Does CBS water down MMA for the national audience?

Question

I get the distinct impression that fights are stopped early and not for legitimate purposes for fear of putting off the general public. In addition, the commentators have been instructed to verse the audience in the most basic aspects of the sport while the real fans have to sit through this. I say broadcast the sport as if the audience was well versed in MMA and let them catch up. Don't water it down. Anyone else agree?

Answer 1

No.

The referees are not chosen by the network (CBS), or by the organization (Elitexc).

The referees are chosen by the State commission which sanctions the event.

Answer 2

Well, I think explaining things for the general audience is a good thing, and good for the sport. It makes sense to catch people up, that isn't watering it down, that is educating more people, making the sport larger. Honestly I wish some "real fans" actually knew more about the sport.

I do think they stopped fights pretty quickly, or a little more quickly than they normally would. Again, there is no need to shock and awe the general public when you are trying to build a reputation as a legitimate sport, and not the "blood sport" it has the reputation of being.

I would rather a few fights be stopped at the first instance of being able to be legitimately stopped and gaining 10 thousand more fans of MMA, then letting a bloodbath go on in a non title fight and have 10 thousand people write it off as "Yup, pure barbarism and brutality just like I thought, this is just bloodsport cage fighting..."

As someone who has been a fan of, been involved with, and participated in this sport for a long time, I am way more interested in having it thought of as a legitimate sport, gaining wider mainstream attention, then it maintaining an old reputation as a "No rules bloodfest" and people wanting it banned.

Again, it isn't watering it down to inform people of what is going on.. (that is actually enhancing it). Nor to be a little bit more liberal in stoppages during non title fights before a national primetime broadcast. It isn't as though they don't have a reason to stop them.

If you ask me, what waters MMA down is having Kimbo Slice be your headliner, putting on a d**n 5 minute ring entrance by sucky @ss 10 loss Phil Baroni. Along with d**n Elite XC dancers and making a d**n circus out of the biggest opportunity for exposure MMA has had. That waters it down...

At least in my opinion

Answer 3

I think you're right. They want to show MMA, but they don't want it to be TOO violent or TOO bloody, which is stupid. Because it is a violent sport, and there is blood involved. It sort of messes with the purity of the sport. MMA and network TV is a bad fit. That being said, I will probably be watching Elite XC on Saturday night. I'd rather watch bad MMA, than no MMA at all.

Answer 4

I think it's more or less trying to stay within the guidelines of the state's athletic commisions. If you really wanna watch things like eye gouging, neck throttling, groin kicking and all that other stuff my suggestion is go to a prison exercise yard and hope for a riot.

As for explaining everything well you do have to realize not every one is a seasoned MMA fan so it makes sense for their commentators to try and make it simple for the average viewer to understand.

Answer 5

Well the announcers breaking it down was to be expected since mainstream America has never seen anything like it. As far as watering it down? Not exactly the way I'd describe it. They're fixed fights. Elite spent a lot of money promoting in prime time for these events......they can't allow their stars to fail!

A simple piece of evidence is watch the kimbo fight and then search butterbean vs patrick smith......same ref......very different stoppage.

Elite XC is a joke

Answer 6

The refs aren't chosen by the EliteXC, but by the state athletic commission.  Last show was in Florida, and featured some very bad calls.  It makes you want John McCarthy to be back in the game.  Even when you thought he would call something early, the replay always showed that the guy was out.

It is a little watered down, but it is still mma.