SOUTHAVEN, Mississippi - Showtime and EliteXC formally entered the mixed martial arts community on February 10, 2007 at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, Mississippi. Though featuring Frank Shamrock and Renzo Gracie in the main event, the fight card was less significant than the fact that MMA had found another home on TV.

Following the UFC's success on Spike TV, Showtime's product has the potential to create thousands, if not millions, of new MMA fans. What's more, Showtime has the reputation and financial clout to sign top-tier fighters who represent the real driving force behind the sport's growth. The better the fighters who appear on Showtime, the better the fights. Great match-ups will inevitably lead to better ratings and consequently a larger fan base for the sport in general.

Having said that, EliteXC's debut was nearly ruined by a contract dispute involving Frank Shamrock and the Strikeforce promotion. Shamrock was already under contract with the San Jose-based promoter when he signed with EliteXC to fight Gracie. A few weeks out from the event, Strikeforce's owners filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent Shamrock from fighting. The two parties resolved the matter with just days to go. For Strikeforce, the compromise was a real coup. Future Showtime events would feature not only EliteXC's brand and fighters but Strikeforce's as well, paving the way for a Frank Shamrock and Phil Baroni match-up in the near future.

THE POSITIVES
As for the "Destiny" event itself, several positives stood out.
• The card featured big names in the sport. The fights were more or less competitive with some entertaining finishes thrown in.
• Gina Carano's battle with Julie Kedzie was a fantastic advertisement for women's MMA and, for my money, the fight of the night.
• The fact that the broadcast team, led by ex-PRIDE commentator Mauro Ranallo, freely mentioned the UFC and PRIDE was a breath of fresh air. Too often in the past, promoters have acted as if their competitors did not exist. In effect, they kept a section of their audience in the dark about the true nature and diversity of the sport.

THE NEGATIVES
There were some negatives as well.
• The main event was anticlimactic to the say the least. Shamrock's performance and disqualification spoke volumes about the former UFC champion's prowess.
• The ring girls may have entertained males in the front row, but from a television viewer's perspective their constant gyrating was tacky.
• The large decorative dragon's head, on view as the fighters made their entrance, was another mistake by the production team. The word corny comes to mind.

THE MAIN CARD
Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett def. K.J. Noons by TKO at 3:43 of the 1st round

The fighters went through a feeling-out process. Then Noons, a muay Thai specialist and winner of PRIDE's U.S. auditions in 2004, connected with some damaging leg kicks. Just as Noons was establishing his stand-up, Bennett landed a left to the body then followed with a devastating right hook that sent his opponent to the canvas. A couple of finishing punches later, the fight was over and the PRIDE veteran continued the entertainment with two trademark back-flips off the top of the cage.

Analysis
Many thought Noons' technical striking would win the day, but the crafty Bennett proved otherwise. If the Florida native honed his ground game, he could become a much more difficult opponent in the lightweight division. Noons, on the other hand, goes back to the drawing board. Because of his youth and striking ability, there's hope for him yet.


Gina Carano def. Julie Kedzie by Unanimous Decision


Carano's style can be likened to Chuck Liddell's. She used good takedown defense to keep the fight standing then picked apart her opponent with her superior striking. When Kedzie managed to take the fight to the floor, Carano's defensive jiu-jitsu was good enough to get her back to her feet every time. Carano landed several hard shots but wasn't able to finish the very tough Kedzie who, to my mind, won round three. Still, it wasn't enough to take the bout.

Analysis
Many male fans will never be convinced by women's MMA, but this fight should open the eyes of others. The bout was technical and fast-paced, and both women showed toughness and determination. With her good looks and striking skills, Carano has the makings of a star.


Joey Villasenor def. David Loiseau by Unanimous Decision

Villasenor imposed his will from the outset. His game plan was extremely effective as he exploited Loiseau's weakness in the clinch, taking the French-Canadian to the mat time and time again. On the ground, Villasenor dominated position and delivered some punishment, but he never looked close to ending the fight. Loiseau showed more urgency as the fight neared its end, and in the third round Villasenor was happy to trade. He floored Loiseau with an overhead right, but the Crow recovered. In the end, it was an easy fight to score for the judges.

Analysis
Loiseau's dip in form continued. Tentative and listless, he hasn't been the same since the beating he suffered at the hands of Rich Franklin. Villasenor, on the other hand, bounced back from consecutive losses, proving that he's a fighter to be reckoned with at 185 pounds.


Antonio Silva def. Wesley "Cabbage" Correira by TKO (Strikes) at 3:49 of the 1st round

The giant Brazilian did what Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski failed to do. He finished the hard-headed Cabbage inside of the 1st round. Silva moved well for a super heavyweight, even executing a textbook double-leg takedown at one point. He worked his hands well before showing his dexterity with a flying knee that rattled his opponent. The left hook that effectively finished the contest had a wide, sweeping arc to it. The punch landed on the button, and Cabbage went down for good.

Analysis
Silva is an interesting fighter to watch. He seems to have the tools that other super heavyweights lack. The problem will be finding other super heavyweights who can push him. Cabbage is a name in the sport, but his growth as a fighter stalled a long time ago.


Renzo Gracie def. Frank Shamrock by Disqualification (Knees to the head of a down opponent) at 2:00 in the 2nd round

Before the fight, Shamrock talked about his anti-jiujitsu. From the looks of things, he needed more work on his takedown defense from the clinch. Gracie was able to close the distance and get the takedown, spending most of the opening stanza in side control. The Brazilian seemed content to stay in dominant position, dropping the occasional punch. There seemed little urgency to search for a submission.

Shamrock came out throwing leg kicks and punches in the 2nd round, but again he proved vulnerable to the takedown. The two fighters were close to the fence, with Gracie in side control, when Shamrock decided to throw two knees that struck the Brazilian on the neck and back of the head. Dazed and hurt, Gracie fell onto his back and wasn't able to continue. The illegal blows resulted in Shamrock's disqualification.

Analysis
Referee Herb Dean should have called for a break after the first illegal knee was thrown. Perhaps, having sustained only the one blow, Gracie could have continued with the fight. But most of the blame has to rest with Shamrock, a veteran who should have known the rules and known better. A rematch may be on the cards, but it's questionable whether the fans want to see these fighters, both arguably past their prime, go at it again.adsf