or


[04/16/08 - 08:55 AM]
CBS and Elitexc Announce Lineup for Inaugural Primetime Broadcast of "CBS Elitexc Saturday Night Fights," May 31 on the CBS Television Network
"In terms of recognition and perception, I believe May 31 is the biggest and single most important MMA fight card ever," said EliteXC's Gary Shaw.

[via press release from CBS]

CBS AND ELITEXC ANNOUNCE LINEUP FOR INAUGURAL PRIMETIME BROADCAST OF "CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS," MAY 31 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Street Fighting Legend-Turned-EliteXC Heavyweight Sensation Kimbo Slice Will Square Off Against Hard-Hitting British MMA Standout James "Colossus" Thompson in the Main Event of a Five-Fight Broadcast

Popular Female Fighter Gina "Conviction" Carano and EliteXC Middleweight Champion "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler will also Appear on the Card

LOS ANGELES, April 16 - CBS and EliteXC today announced the lineup for the first "CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS," to be broadcast live from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Saturday, May 31 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

"In terms of recognition and perception, I believe May 31 is the biggest and single most important MMA fight card ever. It will forever change the landscape of the sport and how it is perceived," said Gary Shaw, EliteXC Live Events President.

The following five primetime matchups are confirmed for the CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS on May 31.

Kimbo Slice vs. James "Colossus" Thompson (Heavyweights)

"Ruthless" Robbie Lawler vs. Scott "Hands of Steel" Smith (for EliteXC Middleweight title)

Gina "Conviction" Carano vs. Kaitlin Young (140 lb. weight class)

Phil Baroni vs. Murilo "Ninja" Rua (Middleweights)

Brett "The Grim" Rogers vs. Jon Murphy (Heavyweights)

KIMBO SLICE vs. JAMES "COLOSSUS" THOMPSON

Heavyweight sensation Kimbo Slice will headline the first-ever CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS. From the street to EliteXC, Slice's unorthodox ascension through the world of mixed martial arts started with posting his local fights on "YouTube," a move that quickly garnered millions of downloads and made him an instant legend among fans of the sport. Kimbo, aka Kevin Ferguson, who resides in Perrine, Fla., near Miami, will be matched against James "Colossus" Thompson, a British MMA standout whose pre-fighting resume includes work as a "debt collector." Thompson is aptly nicknamed, standing at six-foot-five and weighing more than 250 pounds. He will be the first MMA fighter to possess a height advantage over the six-foot-two-inch Kimbo. This bout is scheduled for three five-minute rounds.

"RUTHLESS" ROBBIE LAWLER vs. SCOTT "HANDS OF STEEL" SMITH

Champion "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler of St. Louis by way of Davenport, Iowa will put his title on the line against Scott "Hands of Steel" Smith in the evening's middleweight championship fight. Lawler trains under the legendary Pat Miletich, while Smith trains in Reno, Nev. Both fighters are widely considered two of the most prolific knockout artists in the business. This championship bout is slated for five five-minute rounds.

GINA "CONVICTION" CARANO vs. KAITLIN YOUNG

In a female bout, Gina "Conviction" Carano will square off against Circle Pines, Minn. native Kaitlin Young. Carano, an undefeated Muay Thai specialist, lives and trains in Las Vegas, Nev., and is considered one of the most popular female fighters in the world of mixed martial arts. Carano recently appeared on the series "American Gladiators" where she put her skills to the test as the gladiator "Crush." Young, a well-conditioned athlete who trains at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, started Olympic-style taekwondo when she was 14. Her aggressive style and Muay Thai background should provide one of the most interesting matchups of the evening. This bout is scheduled for three three-minute rounds.

PHIL BARONI vs. MURILO "NINJA" RUA

Outspoken, hard-hitting, MMA bad boy, Phil Baroni, will take on former EliteXC middleweight champ Murilo "Ninja" Rua, a specialist in Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu- jitsu. Baroni, a fighter known for always putting on a good show, hails from Long Island, N.Y., and is currently training in Las Vegas, Nev. and San Jose, Calif. The talented Rua is currently training in his hometown of Curitiba, Brazil. This bout is scheduled for three five-minute rounds.

BRETT "THE GRIM" ROGERS vs. JON MURPHY

Brett "The Grim" Rogers brings an impressive undefeated record to the fight against fellow heavyweight contender Jon Murphy. The explosive, hard-hitting Rogers, who hails from Minneapolis, Minn., is six-foot-five and weighs over 260 pounds. Murphy, a former middle linebacker at Syracuse University who lives in Minersville, Penn, is six-foot-four and weighs over 240 pounds. This bout is scheduled for three five-minute rounds.

The intense nature of the contests and the theatrical elements of its live events have made mixed martial arts one of the fastest growing spectator sports in the U.S. Over the last several years, the genre has seen tremendous growth in popularity, especially among the coveted 18-34 demographic.

Mixed martial arts is a sport evolved from a number of ancient combat disciplines including judo, jiu-jitsu, karate, wrestling and kickboxing. World-class athletes engage in hand-to-hand combat in a ring-both caged and traditional-and must adapt their fighting style to fit their opponent. The wide variety of styles and techniques make every event an unpredictable spectacle.

CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS will be produced by SHOWTIME Sports. The executive producer is David Dinkins, Jr. with Bob Dunphy directing.

For additional information and fighter profiles, visit http://www.proelite.com/





  [april 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[07/11/25 - 12:45 PM]
ABC Concludes September to May Season with Top Five Shows Among Adults 18-49 Including "High Potential," "Abbott Elementary," "The Rookie," "Shifting Gears" and "9-1-1"
Continuing to lead among broadcast series, ABC's "High Potential" stood as the No. 1 new drama among Total Viewers (16.41 million) and No. 1 new show among Adults 18-49 (3.85 rating).

[07/11/25 - 11:28 AM]
"Big Brother: Summer of Mystery" Premiere Up +10% from Last Summer
Last night, season 27 premiered to nearly 3 million viewers.

[07/11/25 - 10:01 AM]
FX's "Alien: Earth" Takes Fandom to New Heights with Premium Exclusive Content Including a Companion Podcast and Innovative Immersive Experiences
"Alien: Earth," a new drama series from Noah Hawley inspired by the acclaimed feature film franchise, will premiere on Tuesday, August 12.

[07/11/25 - 10:01 AM]
CBS Unveils Fall Primetime Premiere Dates for the 2025-2026 Season
Highlights include an early return for "Watson" on Monday, October 13 in place of the previously announced "FBI" spin-off "CIA."

[07/11/25 - 10:00 AM]
The "Outlander" Universe Expands in Hall H, as Starz Returns to San Diego Comic-Con
Look for can't miss panels for "Outlander" and "Outlander: Blood of my Blood" in Hall H on Friday, July 25 and an in-depth preview of the newest saga in the Spartacus franchise, "Spartacus: House of Ashur" on Saturday, July 26 in the Indigo Ballroom.

[07/11/25 - 10:00 AM]
Adult Swim Returns to San Diego Comic-Con with "Pirate Purrrty on the Green," Must-See Panel Events, and Exclusive First Looks and Giveaways
Adult Swim will bring its famed pirate ship outside the San Diego Convention Center (5th Avenue Landing and Convention Way), this time with a feline twist!

[07/11/25 - 09:01 AM]
HBO Max to Host Fan Experiences for Upcoming Seasons of "Peacemaker" and "It: Welcome to Derry" in San Diego
The festivities include a panel in Hall H, where showrunner/writer/director and Co-Head of DC Studios James Gunn and the cast of "Peacemaker" will share new details about the upcoming season and premiere the global trailer for season two.

[07/11/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Billy Joel: And So It Goes" - Official Trailer - HBO Max
There's always a message in the music.

[07/11/25 - 06:00 AM]
"Love Island (UK)" 10th Anniversary Special Date Announcement
The special premieres in the US on Friday, July 11.

[07/11/25 - 02:01 AM]
Netflix Will Release "Death Inc." Seasons 1, 2 and 3
The series is a comedy centered around a family-run funeral home and the relationships between the eccentric characters who inhabit it.

[07/11/25 - 12:01 AM]
"Too Hot to Handle: Italy" Is Coming on July 18 Only on Netflix
A special guest will guide the contestants in the first Italian edition of the reality show.

[07/10/25 - 07:01 PM]
Video: "The Winning Try" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After his career fell apart, a disgraced rugby star finds purpose coaching his old school's team - driving them and himself toward growth and redemption.

[07/10/25 - 07:01 PM]
Video: "The Nice Guy" - Teaser Trailer #3 - Disney+
He wants out for good. But the past comes with strings.

[07/10/25 - 05:03 PM]
Meagan Good Returns to Lifetime to Executive Produce and Star in the Alluring New Thriller "I'll Never Let You Go" Alongside Antonio Cupo and Thomas Cadrot, Premiering August 16 on Lifetime
Good stars as Emily Westover, a poised and successful art gallery director whose life takes a dark turn after a brief, impulsive affair with a magnetic Italian artist, Carlo (Cupo).

[07/10/25 - 12:01 PM]
"Virgin River" Is Returning for Season 8
"On behalf of myself and the whole 'Virgin River' family, we're eternally grateful to Netflix and to the fans for allowing us to continue on this journey with these beloved characters," said showrunner Patrick Sean Smith.