CBS Joins Team with Showtime Elite XC

In a move that MMA opponents said would never happen, mixed martial arts be broadcasted on network television. CBS has signed Showtime Elite XC to produce four two-hour shows to be aired on Saturday nights.

"Mixed martial arts is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and a wildly popular entertainment vehicle for upscale, young adult audiences," said Kelly Kahl, Senior Executive Vice President, CBS Primetime. "It's original programming for Saturday night; it's live, creating an event-atmosphere; and it's something that hasn't been seen on network television, until now."

CBS first show will use the embarrassingly popular backyard brawler Kimbo Slice as its main event. My prediction: look to Elite XC to sign free-agent Fedor Emelianenko and soon-to-be free agents Tito Ortiz and Andrei Arlovski.
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Let's Play a Game of 'Which Shamrock Brother is in the UFC Hall of Fame'!

Ken Shamrock fought 14 times in the UFC, accumulating a 6-6-2 record with three losses to Tito and one apiece to Rich Franklin, Royce Gracie and Dan Severn. His wins have come against Kimo Leopold (twice), Dan Severn, Christophe Lineger, Felix Mitchell and Patrick smith (with draws against Royce Gracie and Oleg Taktarov). Ken managed to parlay early UFC success and his WWE exposure into enormous name recognition and huge television ratings for his fights. He also happens to be 0-5 in his last five fights with five first round knock outs.

Frank Shamrock sports a 5-0 UFC record with stoppage victories over Kevin Jackson, Igor Zinoviev, Jonathan Lober, Jeremy Horn, and Tito Ortiz. In 1999, Frank walked away from his title over a money issue, generating so much bad blood with Zuffa that the grudge remains to this day. He currently reigns as StrikeForce Middleweight Champion (he has a fight with Cung Le upcoming on March 29th on Showtime).

And the answer is . . . .  The World's Most Dangerous Man.
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Chute Writers Top 10 P4P as of March 2008:

1. Anderson Silva (UFC Middleweight Champion)

2. Fedor Emlianenko (Free Agent)

3. Quentin 'Rampage' Jackson (UFC Light Heavyweight Champion)

4. B.J. Penn (UFC Lightweight Champion)

5. Georges St. Pierre (UFC Interim Welterweight Champion)

6. Gesias 'JZ' Calvacante (K-1 Heroes/Dream Contender)

7. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (UFC Heavyweight Champion)

8. Dan Henderson (UFC Contender)

9. Chuck Liddell (UFC Light Heavyweight Contender)

10. Akitoshi Tamura (Shooto Lightweight Champion)
/ Urijah Faber (W.E.C. Featherweight Champion) (tie)

Just out of the top ten: Randy Couture, Shogun Rua, Josh Barnett, Takanori Gomi, Lyoto Machida, Jon Fitch, Shinya Aoki, Paulo Filho, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Carlos Condit, Matt Lindland, Gilbert Melendez, and Wanderlei Silva.
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Dream.1: Preview and Predictions

Out of the ashes of what was once Pride/Dream Stage Entertainment rises a new organization on the Japanese MMA scene. Dream 1, set for its inaugural show this Saturday (March 15th) at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, will kick off its inception with a 16-man lightweight tournament and super fight bouts featuring veterans Mirko 'Cro Cop' and Mach Sakurai. While no soccer kicks or stomps will be allowed, the rest of the Pride rules will be intact (including knees to the head and the 10 minute opening round).
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Here are my predictions for the opening round

-T-Blood Gym product Tatsuya Kawajiri with an early stoppage of Canadian Kultar Gill.
-T-Blood Gym product Mitshiro Ishida win a razor close decision over Korean Olympic silver medalist Jung Bu-kyong
-Norwegian Joachim Hansen wins a war over Krazy Bee prospect Koutetsu Boku (I'm not sold on this pick).
-Brazilian Top Team product Luiz Firmino submits Kaz Miyata.
-Chute Box product Andre 'Dida' Amada stops Bodog Champ Eddie Alvarez in the 2nd round.
-Japans Kat Nagata out-wrestles Russian Artur Oumakhanov.
-In the Main Event, American Top Teams Gesias 'JZ' Calcavante knocks out Japanese grappling stand out Shinya Aoki.

P.S. I'm taking Calcavante to win this tournament later in the year and cement himself among the top ten fighters in the world.

P.S.S. Check out this fight poster (http://dreamofficial.com/)! Very different from the way MMA is marketed here in the states.

A Fighter You Have Never Seen But Should Search on Youtube.com Now!

Introducing. . .  Masakazu Imanari! With the retirement of Genki Sudo to Japanese Cinema, the new most exciting fighter on the planet is Imanari. Dubbed '10th degree Blackbelt in Leglocks', this is the best MMA leg lock practitioner going. Check out his submission of Jorge Gurgel, its priceless.

(EMAIL ALL QUESTIONS/COMMENTS/CRITICISMS TO CHUTE WRITER HERE)