Why “Kimbo Slice” vs. Ken Shamrock makes sense for EliteXC
Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson will get a shot at a UFC Hall of Fame fighter in his second prime-time appearance on CBS.
EliteXC has paired Slice with Ken Shamrock (26-13-2) in the main event of the third edition of EliteXC CBS Saturday Night Fights on Oct. 4 from the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla. The promotion and CBS will make the official announcement on Tuesday.
"This is the biggest fight that can be made right now," EliteXC Vice President Jared Shaw today told MMAjunkie.com (
www.mmajunkie.com). "It's bigger than Brett Rogers. It's bigger than Sean Gannon. Millions and millions have been entertained by Ken Shamrock over the years in Japan, in the UFC, and in the WWF, now the WWE. He's the biggest proven pay-per-view commodity in the sport. Together, those two will maximize the eyeballs for mixed martial arts on Oct. 4th."
While Rogers and Gannon were considered as opponents for Slice's fourth pro MMA bout, both carried more risk for EliteXC and Slice than Shamrock. The unbeaten Rogers criticized Slice (3-0) following the former backyard brawler's victory over James Thompson in May. Rogers would easily be the best fighter Slice has faced at this point in his career, and having Slice lose on CBS would be a significant setback for EliteXC as it builds to a major pay-per-view show in early 2009.
Gannon represented risk of different kind. The Boston cop is just 1-1 as a pro and hasn't fought since 2005. He's credited with a street-fight victory over Slice in a scrap that's become something of a legend on YouTube. However, resurrecting the street-fighting past of two fighters with a combined five pro fights between them would have been too much of a sideshow for network TV and alienated scores of MMA purists.
"It's a very, very legit and dangerous fight for both sides," said Shaw. "Ken says he's seen holes in Kimbo's game like Swiss cheese, and he's looking to expose them. And Kimbo Slice is the baddest man standing today in any combat sport."
In the 44-year-old Shamrock, EliteXC re-signs a fighter it cut in April following his knockout loss to Robert Berry in March. While Shamrock's skills have eroded, he's still a name in the sport that has the potential to draw viewers. CBS will promote this as the MMA version of "Rocky versus Clubber Lang" ala Rocky III. It's Shamrock, the wily veteran, looking to prove he still has game against the young wrecking machine Slice.
It could be good TV, even if it's not a great fight.
In an interview with MMAjunkie.com in June, Shamrock said Slice is "not ready" when asked about his development as a big-time fighter. Shamrock will now get a chance to decide firsthand just how much Slice has improved since he was tested against Thompson.
