NEWARK, N.J. -- "Steel! That's how they spelled my last name," Scott Smith laughed. Talking on his cell phone in the lobby of the Hilton Penn Station, the EliteXC middleweight is doing his best to look inconspicuous. And failing.

Smith will be one of several fighters making history tonight when CBS airs EliteXC, the first mixed martial arts event on free television. Never has one MMA event had more people vested as strongly in its success or failure. If it pulls good ratings, the showing could change MMA as we know it. But a night of poor fights, ratings or too much blood could set the sport back several years.

As a group of fight fans watch furtively from across the lobby, Smith crouches in a corner to discuss a clerical error. In a few hours, he will step into the biggest spotlight in MMA history and that that much of the country will know him only as "Scott Steel," a misnomer used in many pre-fight listings.

"Yeah, it's messed up," he said. "But it's a good fighting name."

A few hours from now, Smith will face Robbie Lawler (Pictures) for the EliteXC middleweight title. Two hours ago, Smith and Lawler sat a few feet away from each other in the hotel restaurant surrounded by their respective entourages. The crews were easily identifiable -- Smith's had shaved or bald heads while Lawler's wore baseball caps. Nary a word or look was exchanged.

"It's not that big of a deal," Smith said. "I lived in "The Ultimate Fighter" house and I had to fight guys who I lived with. So I am used to being around guys I have to fight."

Hours before the event, fighters and their entourages mingled at the hotel. While rookie MMA announcer Gus Johnson prodded CBS' veteran caller Mauro Ranallo for betting odds, fans chatted up former UFC champion Mark Coleman (Pictures) and stared quizzically at a Kimbo Slice look-a-like.

"We came nine hours from Toronto to see Kimbo," 20-year-old Marcus Andrews said. "We saw his cousin and I offered him some rum. He said he only drinks the Miami stuff. I didn't know what that meant."