UFC president Dana White appeared on ESPN to once again defend criticism against mixed martial arts. This time the issue was directed specifically a MMA being shown on broadcast television (EliteXC on CBS). Dana does a good job as usual of countering his debater, but it is interesting to note how defensive he gets at the mention of the conversation turning into a UFC vs. EliteXC issue. Is he finally starting to get a little worried about his UFC monopoly?

Awhile ago I wrote that I didn’t think Gina Carano was all that cute, in fact she was a bit too “think” for my taste. You readers ripped me a new one with all of your comments. Since that posting I’ve come around and have seen the light, even more so after tonight’s EliteXC show. Now I feel it is my duty focus a bit more MMA’s hottest fighter.

All About Gina Carano:

Middle Name: Joy
Hometown: Las Vegas
Status: Single
Sexual Orientation: Straight
Favorite Book: The Bible
Hero: Jesus
Sign: Aries

On to the Gina Carano photo gallery (sorry, no nude Gina Carano pictures out there, yet):

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…)