I figured since I wasn’t going to write up a full and detailed preview of tonights EliteXC show on CBS I’d go to CBSSportsline.com to see what they had to say. Their article includes five contributing MMA writers covering each of the main card fights. Here are predictions from each writer for each fight.

Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson by Denny Burkholder
Kimbo claims he wants to show off more ground skills, and Thompson says he would like to take the fight to the ground. Don’t listen to either of them. Once the fight begins, they’ll both be throwing bombs. Kimbo is being cultivated as EliteXC’s superstar fighter, and Thompson was recently knocked out by Brett Rogers. It’s not a coincidence that Thompson’s glass jaw earned him a spot in the main event. Kimbo will flatten Thompson in the first round, and we’ll still wonder about his ground game come Sunday.

Robbie Lawler vs. Scott Smith by Sam Caplan
Scott Smith is an easy guy to root for, but he faces an opponent in Robbie Lawler who has really come into his own. Lawler is not the same fighter he was in the UFC, as he’s become more well-rounded. As for Smith, he’s been training on the ground longer than his standup, but we’ve rarely seen those all-around skills. I expect this to be another brawl, and while Smith has a puncher’s chance, I believe the percentages are in Lawler’s favor of walking away the winner. Lawler via first round TKO.

Gina Carano vs. Kaitlin Young by Gregg Doyel
Kaitlin isn’t the name of a fighter. Kaitlin is the name of a kindergarten girlie with pigtails, or a baby-sitter with braces. Nobody named Kaitlin can beat Gina Carano, that’s for damn sure. If you wanted better analysis than this, sorry. I can’t get into women fighting. Am I sexist? Perhaps.

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Leading up to the big EliteXC show this weekend the press has been all over the fighters. MMA Rated.com caught up with the lovely Gina Carano. Gina doesn’t have much to say and the interviewer is a bit awkward. I wish this video provided some amazing insight into her fight (or any EliteXC fight), but what the hell, it is Gina Carano and she’s easy on the eyes.

Here are the numbers from UFC 84 care of MMA Payout.com. Check these guys out, solid insight into the money-side of mixed martial arts.

The total disclosed payroll for UFC 84 (including disclosed bonuses) was $1,323,000. Assuming $8,990,000 in pay-per-view revenue (400,000 pay-per-view buys at $44.95 with 50/50 revenue split with pay-per-view companies) and including the $3.7 million live gate, the event would generate $12,690,000 in total revenue for Zuffa.

That would put the disclosed payroll at roughly 10.4% of revenue generated. However, it is important to note the company regularly pays substantial undisclosed bonuses.

Unless otherwise noted all winner’s payouts reflect a 100% win bonus:

* B.J. Penn ($250,000) d. Sean Sherk ($35,000)
* Wanderlei Silva ($225,000*) d. Keith Jardine ($10,000)
* Goran Reljic ($81,000#) d. Wilson Gouveia ($93,000#)
* Lyoto Machida ($100,000) d. Tito Ortiz ($210,000)
* Thiago Silva ($50,000) d. Antonio Mendes ($4,000)
* Rousimar Palhares ($85,000^) d. Ivan Salaverry ($20,000)
* Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou ($80,000) d. Kazuhiro Nakamura ($20,00O)
* Rich Clementi ($40,000) d. Terry Etim ($10,000)
* Yoshiyuki Yoshida ($12,000) d. Jon Koppenhaver ($8,000)
* Dong Hyun Kim ($40,000) d. Jason Tan ($3000)
* Shane Carwin ($12,000) d. Christian Wellisch ($10,000)

* - $150,000 base pay plus $75,000 bonus for KO of the Night
# - includes $75,000 bonus for Fight of the Night
^ - includes $75,000 bonus for Submission of the Night

Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell has put his name on a new line of suppliments called Iceman Rx. It was announced this week that Liddell has struck a deal with online retail giant Amazon.com. Chucky tells all in the vid clip below.

Here is the official press release:

Newport Beach, CA (PRWEB) May 24, 2008 — After years of experience with intense training sessions and the supplements that have proven to effectively support those workouts, UFC fighter Chuck Liddell is introducing a new product to the sports nutrition market. Originally designed to maximize his training, this patent pending formula is now being made available to Amazon.com customers.

“Getting Chuck’s product live on Amazon is just a perfect marriage between two verifiable heavyweights,” says Mitch Gould of NPI who assisted in the negotiations. “Amazon obviously has a huge online presence and a reputation to match,” added Mitch.

The first product available via Amazon.com is a two-step system. The Pre-Workout formula aids in development of strength, training intensity, and stamina. The post-workout formula helps with muscle recovery, refueling the body and muscle growth. Together they form the patent pending Iceman Rx Complete 2-Step Package. (more…)

I caught Quinton Jackson’s boxing coach, Juanito Ibarra, on camera without his signature hat. It came to me that this was the first time I’ve ever seen him with an exposed dome. It was a quick clip on The Ultimate Fighter, but here is a better view.

Juanito is a pretty dynmanic guy and a site called ThaFomula.com posted a good interview with him. It’s a good chance get the perspecitve of one of the top trainers in all of mixed martial arts.

thaFormula.com - Let’s get into your background Juanito for those that don’t know…

Juanito Ibarra - Well I’m a Mexican American and proud to be. I’m from San Pedro California. I grew up there and got into fighting when I was young. I used to like to fight. I got into martial arts because I wanted to actually learn how to fight. I got busted up there when my trainer broke some ribs and I decided to go to a boxing gym and got mentored by the best boxing people in the world and the lord has blessed me with teaching skills. That’s where he took me and that’s where I found my skills.

Lots more of the Juanito Ibarra interview here at ThaFormula

With Joe Rogan noticeably absent from the commentating booth at UFC 83 in Montreal, there have been rumors out there in the MMA community that Rogan had split ways with the organization. Unless you were very excited to have Kenny Florian join Goldie on the broadcast, don’t worry as Rogan says he will definitely be back for UFC 84. I think KenFlo did a solid play-by-play job his first time round, but Rogan really is the voice of the Octagon and I’ll be glad to see him back. Rogan squashed all rumors of his UFC departure last month on his blog:

There’s been a lot of goofy articles written on the internet lately about me missing the UFC card in Montreal this weekend, speculating all sorts of silly reasons why I’m not going to be there, so I figured it would be a good idea if I cleared it up here.

The only reason I’m not going to be there is because of a family obligation. I’m certainly not upset at the UFC, and I’m not quitting to start doing commentary for a rival organization. I’ve also heard some ridiculous shit about me having massive fallout with the UFC president Dana White, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Dana is a very good friend of mine, and in the 7 years I’ve known him we’ve never even had a single disagreement. He’s a controversial dude, and a wild motherfucker, but that’s why he’s the perfect president for the wildest sport in the world.

More from Joe Rogan’s blog here.