorge Ortiz

Berto is a talented fighter that has yet to realize his potential. Edwards is a veteran of both UFC and PRIDE and claims to be a practitioner of Thug-Jitsu. EliteXC actually lists his fighting discipline as Thug-Jitsu during their Tale of the Tape. Grow up.

They trade leg kicks to start and both seem content to keep things standing. After exchanging punches Berto shoots in for a takedown off of a kick. Berto gets the takedown and later maneuvers into a guillotine choke. Edwards is in trouble but escapes into a kimura on Berto. Berto scrambles out of trouble. Edwards is in Berto’s guard as Edwards does a good job of landing shots even though Berto is landing a few from guard. The referee stands them up and Goldberg is upset with the standup. I hate to agree with Goldberg but he’s got a point here. These two were extremely active on the ground and there was no need for the restart. Berto lands a sweet punch-high kick combo with 20 seconds left in the first round. Berto shoots in and grabs Edwards’ leg. Edwards pushes Berto’s head away and lands a desperation flying knee that crumbles Berto to the mat. It was a good risk because if the KO doesn’t come then Edwards is in a bad spot, but with less than 10 seconds left there isn’t much to lose.
Winner – Yves Edwards by KO at 4:56 of round 1.

Scott Smith vs. Kyle Noke (Middleweight)
Referee: Troy Waugh

You may know Scott Smith from whatever season of Ultimate Fighter he was on. Or for his dramatic knockout of Pete Sell after breaking his ribs. Smith promised his father a 30-second feelout process to start the fight but that turns out to be more like two minutes. Noke is keeping his distance, using his jab and leg kicks. Smith can’t seem to get as close as he wants to as Noke is moving around the cage very well. Smith is throwing one punch at a time while Noke remains way more active. Smith charges at the end of the round and lands some nice kicks but it is too little too late as this round is all Noke.

Smith comes out with more intensity in the second round. A left misses but the right doesn’t and Noke is out. Noke is also cut on his upper lip.
Winner – Scott Smith by KO at 0:07 of round 2.

Antonio Silva vs. Ricco Rodriguez (Heavyweight)
Referee: Jorge Ortiz

Before Kimbo was signed, Silva was being built as the face of the heavyweight division. Rodriguez is a former UFC champion and star of Celebrity Rehab. The first round begins in a boring feelout process. The only thing entertaining me now is watching how far Ricco’s gut hangs over his shorts. Silva is using his length very well, landing jabs and kicks. Rodriguez is throwing knees and that’s about all he has against Silva in the standup. Rodriguez shoots in and gets the takedown. Some ground and pound goes on but nothing very damaging lands.

Silva lands both punches and kicks to start the second round. Rodriguez gets caught by something everytime he tries to get close to Silva. Silva rushes Ricco but Ricco drops for a single-leg takedown attempt. They lean against the cage as Rodriguez gives up and moves into a clinch. Rodriguez drops for a foot but Silva steps out and rains punches on a downed Rodriguez. Silva gets Ricco’s back and moves into side mount. Silva is able to land some heavy punches but Rodriguez is doing a good job of avoiding even more punishment. Rodriguez pulls guard but Silva can still land his shots easily given his reach. The ref stands the two up and Ricco claims he can’t see out of his left eye. The doctor is called but Ricco tells the doc he wants to continue. Perhaps he was just buying time. The restart sees Silva do a gator roll in an attempt for an anaconda choke but Rodriguez is better than that.

Silva is patient to open the final round as Ricco starts as the busier man. Silva shoots in for the takedown and gets it. Silva can land shots from the ground and pound but Ricco has been doing a great job of limiting the damage. The ref stands them up with two and a half minutes remaining. A right hook backs Rodriguez up. Rodriguez shoots but is unable to take Silva down instantly. Ricco turns and is able to bring Silva down but has found himself in guard. Ricco is staying active on top but his punches don’t have anything on them at this point. He tries elbows instead. The bell rings and Ricco is surely happy to just make it the distance.
Winner – Antonio Silva by split decision.

Kimbo Slice vs. Tank Abbott (Heavyweight)
Referee: Troy Waugh

The hype was all about two brawlers going at it but what about their beards? Those things are pretty sweet. Kimbo styled his chest hair last time and I think this madman is at it again. I don’t know what it is supposed to resemble but one pec is underlined with hair while the other is not. You know you have to be a badass to pull that off. Huge “Kimbo” chants echo before the fight begins.

The bell rings and these two bulls meet in the center of the cage. They trade jabs and Tank forces his way into a clinch that pushes Kimbo against the cage. They separate and Tank already seems frustrated that he has short arms. Kimbo connects on a hook that wobbles Tank. Kimbo pushes Tank down and lands a couple shots to the back of Tank’s head. The ref steps in to warn Kimbo about the illegal shots. The crowd thinks he stopped it. Tank is on wobbly legs and Kimbo just wants to get back at him. Kimbo is about to murder Tank but the ref steps in again because a mouthpiece is missing. Kimbo finds it first and launches it out of the cage. They start again in the center of the cage and Kimbo drops Tank again with a right hand. Tank gets right back up and Kimbo puts him back down with another right hand. Tank is up again. Kimbo lands another hard shot and Tank faceplants. He’s not going to be getting up this time.
Winner – Kimbo Slice by KO at 0:43 of round 1.

Final Thoughts

The Kimbo Show delivered. I assume EliteXC will continue to match him up against guys he can overwhelm to keep his mystique intact, but it would be nice to see how he fares in an MMA match and not just a Toughman Contest. One thing that seems to be consistent with EliteXC events is fights being finished. Tonight was no different as four of the five fights ended by KO. All the fighters that scored knockouts tonight came out looking very good. Smith has moved on to a Middleweight title shot and I wouldn’t be surprised if Yves Edwards and Antonio Silva were next in line for title opportunities in their respective weight classes.