Shamrock vs Slice Pales In Comparison to Upcoming UFC Main Events

Competition is a good thing. A strong Affliction promotion is great for the sport. A strong EliteXC would be great for the sport as well.

However, the upcoming "marquee" match-up between Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson and Ken Shamrock illustrates just how far the gap is between the UFC and Elite XC. In "Kimbo Slice" you have a fighter that made a name for himself on the Internet. A fighter that is being spoon-fed "tomato cans" in order to increase his aura of invincibility. A fighter who just barely beat James Thompson in May. A fighter who is the centerpiece of the Elite XC promotion.

Then you have Ken Shamrock. Much like another one of Ferguson's previous opponents, David "Tank" Abbott", Shamrock is a formerly successful fighter whose best days are far behind him. Shamrock used to be the "World's Most Dangerous Man" - however now, at the age of 44, he is merely just a sheep that is being thrown to the wolves. Shamrock has just fought once in the last two years - a vicious beatdown by the unknown Robert Berry at CR 25 - Bring It On.

This is the best that Elite XC can do?

Elite XC's "marquee" match-up starts to wilt when you compare it to some of the match-ups that the UFC will be putting on in the coming months.

How about Randy Couture vs Brock Lesnar at UFC 91? Here you have an up-and-coming force in the heavyweight division who elicits extremely strong emotions from fans, battling the defending UFC heavyweight champion who has a long history of pulling out unexpected defeats. Can the 45 year old Couture topple the "Next Big Thing"? There are so many storylines that run throughout this match-up, and it should be no surprise that this will be one of the biggest PPVs ever.

Or how about B.J. Penn vs Georges St. Pierre? The lightweight champion moving up to Welterweight to take on the current Welterweight champion? Two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world taking each other on? This is expected to be the main event of UFC 93 in January.

Or how about Rashad Evans vs Forrest Griffin? Or Liddell against Rua (if it happens)?

I applaud the Elite XC for trying their best to get their promotion off of the ground. However, they just don't stand a chance, especially when you compare their main events to those of the UFC. Sure, it's an unfair comparison, as the UFC is the 800 pound gorilla of the industry and Elite XC is just starting out. However, that's what they are dealing with, and this is the reason why I think that Elite XC will fail before the year is out. They just can't even come close to competing talent wise with the UFC.

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