Plot: What’s it about?
A staple of the mixed martial arts world, the King of the Cage promotion has a lot to offer, including some of the world’s best fighters. Although not as high profile as the UFC or Pride, King of the Cage has some real power, to be sure. The names aren’t as well known perhaps, but the talent is still there and the matches are usually quite impressive. I’m not a big fan of the weight class system used, but it keeps the pairings more even, which in turn often makes for more exciting contests. The warriors wage battle inside of a chain link cage, which can also be used to their advantage, like in the UFC. The announcers for this event are Eddie Bravo, Richard Norton, and Ken Shamrock, who combine to offer some terrific analysis. Not as technical as some commentary workers, but an enjoyable, straight session at all times. This card is called Showtime and has some good matches, more than up to the usual King of the Cage standards. This disc packs over one-hundred and fifty minutes of content and that’s a lot of no holds barred fighting, so fans of mixed martial arts shouldn’t overlook this King of the Cage event.
1. Boa Quatch vs. Kenny Tenorio
2. Javier Vasquez vs. Farrell Frisby
3. Gerald Strebendt vs. Eji Mitsuoka
4. Mike Lee vs. Thomas “The Wildman” Denny
5. Shannon Ritch vs. Katsumi Usuda
6. Roger Godinez vs. Mike Bourke
7. Rick Lee Mathis vs. Jason Lambert
8. Tony Galindo vs. Reggie Cardiel
9. Amir Rahnavardi vs. Brian Foster
10. Tim Catalfo vs. Dave Beneteau
11. Eric Pele vs. Sean Alvarez
12. Bobby Hoffman vs. Kauia Kupihea
Video: How does it look?
The event in presented in a full frame transfer, as intended. I have no real problems to discuss here, as the image looks as good as we can expect, given that it is a taped version of a live martial arts competition. The image is clean and always sharp, but much refined than VHS or on Pay-Per-View, without a doubt. The colors have a bright, bold look to them and flesh tones are solid too, no complaints there. I found the contrast to be even handed at all times, so detail is stable and the image is never too dark. Given that this is a taped sporting event, I think the image here is terrific and fans of King of the Cage should be pleased.
Audio: How does it sound?
Although the audio presentation here won’t win any awards, it gets the job done and in this case, that’s what counts. This kind of material doesn’t need any bells & whistles, so the basic Dolby Digital stereo option included here is more than adequate. The thumps, crashes, and slaps can all be heard well enough, while the announcers remain clear and at a proper volume. In other words, you won’t remember this disc because of the audio, but then again in this case, I think that proves to be a good thing, since you want to focus on the action.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a highlight reel of some of the event’s hardest hits and such, which is fun to watch after the main attraction.
