There was one thing that ProElite showed this weekend with their debut card, “Arlovski vs. Lopez,” more than anything else: they’ve learned the lessons from the absolute failure that was Elite XC. You can read the results here, and watch every fight broadcast here, for what was a nice dessert to UFC 134 this weekend. Everything else from the promotion, which featured a handful of name fighters, screamed of nothing more than a solid regional effort.
And that’s not a bad thing.
The one thing that has plagued every major competitor that has wound up on Dana White’s tombstone of dead MMA promotions has been the desire to go big immediately. EliteXC was the first card to be shown on broadcast television but its inability to have a strong production showcased just how superior the Zuffa product was at that point in terms of being a strong television product. It came onto the scene with bluster and disappeared as quickly as Affliction’s attempt to get into the MMA business, as opposed to merely being the t-shirt of choice for bedazzled clothing aficionados and fraternity brothers.
ProElite garnered some buzz online for itself, even having been rumored to be CBS’s replacement for Strikeforce, but everyone involved pointed out that the new Hawaiian based fight promotion wanted to start small and grow slowly. And if the first show is any indication it just wasn’t talk until they could find the right deal for television.
With a solid production value for a regional promotion, and broadcast to hardcore fight fans, ProElite showcased exactly what it needs to be in order to continually be successful: aging veterans looking for redemption and prospects not quite ready for even a season on “The Ultimate Fighter.” That’s not a bad thing, however, because it’s the right way to try and become a successful, smaller promotion like Shark Fights or Tachi Palace Fights. In the long run functioning as a Hawaiian based feeder system will be the best path to success.
The card itself had a number of good fights that were entertaining, as well as a handful of good moments that lent itself a feeling that this is the start of something strong. Seeing all four of the Penn brothers walking to the cage to prepare for Reagan’s debut, rumored to be the most skilled at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the family, was an indelible moment for hardcore fight fans watching on Sherdog.
Everything else on the show felt like a second-tier MMA program in that everyone on the card was either on their way up or their way down. Ultimate Fighter winner Kendall Grove, recently released from the UFC, earned the first of what will probably be a handful of wins needed to get back to his former home. Andrei Arlovski notched his first victory in some time and some solid prospects, including Reagan Penn, showed that they have the ability to eventually get to the top levels of the sport.
The show’s strongest point was in its production was in its ability to recognize all of this and act accordingly. This was the debut show of a small promotion and there wasn’t a lot of bluster about these fighters being the best in the world, et al. This was a place for prospects and former top guys, nothing more, and it was rather refreshing to see and hear a promotion act accordingly. The show’s best fight was Sara McMann defeating Raquel Pa’aluhi, stronger than any recent Strikeforce women’s MMA fight, and ProElite showed that while it may not have the best fighters they still can put together some interesting fights.
Shockingly one of the best parts of the night was former UFC Lightweight titleholder Jens Pulver, who brought a surprisingly strong presence to the commentary booth. He could have a future in that department with some time and development, especially considering his credentials in the cage.
Was it a brilliant show? No, that would go to UFC 134 earlier that evening. It’s hard to call yourself an MMA fan if you couldn’t enjoy UFC 134, at least I’d like to think. Was ProElite “Arlovski vs. Lopez” good for a regional promotion getting its feet wet? Yes. If anything, ProElite is a small regional promotion that has left room for improvement while also showing it can provide an entertaining card.
