"Kimbo Slice" scores "The Ultimate Fighter 10" slot

[Rappy Veteran]

LAS VEGAS ? "Kimbo Slice," the controversial heavyweight who in 2008 headlined the most-viewed mixed martial arts card in history, will be one of 16 contestants on the forthcoming season of "The Ultimate Fighter," the UFC's reality TV series.

Dana White, the UFC's outspoken president, has repeatedly mocked Slice for his lack of fighting ability. Slice, whose real name is Kevin Ferguson, became a cult figure by competing in street fights that were posted on YouTube. Slice's "bouts" drew tens of millions of views and led him to turn professional.

He fought for the now defunct EliteXC, garnering massive media attention but getting mocked by White and others affiliated with the UFC for a lack of ability.

White has called him a "joke," a "bum" and "not a real fighter," among other less than kind descriptions. He said that Slice would "get murdered if he fought in the UFC" and suggested that his lightweight champion, 155-pound B.J. Penn, would "annihilate" the 230-pound Slice.

The UFC president has repeatedly insisted he would not allow Slice to compete in the UFC unless he won his way onto the show by competing on "The Ultimate Fighter."

Slice has called White's bluff and will appear on Season 10 of the highly rated Spike TV series, White has confirmed. Fighters live in the same house and train together, and then fight during the show in a bid to earn a UFC contract.

His appearance, along with that of former UFC light heavyweight champions Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Rashad Evans as coaches, should guarantee massive ratings.

"It should be interesting, given some of the things I've said about him," White said.

Slice, who has a 3-1 professional record, appeared in the main event of the first MMA card shown on network television in the U.S. when he fought James Thompson on May 31, 2008, on CBS.

Slice won by third-round stoppage in a bout that attracted a record 6.5 million viewers and remains the most-viewed MMA bout in history.

But Slice hasn't fought since Oct. 4, when he was knocked out by a jab from late replacement Seth Petruzelli, a light heavyweight, just 14 seconds into another fight broadcast on CBS. The plug was pulled on EliteXC, which reportedly lost millions of dollars, in the aftermath of the fight.

White promised "some major surprises" as he announced on a Thursday conference call that Jackson and Evans, each of whom is a former light heavyweight champion, would serve as coaches on Season 10.

He declined to say anything further but urged reporters on the call not to miss media day, which is Tuesday at the UFC Training Center in Las Vegas.

White worked hard to keep Slice's appearance on the show a secret, hoping to have unveiled him Tuesday. Season 10, which is being called "The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights," was originally slated to feature a cast of eight heavyweights and eight middleweights, but the UFC quietly informed the middleweights who tried out that it was going with an all-heavyweight show.

And unlike in recent seasons, where the competitors had to win a fight to earn their way into the house, there will be no such arrangement this time. All 16 fighters ? Spike and the UFC are keeping names of the others a closely guarded secret ? will automatically move into the house.

Though White goes to great lengths to insist that nothing on the show is scripted, it's virtually guaranteed that Slice won't fight early in the competition. Having him around and alive in the competition is going to keep ratings elevated.

If Slice is able to advance to the live Dec. 5 finale, with a chance to earn a UFC contract with a win, ratings would likely be the largest in Spike history.

Source

[Martyn]

He got battered by Ljungberg...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5Zxpbtc ... re=related

[Konstanov]

If Seth Petruzelli can beat Kimbo Slice I don't see him ever winning a fight in the UFC considering how garbage The Silverback is. Slice is going to get knocked out of TUF early and everyone in the world is going to see it coming.

[Zoom7000]

As it says above, he has next to nothing in terms of a ground game. Getting beaten by Seth Petruzelli in 14 seconds just showed exactly how over rated he was. No wonder EliteXC went bust! :p

[Rappy Veteran]

Kimbo won't last long on UF I feel

[trag3dy]

Either way it should be interesting to watch. If for now other reason than to see him not win.

[Rappy Veteran]

# Coaches: Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans

# The cast consists of 16 heavyweight fighters in a tournament format

# Cast members:

* Tim Blackledge

* Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson

* Zak Jensen

* Marcus Jones

* Scott Junk

* Jon Madsen

* Matt Mitrione

* Roy Nelson

* Brendan Schaub

* Darril Schoonover

* Wes Shivers

* Wes Sims

* Abe Wagner

* Mike Wessel

* Justin Wren

* Jim York

Looks interesting!

[Aaron Veteran]

# Coaches: Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans

# The cast consists of 16 heavyweight fighters in a tournament format

# Cast members:

* Tim Blackledge

* Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson

* Zak Jensen

* Marcus Jones

* Scott Junk

* Jon Madsen

* Matt Mitrione

* Roy Nelson

* Brendan Schaub

* Darril Schoonover

* Wes Shivers

* Wes Sims

* Abe Wagner

* Mike Wessel

* Justin Wren

* Jim York

Looks interesting!

Didn't Jackson coach two seasons ago with Run Forrest Run Griffin?

[Rappy Veteran]

Didn't Jackson coach two seasons ago with Run Forrest Run Griffin?

Yeah it was meant to be like Heavyweights this year but it seems they changed that.

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

I hope to see Kimbo Slice overcome all the odds and make it into the UFC. He isn't a great ground fighter, but he doesn't need to with those cinder blocks he calls fists.

I'll be tuned in to watch... but I really think Kimbo will make it right to the end for one reason only, Ratings.

[Rappy Veteran]

I'd like to see Kimbo vs Lesnar :p just for the lol factor

[Konstanov]

Lesnar would end his glass jaw in one punch. It would be like the Bisping vs. Hendo fight.

[Rappy Veteran]

UF 10 Preview!

this looks immense...I loved that face to face of Rashad and Rampage...and I hope Rampage knocks the teeth our Rashads mouth.

[TheElite]

Kimbo's BIGGGGGGGGG!

[Zoom7000]

UF 10 Preview!

this looks immense...I loved that face to face of Rashad and Rampage...and I hope Rampage knocks the teeth our Rashads mouth.

Oh yes, this is gonna build up Rampage vs. Rashad just perfectly. I just can't wait to see Rampage wipe the floor with him! :D

Will be very interesting to see just how Kimbo Slice fairs up. Maybe they should add Seth Petruzelli to the list of fighters! :rofl:

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

UF 10 Preview!

this looks immense...I loved that face to face of Rashad and Rampage...and I hope Rampage knocks the teeth our Rashads mouth.

Thanks! Definitely a show I need to keep up with

But i heard Kimbo loses his first fight... that just sucks

[Rappy Veteran]

Rashad Evans confirms UFC 107 bout with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson is off

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (30-7 MMA, 5-1 UFC) will not be fighting Rashad Evans (13-1-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC) at UFC 107 in December.

While the potential for Jackson to withdraw from the event has been discussed for weeks, Evans today confirmed in an interview with Bruce Buffer that the fight has been delayed until at least 2010.

The interview aired on today's episode of "It's Time" on the Sherdog Radio Network.

"It's definitely off for the 12th," Evans said. "It's just disappointing because as a fighter you get your mind wrapped around when you're going to have to fight. Then you kind of just gear up toward it and put everything in place for that time. You take care of a lot of things you need to take care of so when you're in camp you don't have to worry about it. To find out its not going to be happening when you want it to happen is always a little bit of a letdown."

While multiple outlets have reported on the potential for Jackson to take on the role of B.A. Baracus in a feature version of "The A-Team," Evans said until recently he believed it wasn't going to happen.

"I heard a little bit about it at the last UFC, 102, and (UFC president) Dana (White) said he was working to resolve the issue, and he was pretty confident that he was going to have some kind of resolution by the end of the week," Evans said. "But then things must have took a turn for the worse and it wasn't going to be resolved. The end result was him definitely pulling out."

While White made his feelings on the subject obvious at a pre-UFC 102 press conference, Evans echoed the sentiments that fighters should stick to what they do best.

"I would stick with my obligations to do the fight (if I was in the same situation)," Evans said. "I know that he has an amazing opportunity to do this acting role, but then at the same time, at the end of the day he's still going to be just a fighter. He's not going to be an actor."

As opposing coaches on the upcoming tenth season of "The Ultimate Fighter," Evans and Jackson were supposed to clash at the conclusion of the series. Evans said he still believes his next fight will be with Jackson, he's just not sure when it will be.

"I'm pretty positive that it's going to be my next fight," Evans said. "They haven't nailed down any dates, but they did say it was going to be after the New Year. I think they were waiting to speak with Quinton's guys and find out exactly when exactly he feels he should be ready. They just want to get it done and over with, and they're just trying to work with him and see what they can do."

With the official removal of Evans vs. Jackson from the card, UFC 107 now includes:

* Champ B.J. Penn vs. Diego Sanchez (for lightweight title)*

* Cheick Kongo vs. Frank Mir*

* Thiago Alves vs. Paulo Thiago*

MMA Junkie

[TheElite]

The BJ and Mir fights will be good.

Oh, and Andrew, I hope you're wrong. That will NOT be good.

[Rappy Veteran]

Thanks! Definitely a show I need to keep up with

But i heard Kimbo loses his first fight... that just sucks

SAUCE! :p

[iamawesomewicked]

Thanks! Definitely a show I need to keep up with

But i heard Kimbo loses his first fight... that just sucks

Doesn't surprise me, Kimbo sucks.

[Zoom7000]

SAUCE! :p

Seems to be a wild rumour that is going around. It'll be so funny if it's true though! :p

[Rappy Veteran]

Kimbo was always overated though tbh, he can do alot of stuff on the streets but when there's rules and a cage he sorta looked normal :p

[Rappy Veteran]

[McCordRm]

The rules are what makes a difference.

I doubt very seriously that any of these guys would take a fight with Kimbo outside the ring.

What does this mean? I wouldn't say Kimbo is overrated or that he sucks... he's just not

ready for rules matches. But he IS a badass.

[TheElite]

One of THE MOST dirtiest cuts I've ever seen. That Abe guy gave a pint of blood to the ring.

And lol at the ending segment, looks like there's going to be some real heavy stuff going on in the series.