Showtime goes interactive on tonight's MMA fight at 10p.m.

April 11, 2:47 PMSports Media ExaminerJim Williams

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Showtime goes totally interactive tonight

Tonight at 10p.m. Showtime is getting the fans involved with their presentation of the Mixed Martial Arts series simultaneously on television and via broadband.

Fans can log onto Strikeforce: All Access will cost $24.95 per user and is available for review and pre-order by visiting http://strikeforce.sho.com.

Gus Johnson Mauro Ranallo and Pat Miletich will call the action from San Jose as the fight of the night features Shamrock vs. Diaz in what promises to be an awesome fight and well worth checking out.

Fans will be able to be online and choose from five different camera angles. So basically you can direct the telecast and watch it from any of the five cameras that you choose. Adding to the interactive package of goodies is also a special Face Book application that will allow fans to talk smack during the entire event.

The technology comes from BitGravity, Inc. and Episodic, Inc. who is working with Showtime on this unique multi-camera experience.

"By and large, the core fight fans watching MMA on SHOWTIME are among the most technologically savvy of all viewers," said Ken Hershman Senior Vice President and General Manager, Sports and Event Programming. "We are proud to offer this enhanced experience to an audience that will embrace the opportunity to control the content and interact with one another during the live show. Strikeforce: All Access puts you in the driver seat."

The fight card is rounded out with a solid undercard.

Gilbert Melendez gets his second shot at the Strikeforce lightweight title when he faces Josh Thomson in a championship rematch. Female MMA phenom Cris "Cyborg" of Brazil will take on Japan's Hitomi Akano, middleweight contender Scott Smith will face Benji Radach and heavyweights Brett Rogers and "Abongo" Humphrey will square off to round out the show.