In an attempt to bring mixed martial arts (MMA) to the forefront of America’s consciousness — and make millions of dollars in the process — CBS and Elite Extreme Combat teamed up to present CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights last night, a made-for-TV MMA event that featured brawling, blood and cauliflower ear. Gross.

Internet street brawler Kimbo Slice, a huge hit on YouTube, was the marquee name of the event, even though he had only competed in two MMA matches before Saturday night’s matchup with James “The Colossus” Thompson (Slice won both prior matches). Thompson handled Slice for much of the contest until — this isn’t for the squeamish — Slice busted open Thompson’s ear early in the third round and was awarded a controversial technical knockout victory.

As if Slice needed more controversy. He has come under fire in the world of MMA as veteran fighters see him as over-hyped joke who hasn’t earned anything, especially the right to fight in the network debut of MMA. His questionable victory, while serving as the CBS’s chosen face of the sport, will do nothing to silence his doubters.

The so-so evening might turn out to be disastrous for CBS, too. Three other fights ended prematurely because the network and the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board didn’t want things to get ugly in the cage. And after a little bit of eye-poking put an end to the penultimate bout of the night, the fans on hand at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ started chanting a word that sounds a lot like “bullschmidt.”

In the end, the ratings will determine if America is ready and willing for MMA, and if CBS will bring back CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights for a second go-round. Either way, Saturday’s lackluster affair left me unimpressed.

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